E4E-Chicago hosted “In Class, Not Cuffs: A Chicago Town Hall” on Thursday, June 7 to show support for federal guidance designed to help teachers address discipline without discriminating that U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos may rescind.
90 educators attended and shared their stories with Acting Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Jason Botel and Attorney Advisor for the Office of Civil Rights Brittany Bull about how the restorative practices outlined in the guidance have played an important role in improving student discipline and social-emotional wellbeing.
E4E-Chicago members presented Botel and Bull with postcards from teachers requesting that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos keep the guidance that helps educators explore effective alternatives to exclusionary discipline practices, such as suspension and expulsion. Check out some of the highlights!
Teachers Speak Up
E4E-Chicago members spoke to moderator Doug Stalnos from the Chicago Public Schools Office of Social and Emotional Learning on their experiences using restorative practices instead of punitive measures with their students.
Check Out the Photos
What People are Saying
Students air their voices about school climate #E4ECHI pic.twitter.com/zATUexL1As
— Lynn Osborne-Simmons (@lineboo2030) June 7, 2018
Teacher at North Lawndale College Prep says often the most vulnerable students are ones being disciplined. Says she’s lost 2 students to gun violence & she thinks it’s directly related to them being pushed out of school. #E4ECHI #schooldiscipline
— Kalyn Belsha (@kalynbelsha) June 7, 2018
@Ed4Excellence keep making a difference in the lives of our youth! So happy to be apart of it...
— Winnie williams-Hall (@WinnieEdD) June 8, 2018
@Ed4Excellence Members in Chicago sharing how important it is to actually have a restorative practice training pic.twitter.com/Y1KQtXtZbS
— Adam Marshand (@amarshandadam) June 7, 2018
Asking the @usedgov @BetsyDeVosED to uphold the federal school discipline guidance at the @Ed4Excellence #E4EChi Town Hall
— Dayna Heller (@droseh) June 7, 2018
Fight to keep students in the classroom. Our Chicago members are wrapping up their town hall by writing post-cards to stakeholders to prevent discriminatory school discipline practices. #InClassNotCuffs #E4EChi pic.twitter.com/laWvRTvJ5Z
— Educators4Excellence (@Ed4Excellence) June 8, 2018