A school in West Virginia thinks it has a way to get students to quit misbehaving. When they do, their parents come to class to keep an eye on them.
Administrators at one West Virginia middle school have introduced a new disciplinary alternative to the traditional suspension that they believe could be more effective in reforming troubled students.
At Huntington East Middle School, non-violent, non-verbally abusive behavior is handled by offering parents the option of a “reverse suspension.”
In a reverse suspension, instead of sending a child home, the student’s parent is invited to come to school and spend the entire day by his side.
Principal Frank Barnett said the approach has helped the school reduce student suspensions by two thirds and bad behavior incidents by more than half. The school discovered that, for many students, suspensions were seen as a break from school, something they planned for.
Barnett told WOWK TV, “We try to avoid that at all costs, but there are times it cannot be avoided.”
So far, around 30 families have opted for a reverse suspension.
Parent Stephanie Howell told WOWK, “Who wants their parent sitting in class? It’s embarrassing. It’s a good motivator to not have your parents come and sit with them.”
Student Justin Young said he was suspended several times last year, but not once this year. He told his mother he never misbehaves when she’s around. And now she can be.