Her son has been suspended five times. He’s 3.

[n2doc]

By Tunette Powell

I received a call from my sons’ school in March telling me that my oldest needed to be picked up early. He had been given a one-day suspension because he had thrown a chair. He did not hit anyone, but he could have, the school officials told me.

JJ was 4 at the time.

I agreed his behavior was inappropriate, but I was shocked that it resulted in a suspension.

For weeks, it seemed as if JJ was on the chopping block. He was suspended two more times, once for throwing another chair and then for spitting on a student who was bothering him at breakfast. Again, these are behaviors I found inappropriate, but I did not agree with suspension.

Still, I kept quiet. I knew my history. I was the bad preschooler.

I was expelled from preschool and went on to serve more suspensions than I can remember. But I do remember my teachers’ disparaging words. I remember being told I was bad and believing it. I remember just how long it took me to believe anything else about myself.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/24/my-son-has-been-suspended-five-times-hes-3/

[Alittleliberal]

1. Great article

Years of insane racism has created this insane idea that black kids that get in trouble are so much more dangerous then any other trouble maker.

I graduated in 2012. When I got caught with herb for the 3rd time they gave me a 2 day suspension. 3 of my black friends, in my 4 years there, were caught with small amounts of weed and booze and were expelled on their third strike. I went to a liberal Quaker school in the Northeast.

It's fucking atrocious

[Mnemosyne]

2. The pre-school to prison pipeline. Argh... nt