Shared Web Resources Part 2
While exploring
Children's Defense Fund, I found an article written in August discussing what
happens to children who get expelled or suspended from childcare centers. At
first, I thought how preschools or centers could do that to young children and
their families. Then, I realized that over the years, there have been many
children who have been "expelled" from the school I worked at because
of various behavioral challenges which were affecting other children in the
classroom. For instance, one child would run throughout the class hitting,
kicking or pulling hair of any child within his reach. He would take a
paintbrush and put paint on another child if the teachers could not get to him
quick enough. He would cry and scream, non-stop throughout the day until his
mom came to pick him up. After several months of parents complaining and
concerns, the parents were given a choice to either find a
"companion" for him or they would have to find another program
because the safety of the children was the school's first priority. The
boy's parents decided to give the companion/one-on-one a try and three years
later, the child is engaging in the life of school and has several friends, who
don't flinch when he comes near.
The article discusses how every year more than 50,000 preschoolers are suspended from public preschools and how this effects not only the child but also the family. The stress can lead to many other socio-emotional issues, as well. The reautorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) calls on states to create policies that will reduce expulsion and suspensions of these young children and reduce the negative behavioral outcomes these suspensions cause (Gorsky, 2018). I understand that for children who get expelled or suspended, there can be negative effects. However, what about the effects the child's challenging behavior has on his/her peers, their families and the educators? Does anyone take them into consideration? In the example above, there were two teachers in the classroom, yet one of them had to consistently shadow the child, while the other had to look after the other twelve children. This situation was not fair to anyone involved, especially to the behavioral child who other children were afraid of and didn't want to be near. I think that a child should be given chances and all strategies tried before preschools expel or suspend him/her. But also, I think that each situation is unique and should be handled accordingly.
Reference:
Gorsky, L. (2018). Expulsions
in early childhood hurt infants, toddlers and their families. Retrieved
from https://nwlc.org/blog/expulsions-in-early-childhood-hurt-infants-toddlers-and-their-families/
Trisha,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this article. This a new resource for me. As a special education specialist, I receive requests from schools to come observe and provide suggestions and strategies to help with a child's behavior. To many administrators' dismay, I do not carry a magic wand in my bag. As you said, each child and situation is unique. The number one priority is the safety of the individual child, the other children, and the teacher. Many factors have to be in place to ensure the environment is safe and structured to meet the needs of each and every child in the classroom. Since many of the districts in our region are small and rural, these children will be growing up together and relationships/friendships are one essential element that needs to be nurtured. Removing or expelling young children from education programs is sometimes necessary; however, it is more beneficial for all if strategies and programs are in place to help support the child, children, and teachers in learning social, emotional, and cognitive skills that are necessary for being successful in school and in life. Seeing the need to limit expulsions and suspensions of children in early childhood programs, the U.S. Department of Healthy and Human Services (HHS) and Education (ED) developed the "Policy Statement on Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood Settings" in 2016. The web is full of resources and strategies, as educators we need to find the one that works for the children.
Wishing you well,
Donna
Resources:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education (ED). (2016). Policy Statement of Expulsion Policies in Early Childhood Settings. Retrieved November 25, 2018 from https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/school-discipline/policy-statement-ece-expulsions-suspensions.pdf
Thank you for sharing. As a former substitute teacher, I worried about when students get suspended, we don't know what we are sending them away to, especially if the issues or behaviors have been addressed before but nothing changes. But the same ideology applies at the earliest levels of education--parents work and may not have the anyone to care for their child if they were to be suspended from the center because of the behaviors, and while safety of the other children is the most important thing the parent of the problem child may feel that their is being singled out. So that is a fine line to walk to address the behaviors as a safety concern and a discipline or training issue.
ReplyDeleteTrisha,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a unique topic to investigate. I am not an advocate for suspensions nor expulsions. I do think, however, that children who cause harm to others or who make the environment unsafe require special consideration.
What do you think is the best way to handle children who foster a dangerous environment for themselves and others?
Hi Trisha,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. I am really surprised I had never heard that children do get expelled from childcare centers. As I read your blog, I was thinking about how these children are being helped and you touched on that. I think the idea of finding a ‘companion’ for the child was a great one and its great that is has helped the child. Wow, I am more impressed to find out the high number 50,000 of children that get suspended from preschool. I thought that children became a challenge when they started were in their primary grades, but I guess I was totally wrong. There has to be more done with these small children and helped with those behavioral issues before they start the primary grades.