Birmingham’s old district policy allowed suspended students make up tests, quizzes, and homework. Recently that policy has changed.
Now students are able to make up any class work, which Assistant Principal Deb Boyer sees as a positive.
“The idea of suspension is not to punish students academically,” said Boyer. “It is to send a strong message that their behavior needs to change.”
Though these changes are not stated in the student handbook, Boyer confirmed that they will be in next year’s edition.
Boyer also stated that there have been 20 suspensions this year regarding drugs, but some names appear more than once on the list.
“20 suspensions in a school of 1,250 students is not bad,” said Boyer. “Suspensions are typically reserved for drug issues, serious attendance issues, and fighting.”
In the last week, Seaholm had several suspensions. Boyer stated that one half of these suspensions were drug related.
Boyer also said that most suspensions are the cause of a repeated offense, but fighting and drugs usually calls for immediate suspension.
“We reserve [suspensions] for serious offenses, we don’t just hand them out,” said Boyer. “We try to give out logical consequences for bad behavior.”
Although the school is responsible for suspensions, the district designates the amount of days the students will be missing.
Some students, like sophomore Alyx Muir, make the argument that it is much simpler to do homework at home.
“I don’t think suspension is worth it,” said Muir. “They basically just get the day off without any real punishment.”
But Boyer sees suspension as a more of social punishment.
“Yes it is more convenient to do [the work] at home,” said Boyer. “But school is more of social interaction, take it away and it will get their attention.”
Math teacher Eric Bruns agrees with Boyer.
“I don’t think the goal of suspension is meant to punish the students via their grade,” said Bruns. “You have to leave the punishing up to the parents.”
Boyer believes suspension acts as a “wake up call” to students’ parents.
“Not only does it get students attention, but the parents,” said Boyer. “It shows the school’s been pushed to its limit.”
Boyer noted that suspension shows up on permanent records, and can hurt students’ chances of getting into college.
“It depends on how the student handles the suspension,” said Boyer. “If the student refuses to change their behavior, it will be that behavior that will keep them out of college.”
Muir opposes Boyer’s statement.
“They probably just overlook it,” said Muir. “Especially if the person has really good grades or is good at sports or is artistic.”
Another upsetting penalty of suspensions is that students cannot participate in school sports if suspended.
Captain of the Tennis team Katie Frazier thinks the school should issue warnings as opposed to dismissing students from the team immediately.
“They should be taken off a few games not for the whole season,” said Frazier. “So then they learn a lesson from it but it doesn’t ruin the rest of the season.”
