Culture of chaos taking over Minn. schools

In fulfilling their promise to "do something" to ensure safe and supportive schools across our state, Minnesota legislators in this year's session passed a discipline policy banning suspensions for our youngest students.

In this culture of leniency progressing across the state, the success of the new policy will depend on whether existing laws — empowering teachers to govern safe classrooms — still apply to protect the safety of all K-3 children. Under this new law, administrators forced to reduce detentions may look the other way when chaos ensues, no matter the effect on safety for all the students and teachers.

Teachers and paraprofessionals are the first line of defense when chaos consumes classrooms. And they are the first to be silenced when violence occurs. Fearing reprisal, some may hesitate to speak to this new policy banning school suspensions for young children.

https://www.startribune.com/culture-of-chaos-taking-over-minn-schools/600293593/