http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/meridennews/7108517-129/meriden-schools-seeing-decline-in-arrests-expulsions.html


A key change occurred just prior to Benigni becoming superintendent in 2010, when the school district removed its zero tolerance policy, said Meriden Board of Education President Mark Hughes. Previously, misbehaving students would be suspended or expelled without consideration. But after the zero tolerance policy was dropped, a “student-centered focus” was developed to make the process less punitive and more disciplinary, he said. This includes giving students the chance to attend counseling or rehabilitation programs in lieu of a suspension or expulsion.

“Our job is to educate kids,” Hughes said. “You can’t educate them if they’re not at school.”

Keeping a student away from school through expulsion or suspension has become the last option. In the past, a student who is misbehaving in one classroom would be suspended and miss all classes for several days. But the philosophy has changed, Hughes said. The first option is to pull students out of the classroom where they are misbehaving. The student is still allowed to attend other classes.

“We’ve gone away from the punitive model,” he said. “There’s no benefit at all. You want discipline, not punishment. Discipline teaches lessons that change behavior. Punishment doesn’t do anyone any good