The following is an introductory lecture to open and educate the students about the school to prison pipeline.
1. VIDEO: Play YouTube clip in which explores the issues of militarized schools and the school to prison pipeline
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3jTlVUkEJ8
2. DISCUSS: As a group, ask the students the following open-ended reflection and discussion questions
a. Define what the expression School to Pipeline means
b. Ask students identify the problems seen in the clip and discuss possible roots to the issue
c. Ask students how they think this issue pertains and affects them as students currently in high school
3. LECTURE: In a PowerPoint Presentation explain the reasoning of the zero tolerance policy and further explain the theories of punishment behind the policy
i. The Zero Tolerance policy originated in 1994 after a federal legislation required and enforced schools to expel students for bringing or being in possession of a firearm in school or their entire federal funding would be lost
ii. Over time, the Zero Tolerance policy became a widespread tool in schools where they would punish students in response to crimes that are related or involve weapons, drugs or severe violence.
iii. Now in society, the zero-tolerance policies have been implemented by school districts that enforce extremely harsh consequences or punishment (such as arrest and prison) for a wide degree of problems in school.
1. These problems include serious crimes but also small school related offenses such as attendance or any school disruption
b. Problems with the Zero Tolerance Policies
i. School becomes militarized
1. Zero tolerance polices are ineffective and create a unsafe learning environment for students. The militarization of schools make students fearful of attending school and distracts them by not allowing them to focus on education
ii. Creates Racial Disproportionality
1. In low-income schools with a diverse student body, African American students are more likely to receive harsher punishment such as arrests than non-minority students.
2. Socio-economic status also becomes an issue when only the un-wealthy students are punished and the rich are not
iii. Creates higher drop out rates
1. Students are more likely to drop out due to fear of being arrested for very small offenses or infractions.
c. Alternatives to Zero Tolerance
i. Prevention Programs
1. Instead of the zero tolerance policies, schools should implement prevention into their curriculum. For example, at risks kid should be required to meet with counselors on a weekly basis or students should have school related goals that promote good behavior in classroom setting
2. Create a Conflict Resolution Program where students can resolve conflicts without the fear of being arrested
3. Intervention Programs in which helps students with emotional and behavioral disorders instead of having them arrested
4. EDUCATE: The words below are theories of punishment behind the juvenile and prison system in the United States. Show each of the words below on a slide and explain the definition. Then ask the students how they think each of those words relate to the issue of the juvenile prison system in the United States. Then examine and ask the students if they think each word is still effective or ineffective in todays society.
a. Retribution
i. Definition: Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
b. Deterrence
i. Definition: the use of punishment as a threat to deter people from offending
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
c. Rehabilitation
i. Definition: Punishment that works to rehabilitate the criminal in hopes that they will never do it again. This is difference from deterrence as rehabilitation is used in hopes of changing the offenders attitude
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
d. Incapacitation
i. Definition: Punishment that focuses on societal protection where the punishment restricts the offender from further offenses in an extremely harsh way
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
5. Final Discussion:
a. Facilitate a final discussion where you discuss the role of law enforcement officers in school. Ask students what they think the result of law enforcement in school and whether or not it creates a safer environment or just pushes students into the criminal justice system. Then further facilitate a discussion on possible resolutions or alternate ideas to the school to prison pipeline issue.
1. VIDEO: Play YouTube clip in which explores the issues of militarized schools and the school to prison pipeline
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3jTlVUkEJ8
2. DISCUSS: As a group, ask the students the following open-ended reflection and discussion questions
a. Define what the expression School to Pipeline means
b. Ask students identify the problems seen in the clip and discuss possible roots to the issue
c. Ask students how they think this issue pertains and affects them as students currently in high school
3. LECTURE: In a PowerPoint Presentation explain the reasoning of the zero tolerance policy and further explain the theories of punishment behind the policy
- What is mass imprisonment?
- Mass imprisonment is a unique social problem in the United States
- It is the incarceration of unwanted, unneeded, or marginal social groups - minorities, immigrants, impoverished people - so as to eliminate them from the social order
- Mass imprisonment is often camouflaged as law and order. In schools, this camouflage is called “zero-tolerance policies.”
i. The Zero Tolerance policy originated in 1994 after a federal legislation required and enforced schools to expel students for bringing or being in possession of a firearm in school or their entire federal funding would be lost
ii. Over time, the Zero Tolerance policy became a widespread tool in schools where they would punish students in response to crimes that are related or involve weapons, drugs or severe violence.
iii. Now in society, the zero-tolerance policies have been implemented by school districts that enforce extremely harsh consequences or punishment (such as arrest and prison) for a wide degree of problems in school.
1. These problems include serious crimes but also small school related offenses such as attendance or any school disruption
b. Problems with the Zero Tolerance Policies
i. School becomes militarized
1. Zero tolerance polices are ineffective and create a unsafe learning environment for students. The militarization of schools make students fearful of attending school and distracts them by not allowing them to focus on education
ii. Creates Racial Disproportionality
1. In low-income schools with a diverse student body, African American students are more likely to receive harsher punishment such as arrests than non-minority students.
2. Socio-economic status also becomes an issue when only the un-wealthy students are punished and the rich are not
iii. Creates higher drop out rates
1. Students are more likely to drop out due to fear of being arrested for very small offenses or infractions.
c. Alternatives to Zero Tolerance
i. Prevention Programs
1. Instead of the zero tolerance policies, schools should implement prevention into their curriculum. For example, at risks kid should be required to meet with counselors on a weekly basis or students should have school related goals that promote good behavior in classroom setting
2. Create a Conflict Resolution Program where students can resolve conflicts without the fear of being arrested
3. Intervention Programs in which helps students with emotional and behavioral disorders instead of having them arrested
4. EDUCATE: The words below are theories of punishment behind the juvenile and prison system in the United States. Show each of the words below on a slide and explain the definition. Then ask the students how they think each of those words relate to the issue of the juvenile prison system in the United States. Then examine and ask the students if they think each word is still effective or ineffective in todays society.
a. Retribution
i. Definition: Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
b. Deterrence
i. Definition: the use of punishment as a threat to deter people from offending
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
c. Rehabilitation
i. Definition: Punishment that works to rehabilitate the criminal in hopes that they will never do it again. This is difference from deterrence as rehabilitation is used in hopes of changing the offenders attitude
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
d. Incapacitation
i. Definition: Punishment that focuses on societal protection where the punishment restricts the offender from further offenses in an extremely harsh way
ii. How does this word relate to the issue of the juvenile detention program?
iii. Could this be effective in school?
5. Final Discussion:
a. Facilitate a final discussion where you discuss the role of law enforcement officers in school. Ask students what they think the result of law enforcement in school and whether or not it creates a safer environment or just pushes students into the criminal justice system. Then further facilitate a discussion on possible resolutions or alternate ideas to the school to prison pipeline issue.