State Human Rights Department officials are in Rochester tonight (6-8pm, Eagles Club) to hear what they say are citizens’ growing concerns over student discipline in the Rochester Public Schools. Commissioner Kevin Lindsey says suspensions increased 20 percent in one year, and students of color and those with disabilities were disproportionately affected. Lindsey says, “There’s no doubt that there has to be the ability for the school officials… to control the classroom… but it’s also important for us not to… make a situation worse by then taking this kid out of the class for the full day.”
Lindsey says the goal when a kid makes trouble in school should be, “Make sure that from a culture standpoint, all teachers are seeing this as a teachable moment, not as a punitive moment. As a parent, I may have a conversation, I may identify chores, but I’m not gonna be kicking my kid out of the house.”
Rochester School District officials weren’t immediately available for comment.