Suspensions in public high schools

There was an article in the Saipan Tribune on April 23, 2009, about suspension rates of public schools in the CNMI. Marianas High School was at the top of the list with the highest number of suspensions in SY 2006-2007, followed by Saipan Southern High and Kagman High School. Marianas High School had a total of 955 suspensions, while Saipan Southern High School had 164 and Kagman High School had 160 suspensions. Mr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero explained that school administrators should “exhaust” the school rules first before automatically suspending students.

As a senior at Marianas High School, I for one can say that my school has zero tolerance for chewing betel nut and tobacco possession on school grounds. I am not aware of the regulations established at Saipan Southern High and Kagman High School; however, MHS follows the BOE policy 2606, which states, “The discipline regulations for suspension and expulsion are intended to supplement standard day-to-day disciplinary actions taken at the school level.”

In SY 2007-2008, the highest suspension rate was at SSHS. SSHS had a total of 1,784 cases, followed by MHS with 676, and KHS with 227. The suspension rates of SSHS increased dramatically. Was it because of the incoming freshmen? Or was the school staff exhausting the rules in SY 2006-2007 like Mr. Deleon Guerrero says they should?

Mr. Deleon Guerrero also explained that instead of automatically suspending students, students should go through counseling sessions, pick up trash around campus, or have parent conferences. At MHS, when a student is caught chewing betel nut or is absent or tardy numerous times, he or she receives either a warning, does work detail, has a parent conference with the vice principal for discipline, and if necessary, faces suspension.

Many people would feel insecure about this poll, especially those parents with children attending MHS. Is Mr. Deleon Guerrero saying that school administrators and staff should be more lenient when is comes to punishments? I disagree. I would rather attend a school with a high number of suspension rates than a school that allows students to get away with delinquency with regards to regulations. At least I know at MHS, the school administrators and staff are actually doing their jobs. They ensure that students do not loiter around campus during class time, counselors keep up with their respective students, and staff calls home if a student is absent to confirm the student is at home. At least now I can feel safe knowing that our school administrators and staff are not abusing their power, but instead using their power to do what they can to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.