‘Illegal drugs primary cause of suspensions of high school students’

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan disclosed yesterday that the suspension of students in public high schools is largely due to illegal drugs and marijuana found in their possession in and around campuses.

School administrators issue a suspension order for two or more days during which the student’s parents are called for information and counseling.

Without citing the recent data and statistics on student suspensions, Sablan said a significant decline was noted in the suspension data following the enforcement of character education among schools.

“One major issue in the suspension of students, especially in the secondary levels, is the illegal drugs and marijuana they’re bringing to school,” Sablan told the board, adding that this prompted school administrators to call the parents of the affected students.

Board member Galvin Deleon Guerrero, chairman of the committee on school reform, disclosed that a lot of suspension orders on students were deemed “punitive,” indicating some “abuses” on the rights of students.

In several committee meetings, he said concerns were raised on the negative impact of these suspensions, specifically on the required credits for graduation.

Deleon Guerrero described the existing student discipline policy of PSS as “pretty standard, fair, and gives a lot of power to school-level authority.”

However, he said that “different interpretation” by school principals is what makes the “difference” in the policy.

“It’s the policy versus the practice…that makes the big difference,” Deleon Guerrero said, adding that many schools are seen having “unfair” practices in suspending students.

He noted that a suspended student must still be given “continuous learning” or some to-do list in the duration of their suspension.

Once a student exceeds the limited number of classroom absences, they can either be expelled or will not complete the program.

Deleon Guerrero said there’s a need to properly inform the students’ parents that a suspension can be appealed through the appeals committee, as stated in the policy.

“A lot of parents are not aware of the appeals process and this is a very valid and serious concern for PSS,” he told the board, adding that PSS could not rely on policy that is punitive.

The board yesterday asked the commissioner to make a comprehensive data analysis of student suspension in the last three years so that PSS can assure the public that it is providing “discipline” without “punishing” the students.

Sablan, for her part, said the management will continue to work with counselors, especially in secondary schools to work on corrective measures.

The board noted that the campaign for parental involvement needs to be enhanced by high schools as strong evidence of support is only seen in elementary schools.

Three options were recommended by the board committee to expand this effort.

First, asking lawmakers to consider legislation that will provide parental leave benefit for parents with kids at public schools; putting a parental involvement grade on the student’s report card; and making the parental involvement part of the class instruction at all public schools.