I don't know if you watch The Wire, but I got into it when I started working in the criminal justice world. And I've been amazed at how spot on they've been on so many of the things they covered in that show. I find myself thinking about it often and saying to colleagues, "This is just like in the Wire!"
So I heard a recent piece on NPR: Report Details Texas School Disciplinary Policies about suspensions and expulsions in schools and how those policies focus more on punishment than on changing misbehavior, which often leads those same kids (half of them) spending time in juvenile justice facilities. With that stigma and those associations, it isn't surprising if those kids suspended in 7th grade never finish school or end up in the revolving door of the criminal justice system. Not because they are bad kids, but because they didn't have anyone advocating for them. The reminded me of season 4 in the Wire which was all about education and the young kids, "hoppers", who wanted to go to school and do well but who really didn't have a chance. Heartbreaking.
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