Feds look into discipline rates of black students in Seattle schools
»Play Video
SEATTLE (AP) - The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the high rate at which black students are disciplined in Seattle Public Schools, a problem that has plagued the district for decades.
Spokesman Jim Bradshaw confirmed Tuesday that the department's Office of Civil Rights is looking into whether the district discriminates against black students by disciplining them more frequently and more severely than white students. The investigation, which began last May, was first reported by Seattle public radio station KUOW-FM.
A Seattle Public Schools spokeswoman said she had no immediate comment.
According to district data, in the 2011-2012 school year, nearly 13 percent of black high school students received at least one short-term suspension. The equivalent figure for white students was just under 4 percent. In middle schools, the rate was 7 percent of white students and 27 percent of blacks.
The district has long been aware of the disparity, and recently held community meetings that addressed its discipline rates.
The investigation was instigated by the department on its own, rather than by a complaint filed by someone else, Bradshaw said.
He noted that a similar investigation into Delaware's largest school district, the Christina School District in Wilmington, concluded that black students were disciplined more harshly and more frequently because of their race. Last December, school officials entered an agreement with the Education Department to try to fix the problem, promising to address misbehavior in ways that don't require removal from school, collaborate with experts on preventing discrimination in discipline, and provide training for staff and administrators.
"In virtually all cases, if noncompliance is found, we're able to reach voluntary resolution agreements to help a district or institution come into compliance with our civil rights laws," Bradshaw wrote in an email. "Enforcement options do exist, but in nearly every case, we're able to work with districts, short of having to resort to that option."
Spokesman Jim Bradshaw confirmed Tuesday that the department's Office of Civil Rights is looking into whether the district discriminates against black students by disciplining them more frequently and more severely than white students. The investigation, which began last May, was first reported by Seattle public radio station KUOW-FM.
A Seattle Public Schools spokeswoman said she had no immediate comment.
According to district data, in the 2011-2012 school year, nearly 13 percent of black high school students received at least one short-term suspension. The equivalent figure for white students was just under 4 percent. In middle schools, the rate was 7 percent of white students and 27 percent of blacks.
The district has long been aware of the disparity, and recently held community meetings that addressed its discipline rates.
The investigation was instigated by the department on its own, rather than by a complaint filed by someone else, Bradshaw said.
He noted that a similar investigation into Delaware's largest school district, the Christina School District in Wilmington, concluded that black students were disciplined more harshly and more frequently because of their race. Last December, school officials entered an agreement with the Education Department to try to fix the problem, promising to address misbehavior in ways that don't require removal from school, collaborate with experts on preventing discrimination in discipline, and provide training for staff and administrators.
"In virtually all cases, if noncompliance is found, we're able to reach voluntary resolution agreements to help a district or institution come into compliance with our civil rights laws," Bradshaw wrote in an email. "Enforcement options do exist, but in nearly every case, we're able to work with districts, short of having to resort to that option."
"In virtually all cases, if noncompliance is found, we're able to reach voluntary resolution agreements to help a district or institution come into compliance with our civil rights laws,"
This is what happens when liberals cant just admit there is a 900 lb gorilla standing in the middle of the room. Its like watching a contortionist fold her body so it will fit neatly into a box. Realistically, the only way to get to the bottom of this is to take it on a case by case basis. This would be time consuming, expensive, and would quantify something that the liberals cant admit. They cant even admit that they cant cant admit it so that's not going to happen. Instead they will look at the stats, talk to the white teachers and explain that they need to "check their white privileges" and become more sensitive to their culture. The same exact thing that happened when Blacks were unable to grasp even the most basic fundamentals (verb tense) resulted in a name being given to their linguistic dysfunction rather then just admit what we all know to be true
Great, that'll help matters....we're from the government, and we're here to help you....right.
The only way to see if black kids are punished more than white kids is to look at each case individually and see how the discipline was handled; but that's never going to happen, it's way too arduous. My guess is that white kids got let off more often than blacks because they were better at sucking up, or pretending to show remorse for their actions. Seattle area caucasians are generally a very passive-aggressive, apologetic type, and blacks tend to be just the opposite. If I were a white teacher, (which most are) I would certainly be more prone to forgive a white kid who is apologizing profusely, (as he was taught to do by his milquetoast, white-bread parents) verse a black kid who is adamantly denying all culpability, (as he has needed to do his entire life). But obviously we'll never get to the bottom of it, so hopefully teachers and administrators will start looking at kids equally, and punishing them accordingly. Seattle is better than this.
@Asa"as he was taught to do by his milquetoast, white-bread parents"Â bigoted much?
Shame on Asian students for not doing their fair share of mischief.
This is why I always believed in students going to schools in their own neighborhoods.In some ways,integrating
the schools has not worked because of forced racial quotas.Yes,I am black and can say this,even here in Seattle!!
I am a retired Seattle School District teacher, and in my experience, black students are punished disproportionately because they disproportionately violate school standards. Based on my 31 years of experience, I'd say that's a fact. To hold them to a different standard, when they break the rules, is racist.
@Geronimo Jones Do you agree that, if anything, seattle teachers are overwhelmingly liberal to the point of being leftist?  And that blacks are actually given a pass on much of their egregious behavior?
Perhaps the school system is doing them a terrible disservice by teaching them that whites will tolerate all manner of bad behavior from blacks. Â Then when they reach young adulthood and start committing more and more serious crimes, it is too late to correct them.
Or perhaps they are just predisposed to criminal activity? Â After all, there is no black majority jurisdiction on the planet which is not a corrupt garbage-strewn criminal pesthole.
Are behaviors being disciplined equally? The question should not be 13% of blacks and 4% of whites are being disciplined and that is au priori racist. The question should be are behaviors being punished the same?
If behaviors are being punished consistently and fairly then the problem is NOT Seattle schools discipline policies and implementation.
Then we must ask why black students have punishable behaviors at 3 times the rate of white students.
But Seattle and the liberals running the joint do not what to take that path, for very uncomfortable truths lie down that road.
I really don't care what color your skin is. School is the first phase of ones life where you get the training to deal with life when one grows up. If you are having trouble in school guess what, your adult life is not going to be much different. Mr. Bible can sit back and talk smack all he wants since he doesn't have to deal with these kids. Bottom line, you can screw with all the numbers you want to make whatever kind of point you are making. It is what it is. Either deal with it and make progress or sweep it under the carpet and let it fester.
Never mind my color
1. I come from parents with low education
2. I am from a low income family
3. My parents struggle to move me to a better neighborhood. ( this is key)
4. I have no after school supervision
5. I struggle in school with my grades
6. I have low self esteam due to poor grades
Anyone of these key factors plays a part in low performance students that get kicked out of school for not following the rules.
Sadly there are parents that cant get their act together at home to do a better job of parenting .
Now look at the density of the school neighborhood is it more black or white ? Because thats what this whole thing is about anyway right .
If the neighborhood or school has more black kids why wouldnt there be more black kids getting tossed out of school .  Â
So just out of curiosity what is the purpose here? Are teachers supposed to now ignore a black student who is aciting out and look for a white one and punish them when they are not? Is there going to be some kind of "bell curve" for discipline? Why would you not want your kid disciplined if they were acting wrong? Personally I want mine disciplined more, not less. I for one have never intervened on my kids behalf when they get in trouble at school...NEVER, even if I didn't agree completely with the teacher. Oh well...this is why I pulled my kid out of the public drop out factory down the street and pay someone to educate them.  No discipline problems at my kids school. If you are tardy too many times..you pay for Saturday school, if you get in too much trouble...bye, bye! You are there to learn, PERIOD! If you don't want to learn then you are told to leave.Â
blacks are easier targets for school officials. whites may have more resources in their Rolodex and complaints are taken more serious. School officials not looking to do career suicide
I have a feeling some people would get mad if black people held more jobs than white people, saying it's favoritism.Â
This comment has been deleted
I wonder how much James Bible had to do with this? This country is exactly as Adam Carolla said, its pathetic. Everything is about race, affirmative action, sensitivity, creed, religion, sex, disability...goddamn enough already.
When I was in 1st grade, I threw a rock and hit a kid in the head. The principal paddled my a** because I deserved it. I'm white, and that doesnt have anything to do with it. Christ, I'm so sick of this.
OH WOW!!! I can't believe this is still an ongoing topic. It's always been about how blacks are being mistreated, blacks are being singled out, blah blah blah... Here we are in 2013 and still can't get over this waste of human race subject... This is seriously a big joke and HUGE waste of taxpayer dollars. I've got the perfect solution for this ridiculous issue and would hopefully make all the parents of the blacks happy, build schools that accept only black students and let the rest of the schools population focus on more important things like "valuable learning" and getting an education, useful things that matter. This is complete garbage!!!Â
@Richard Cole I agree! desegregation was the precursor to the ever popular "No -child-left-behind" and similar nit witted liberal ideas that do nothing to help education but only further the liberal agenda of implying race/class/gender issues where none exist to cover up a truth they cannot admit or even admit they cant admit.
Here we go again.The answer is to not discipline any more blacks once the number of blacks disciplined equals the number of whites disciplined until another white is disciplined.While this gives blacks a free reign (of terror) once equilibrium has been reached, it is the only fair thing to do.Racially neutral discipline needs to be completely free of both the number of infractions, and their severity.As long as we discipline based on infractions, ignoring race, we will never achieve equality.
If you look hard enough you can find racism even where it isn't.
Discipline has nothing to do with a person's race. Minorities commit more crime and delinquency per capita except for Asians and white people.
"Department of Education" is a lost cause; a complete waste of taxpayer money.Â
There was a walkout of 200 students, in Marysville a few years back. Â Get this, Â they were demanding more discipline!
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080306/NEWS01/569352145
Have you ever seen how black women treat their kids? These kids just need to know they are loved. Drive thru Rainier valley, they are yelling at them all the time. I wish I could just go grab them and take care of them, I feel so bad for them.
i don't understand why this is indicative of a problem. Â and why does it definitively mean that the motivations are racial? to say something is racist is to indicate we know for certain what is going through a person's thoughts, their perspective on life, and their particular motivations for doing one thing over another. Â are federal administrators claiming to be definitive judges on teachers' innermost thoughts?
really, enough of the racist card bs. Â look at the data people, instead of grabbing at the easiest, lowest-hanging fruit. Â focus on education. Â if it happens that "black" kids are doing things to get in trouble more often than "white" kids, well so be it. Â it doesn't indicate that people hate them for the color of their skin. Â and stop reinforcing the notion of race. Â the sooner we stop throwing that out as knee-jerk reaction, the sooner race will truly become irrelevant. Â stop feeding the problem with small-minded analysis. Â
@rideballard Yup!! The whole victim mentality is what is taking this great nation down. Everyone thinks he or she is a victim. As if we owe it to them to fix their lives for them.Â
Don't be the trouble maker, don't get detention. Its that simple. But I guess its too much to ask out of kids these days in general
I used to get whooped by the teachers as a kid. I am white, so it wasn't "Black Abuse". I say whatever. Just stay the F away from my house if it's perfectly fine to act/behave any which way you please without consequence. My punishment for you busting into my house won't be the same as you might have got in school.Â
Will the river ever be full, from all of this poor, always me crying? I doubt it.
As if discipline was a bad thing.....It's too bad when teachers feel pressured not to discipline. Â Many of the greatest minds were cultivated in rather harsh classrooms; Â Roald Dahl, Samuel Johnson, etc.
@cheekygesturton Wouldn't you say that was "despite" harsh classrooms? Punishment doesn't equal brilliance
@chandler @cheekygesturton undecided on that,  however there's nothing close to a 'harsh' classroom these days.  Miscreants roll their eyes at another lecture on how they are tomorrow's leaders.
Could it be that Black students misbehave more than white students?????
@britlady My point is that disciple should be a good thing.  Students who act-out need some extra attention, regardless of race.
@SydthepiperWaters? Some of his movies are a little over the top. But as a college student so many years ago, they were what the hip kids were going  to see. That quote seems a little bit downbeat for Waters, though. Sounds more like a Pink Floyd song.Â
@britladyWhen we grew up and went to school
There were certain teachers who would
Hurt the children any way they could
By pouring their derision
Upon anything we did
And exposing every weakness
However carefully hidden by the kids
-Waters
I agree with you, I went to school in England..talk about strict/discipline!!!
Does anybody remember when Obummer said that Blacks should not blame whites for their blight in life? Accept responsibility for their actions? Did you fools actually think he believed that? Amazing how when he has four years left of tyrannical leadership, he changes his tune? Hypocritical little bustard. Someone really needs to find his TRUE birth certificate, and kick him out of office.
And how about when those two whites attacked a black person at an atm in Seattle, and got "hate crime" added to thier punishment, and yet a similar scenario where the attackers were BLACK, doing it SPECIFICALLY because it was done to a black, got no hate crime against them?
And how about blacks claiming racism for the larger numbers of blacks in prison?
This administration is RACIST. And unfortunately, whites will have to fight back against this. Of course this will not happen, because white liberals will be so SCARED of being called RACIST, that they will continue to be "race slapped", instead of TRULY stopping racism where it exists.
I say get rid of "hate crimes" being added to a crime, unless it is done against blacks also. I say take a stand against this reverse racist BS, being called a racist be damned. It is NOT politically incorrect to speak the truth about the softhandedness of blacks against whites crimes.
Maybe the reason blacks/minorities were punished more in Seattle schools, is because of the truth EVERYWHERE. THEY caused the most problems.
@Nuclearian You have some good points, too bad that is lost with your ignorant points of view surrounding them.
@stillywack @Nuclearian  You suffer from white guilt and ignore reality.
Why does it always have to be about race? Can it be as simple as kids in poor families (not saying they all will, I grew up poor) generally act out in school. And itâs no secret that minorities are usually are poor. The problem is not school disciplining black kids but it goes deeper and is more of a social issue.
What this article also fails to present are the percentage of Asian students being disciplined, I am pretty confident the percentage would be lower than white students.
@Nathan Boi . There are plenty of black - and white - millionaires in the NBA who get into trouble all the time. The size of one's bank account is not likely the main factor in determining why one is a jerk.
I was a student observer at Ingraham High School in 1988. At that time, district administrators had decided to end discriminatory discipline once and for all - through with a quota system. They  literally imposed race-based quotas on the number of kids who could be disciplined. I was at Ingraham towards the end of the year after the quotas had been used up.Â
I did not have any prior experience at the school for comparison - but this is what I saw:
I observed a Spanish class in which the teacher stood in the middle of the room and lectured. All around her, students were out of their seats, walking around, talking, throwing things, etc. The students who wanted to actually learn Spanish had no hope of hearing anything the teacher said. She was merely going through the motions.Â
Other teachers told me it was pure chaos now that some students knew that teachers could not discipline them, no matter what they did. Some teachers managed to command enough respect from students to continue to teach in spite of the rules. Lesser beings, however, simply gave up.Â
I went to work for a software company...
@Jerrie Â
Two words: HOME SCHOOL.
Are boys disciplined more than girls? Discrimination!
Are students disciplined more than teachers? Age Discrimiation!
RTâ@komonews: Feds look into discipline rates of black students in #Seattle schools http://t.co/fuFEUElacIâ
.@FoolishReporter @komonews This is an example of what "we the people" can point to as a waste of the tax $ they get from us. Spend smarter!
What about Asians or Hispanics? Are those minority groups disciplined at a higher rate as well? No not disproportionately. In my nearly two decades of teaching my two greatest behavior challenges have been girls. One Black and one White.
Our government is so good at gathering statistics and racial profiling. Have they taken the time to actually on a case by case basis find out why these kids were disciplined? What is ratio of blacks and whites in that school? How many of these kids black or white actually belong to gangs? Our government is a statistical nightmare and most of their statistics are not based on an actual examination of the facts in each case. My question would be why are we doing so much racial profiling in this country? Â
@JatokIn the school my son attended they had a way around this. A bunch of blacks are in the back of the room disrupting the class. The whole class gets in trouble.
Of course they are training children at a very young age that they don't have to take responsibilty for their own behavior. I was appalled when my kids were in school and that was actually applied to several incidences I can remember. Our honor choir lost all of their field trips (competition) for the behavior of 3 kids on the bus. And a whole class was punished when one child failed to return a signed paper from their parents. I didn't see it as right then and I sure don't see it being right now.
@Jatok The mass punishment cop out is total BS. I've even seen that in a couple of work places. If ONE PERSON has a problem with conduct they need to be addressed regardless of race or anything else. And leave everyone else alone.Â
@Jatok That's the problem if our government actually took a look at all the statistics they love to come out with the feds would never need to look into this!!