Cape should end elementary school suspensions

Last year, 31 elementary school children were suspended from Cape Henlopen elementary schools.

That number represents about 1 percent of elementary students, yet the number itself is startling. Statistics also show African-American elementary students are nearly 2.5 times more likely to be suspended than their white counterparts.

Officials have not specified reasons for these suspensions, but what could 31 children no more than about age 11 do that requires exclusion from school? With most parents working, what exactly do officials hope to accomplish by suspending children who may not be supervised at home?

The number of suspensions and the rate as related to race were recently reported to Cape Henlopen school board by a committee of parents, faith-based and fraternal groups, and others who first met in October at a forum attended by Superintendent Robert Fulton.

This committee has developed strategies to reduce disparities in discipline and improve the diversity of Cape staff, which is 96 percent white. It also reported school suspensions include 127 for middle schoolers – about 10 percent of the middle school population.

In response, Fulton has proposed forming a school climate committee. He also said, "We need to take a closer look at coding."

Cape Henlopen School District already has an active committee that has been working for months and has proposed useful remedies. Instead of a new committee, officials should encourage this committee to continue its work and immediately implement its best proposals.

Beyond that, every elementary staff has a social worker, and all but Love Creek have both a social worker and psychologist. With resources in every building, the best place for children who can't cope is not at home. It's at school. We know children's brains are not fully developed for at least a decade after elementary school, especially the areas that control impulsive behavior.

We don't suspend a child who can't read. It makes no sense to suspend a child who can't cope. Cape should immediately end out-of-school suspensions for young children. Instead of excluding them, school should be teaching them the skills they need to stay in class.