Temple Law students hosted an event addressing school discipline and ways to to address the discipline if families should become involve with a school discipline situation. We heard from retired Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel about how being part of the process of detaining youth versus understanding the youth's icebergs motivated him to change the disciplinary ways of the school district and city police department. He created a video with his daughter as an actress and wanted to stop the video because he felt he was traumatizing his daughter. His daughter insisted that he continue the video with her so she to could have a better a understanding. We need more people like Kevin Bethel.
We also heard from Alex Dutton of Education Law Center and Dan Cooper of Law office of Kenneth S. Cooper 610.608.6185, both probono attorney's representing our families when dealing with discipline issues in Pennsylvania schools. Mr Dutton works more with special needs families and shared information on how suspension for special needs is different than for general population. Mr. Cooper shared how Philadelphia public schools are not suppose to be calling parents to come get there children from school. The schools are suppose to be professionals assisting the family with support services, oohhh yeah budget cuts and the district is currently going through changes with the title 1 programs aka parent resources (resource coordinators) are under attack much like our educators. Yikes even worse some schools don't know how to partner with families and communities. Some still conforming to blue collar labor versus exploring creative abilities. Most Horrific school to prison to deportation to sexual exploitation camouflaged with labels.
There was lunch and then a panel discussions in two separate rooms. The room i was assigned to focused on Alternative schools as being the answers to our families gaining education for their students not realizing they are being labeled and stressed out with traveling out of the community and other factors that may arrive. Until traumatized communities are given support instead of labels, and by the way some may look at "traumatized" as another label, those are those who do not understand or choose to ignore the mental and financial stress place on people of color just because of mentalities. We all have a role to one another in life. Traumatized communities have to learn to heal themselves and stop depending on systems that are plotting on the oppression of our communities. Be great if our educators could get some training in two to five minute breathing/yoga and meditation practices that assist in prepping our students for lessons.
Tracey Tucker, currently a social worker for the Richland County Public Defender’s Office in South Carolina. She was a 2015-2016 fellow in NJJN's Youth Justice Leadership Institute (YJLI), a year-long program that aims to create a more effective foundation for the juvenile justice reform movement by developing a strong base of well-prepared advocates and organizers who reflect the communities most affected by juvenile justice system practices and policies. Tracey’s past work experience includes serving as the Youth Justice Advocate with the ACLU of South Carolina, as well as work as a teacher and social worker. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia and Master of Social Work and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of South Carolina.
If your family is having issues with discipline at the school, if your school is calling you everyday to come get your children please call SDAS Hotline 215. 204. 8812, leave your contact information and an advocate will reach out to you within 24 hours. If you would like to have SDAS attend your community event and host a workshop on knowing your rights when facing Expulsion, Transfer, or Suspension please email them at sdas.phila@gmail.com. You can also reach out to Mr. Curry Bailey Student Disciplinary Hearing Officer at the school district, 215. 400. 6279 cbailey@philasd.org. The ACLU was also in attendance and gave out great booklets on know your rights along with pocket cards. I met law student Elizabeth Schultz at Eastern State Penitentiary during an ACLU "Decriminalization of Youth" panel and had a chance to speak to her about the use of meditation in her class room as high school educator and as a student studying law at Temple University. She recommends meditation and teaches yoga on Temple Law school campus!!
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