Panel mulls expulsion for kids who attack teachers
A Minnesota Senate panel is considering competing plans for addressing student discipline issues in public schools.
The two proposals follow recent cases of students assaulting teachers in St. Paul high schools. Members of the Senate Education Committee heard testimony Thursday on the bills.
March 14: St. Paul teacher hit by student while breaking up fight
March 9: Teacher allegedly assaulted by students at St. Paul school
March 3: St. Paul Central teacher sues district over Dec. assault
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One bill would mandate that public school students who assault teachers be expelled. School boards would set the duration of the expulsions. The bill would also prevent the student from returning to the assaulted teacher’s classroom unless the teacher agrees.
Sen. David Brown, R-Becker, said his bill would set a statewide standard for protecting teachers.
“This isn’t a matter of just my heart being in the right place,” Brown said. “This is a matter of sending a message to our teachers and our students that assault will not be tolerated in our public schools.”
A dozen people testified against Brown’s bill.
Gary Amoroso, executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, raised concern about school leaders losing flexibility.
“Every time you have a situation, there are circumstances that we believe need to be taken into account: the age of the student, the background of the student, the discipline record of the student, is the student dealing with special needs?, things of that nature,” Amoroso said. “This bill would not allow any of that to come into play, which we believe is troublesome.”
The other bill would prohibit zero tolerance policies with automatic dismissals. It would also support alternative discipline practices.
Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said her approach would help end discipline disparities.
“We’re all concerned about disorder in our schools,” Pappas said. “However, outdated discipline practices are pushing too many students out of the classroom, often for nonviolent behavior, and denying them the opportunity to learn.”
Many of the same people who testified against the Brown bill spoke in support of the Pappas bill.
The committee did not vote on either bill.