The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently invited an IU School of Education faculty member to speak at a hearing on zero-tolerance approaches to school discipline. Russell Skiba, an associate professor in the school's Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, presented his research findings at the event held in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 18. For the past five years, Skiba has conducted research on school discipline that has raised serious concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of zero-tolerance policies such as expulsion. He pointed out that research has consistently shown that black students are over-represented in cases of suspension and expulsion, and that there is little research support for such methods in combating school violence. Skiba noted that the quick-fix approach represented by zero tolerance fails to instruct students properly in appropriate alternatives to violence and disruption.
Punishment decreases behavior.
A new knowledge network, developed by the IU School of Education's Center for Research on Learning and Technology, makes possible all that and more. We believe that learning involves not only sharing information, but also becoming a member of a community that shares common goals, methods, history and identity. We hope the ILF will become a community of practice in which beginning and experienced teachers can share thoughts and stories about the teaching process.