Readers React: Dealing with disruptive students

As a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, I invite people to think about the district’s policy on preventing suspension of students for defiance. (“L.A. Unified suspension rates fall but some question figures’ accuracy,” May 31)

What are teachers supposed to do if a student won’t cooperate in class? What a dilemma for teachers who have dozens of students in a classroom.

What is a school supposed to do when instead of going to class, students wander the halls and are disruptive? What a dilemma for administrators who are unable, due to budget cuts, to provide sufficient backup for teachers to change the culture of the school. What a dilemma for administrators, whose charge it is to provide a clean, safe learning environment for all students.

District policy and funding need to be reviewed and revised.

Diane Rabinowitz

Los Angeles

This is a thought-provoking article. Teachers are more aware than anyone of the problems that result from difficult students. Suspension is not the answer.

As a teacher at Markham Middle School from 1965 to 1968, I can assure you that times have not changed. School administrators must take a more active role in providing on-campus discipline, including daily work for every student sent out of the classroom.

Discipline is the job of school administrators and parents. Instructors must focus on course content and individual time with each student to accomplish the goals of the course.

Marcia Barnett

Laguna Beach