A new report finds that Arkansas schools rely too heavily on expulsion and corporal punishment to discipline students. The study says spanking or expelling kids as disciplinary actions makes learning harder for students who are struggling to achieve, and rarely resolves the underlying problem. Report author Ginny Blankenship, with the nonprofit Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, says outdated discipline policies often do more harm than good, especially for disadvantaged students.
She says the study confirms that disruptive students are often the ones who struggle the most with schoolwork. Blankenship says research shows that suspensions and spankings – which account for two-thirds of all disciplinary actions – are ineffective at improving student behavior. The report offers alternatives, such as the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support system, in which students can take responsibility and make amends for their actions.