CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- For decades, teachers and school administrators have punished students who acted out or skipped class with detention, suspension or even expulsion. However, one of Central Virginia's largest school systems has begun using new methods to discipline children and transform them into better students.
Karen Robinson said sending her son to school was not always an easy task. In fact, she said when her son was in middle school, he “just did not care, had no interest in being there.” She said he cared more about social interactions than his studies.
Terrell House, who is now in the ninth grade, remembered purposely trying to get into trouble just to avoid being in the classroom.
“I hated it," he said. "I would honestly look for any excuse to not have to go to school."
Terrell House
When he was suspended, he said it seemed “like a vacation.” He said he got to sit around and do whatever he wanted. Accordingly, Robinson knew that would not change her son’s behavior.
“You’re giving them what they want, you’re rewarding them by not making them go to school,” Robinson said.
Karen Robinson
CBS 6 investigated the long-term out-of-school suspension rates for Central Virginia’s three major school systems. While Richmond’s rate has gone up, and Henrico’s has gone down a bit, Chesterfield has seen a huge drop in the number of suspended students.
In the 2011-2012 school year there were 243 students suspended in Chesterfield. In 2012-2013, the number dropped to 188 suspensions and during this past school year, the number dipped to 102 student suspensions.
Even Terrell noticed the pattern.
“From what I’ve seen they’ve been giving out a lot less referrals and giving out a lot less punishment,” he said.
Stewart Roberson, a former superintendent, called a 60-percent decline remarkable.
“When I see that information it says to me that something is working,” Roberson said. “And when you peel back the layers to find out what is working, I’ll bet that you find that the school leadership, the instructors are all coming together to focus their energies on making a difference.”
How has Chesterfield accomplished what other school systems have failed to do?
Dr. Marcus Newsome, Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools, said part of the decrease has to do with in-school programs.
“One is called promote respect. We hear a lot about bullying and promote respect really turns this bullying issue around," he said. "A number of classrooms have an activity called shout out where students reinforced one another positive behaviors.”
Newsome said they also have positive behavior intervention support.
“We have that in 31 of our schools," he said. "Using a tiered approach to promote positive behavior."
Dr. Marcus Newsome, Chesterfield Superintendent of Schools.
Roberson said these kinds of numbers could also become a conversation starter for other superintendents.
“I’m confident that all school leaders pay attention to this data and I’m confident that they look at it from the perspective of what can we do to learn from this data and make a difference going forward,” he said.
And for students who may still break the rules and find themselves suspended, Terrell has a message:
“People, they are going to look at you in a different way. They’re definitely going to give you a different reputation,” Terrell said. “Among the kids who encourage that type of behavior, you’re going to be considered the cool person, but among the smart people you’re not going to look too cool at all.”
