Suspension: a qualitative study of high school teachers' perceptions

Project (M.S.W., Social Work) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2009.School suspension is used as a form of discipline for students who are not behaving\ud according to school standards. Despite the belief that suspension will help a student\ud correct his or her behavior and deter further negative behavior, many students are\ud repeatedly suspended. This research examines high school teachers' perceptions\ud regarding suspension. The authors collaborated equally on both the research and\ud writing of this project. The researchers interviewed a total of 15 high school teachers to\ud explore their perceptions of suspension. The results of the interviews were organized\ud into the following overarching themes: (I) school suspension is ineffective; (2)\ud minority students are found to be suspended at a higher rate; and (3) suspension is\ud arbitrary and biased. Implications for social work practice and policy relative to school\ud suspension are discussed.Social Wor