Olayinka Alege discusses zero-tolerance policies in U.S. schools and their disproportionate impact on minority students. A recent 2014 study found that Hispanic and dark-skinned students were significantly more likely to receive out-of-school suspensions for the same misconduct as white classmates. Alege also notes that the racial makeup of the student body and attitudes of school administrators and teachers influence these exclusionary disciplinary practices. Additionally, gender also impacts decision-making, with male students and students with darker skin tones more likely to face harsher punishment. To remedy this, Alege and Johnston call for educational approaches that promote equality and prevent discrimination based on factors like race, gender or skin color.

1. Olayinka Alege | Yinka Alege | Tackling Equity In
Disciplinary Practices

2. If you have little knowledge about the zero-tolerance
policies in U.S. schools, you will at very least know that
this area is historically a hot topic. Olayinka Alege, along
with J. Howard Johnston, present: “Policy Brief:
Educational Policy Information Center” to elaborate on
these policies and their aspects. They tried to combine
the reasons behind the policies, their implementation,
and the results of these policies.

3. Olayinka Alege stated that in a recent study (2014),
researchers documented that Hispanic and dark-skinned
high school students were significantly more being a
target of out-of-school suspensions for the same
misconduct as their white classmates. This is an
indication of the degree of racism prevalent in many
educational institutes.

4. He also discusses the factors that not only initiate, but
also accelerate these practices. A significant reason for
these exclusionary measures at schools is the mindset of
the school administrator and teachers in charge of such
decisions, the make-up of and also the student body’s
diversity. Furthermore, he stated that gender was also a
major factor in such decision-making practices in
schools and directly proportional to the race of the
students.

5. The writers tried to preach equality among all the
students, no matter what group or creed they belong to.
The schools should be cleared of every kind of
discrimination – be it gender discrimination or creed
discrimination. All students should be treated the same
with no discriminatory treatment coming from the
school staff. No one should be made to feel embarrassed
or insecure because of their color.
Yinka Alege

6. Considering past behavioral practices, this tells us that
exclusionary practices were very common in former
days. The most significant indication of these practices
was reflected in the form of low student achievement and
bad school performance. Students were always insecure,
because a minor mistake could cause suspension from
the school.

7. The most devastating thing to learn was that gender
discrimination was practiced in schools. Male students
were more likely to get harsh punishment resulting in
suspension from school as compared to female students.
Perhaps less surprisingly, students with darker
complexion were at higher risk: Teachers used to punish
darker students more easily for mistakes while light-
skinned students were more likely tolerated for the same
incident. It could well be the worst thing ever for a
darker student to see such biased behavior on the part of
teachers and the school administration.

8. Olayinka Alege , along with J. Howard Johnston,
suggested in their work that shifting the focus from a
deficit-based perspective to a developmental and
educational approach can save future generations from
poor leadership and discrimination.