Why School Suspensions Are Detrimental: A Deeper Look

Viktoria Ivanova

4 min read

Post on May 02, 2025

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Negative Impact on Academic Performance

School suspensions significantly hinder a student's academic progress and overall learning experience. The immediate impact is often overlooked, but the long-term consequences are substantial.

Increased Absenteeism and Missed Learning

Suspensions directly result in missed classes, leading to a significant gap in learning. Students fall behind their peers, struggling to catch up on missed coursework and assignments. This creates a snowball effect, making it increasingly difficult to understand subsequent lessons and negatively impacting their overall grades.

• Missed lectures and crucial class discussions.
• Difficulty completing assignments and understanding new concepts.
• Lower grades and potential academic probation.

Studies consistently demonstrate a strong correlation between high suspension rates and lower graduation rates. For instance, a study by the National Education Association showed a direct link between increased suspensions and decreased high school completion rates.

Damage to Academic Motivation and Engagement

Beyond missed classes, suspensions inflict significant emotional and psychological damage, impacting a student's motivation and engagement with school. The experience can be isolating and alienating, fostering feelings of:

• Alienation and disconnection from teachers and peers.
• Decreased self-esteem and a sense of failure.
• Loss of interest in learning and school activities.

Research consistently highlights the negative impact of suspension on student attitudes toward education. Feeling punished rather than supported often leads to a cycle of disengagement and further behavioral issues.

Social and Emotional Consequences of School Suspensions

The consequences of school suspensions extend far beyond academics, significantly impacting students' social and emotional well-being. The detrimental effects can be long-lasting and far-reaching.

Increased Risk of Delinquency and Criminal Behavior

School suspension removes students from a structured learning environment and places them in situations where they may be exposed to negative influences and lack of supervision. This increases their risk of involvement in delinquent or criminal behavior.

• Increased exposure to peer pressure and risky behaviors.
• Lack of positive role models and support systems.
• Increased likelihood of contact with the juvenile justice system.

Studies have shown a strong correlation between school suspension rates and subsequent involvement in criminal activity. Young people who experience frequent suspensions are significantly more likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life.

Negative Impact on Mental Health and Well-being

The experience of suspension can be deeply traumatic for many students, contributing to significant mental health challenges including:

• Increased feelings of isolation, shame, and low self-worth.
• Heightened anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
• Potential for increased stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Research shows a clear link between school suspensions and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. The negative emotional impact can have long-term consequences on their mental well-being and overall life trajectory.

Ineffectiveness of School Suspensions as a Disciplinary Tool

Despite the widespread use of school suspensions, there is little evidence to support their effectiveness as a disciplinary tool. In fact, they often exacerbate the very problems they are intended to solve.

Lack of Evidence for Effectiveness

School suspensions fail to address the underlying causes of misbehavior, often providing only a temporary solution. The punitive nature of suspension can actually escalate negative behaviors, leaving students feeling unsupported and misunderstood.

• Suspensions rarely address the root causes of disruptive behavior.
• They can increase feelings of resentment and defiance.
• They often fail to improve student behavior in the long term.

Numerous studies have shown that suspensions are ineffective in reducing future disciplinary infractions. In many cases, suspended students exhibit increased behavioral problems upon their return to school.

Alternative Disciplinary Approaches

Effective discipline requires a move away from punitive measures and towards restorative and supportive approaches. Alternatives to school suspensions include:

• Restorative justice practices that focus on repairing harm and building relationships.
• Conflict resolution strategies to teach students how to manage disagreements peacefully.
• Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to proactively prevent misbehavior.

Many schools have successfully implemented alternative disciplinary programs, demonstrating the positive impact of supportive and restorative approaches on student behavior and academic outcomes.

Conclusion

School suspensions are a detrimental practice with far-reaching negative consequences for students' academic achievement, social-emotional well-being, and long-term prospects. The evidence clearly demonstrates their ineffectiveness in addressing misbehavior and, in fact, suggests that they can worsen the problem. We must move beyond the outdated and harmful practice of school suspensions and embrace alternative disciplinary approaches that focus on support, understanding, and restorative practices. Let's work together to replace detrimental school suspensions with positive and supportive approaches that foster a safer and more nurturing learning environment for all students. Investing in restorative justice and other alternative disciplinary methods is crucial for creating schools that truly support the academic success and well-being of every child.