Program
Special Education M.A.
Year Approved
2017
First Advisor
Koel-Turner, Charlene
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to showcase the ineffectiveness of suspension upon students and to illustrate the disparity in the use of suspension and expulsion towards African American students when compared to their peers. Studies show that although African Americans make up a small portion of the student population, they make up a majority of the suspended student population. The impact of suspension and expulsion on African Americans can leave them alienated and severely hamper not only the academic future of the students, but also the adult future. Research shows that students who are frequently suspended have lower wages, are more likely to rely on government assistance programs, and more likely to be in the criminal justice system. Any student who feels they are being singled out more than their peers will withdraw from the system and become a repeat offender. Students who get suspended lose a lot of education time and can get placed in alternative schooling. This is not ideal for the school or the student. Future research could focus on the reason why minority students are punished more than their peers and the future of student discipline should try to keep the student in the classroom and establish better rapport with them.
Degree Name
Special Education M.A.
Document Type
Masterʼs thesis
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Beatty, P. M. (2017). What Is the Cause for the Suspension Disparity Between Caucasians and Students of Color [Masterʼs thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/52