How negative student labels can affect them for life.

There is a theory that if an individual is told they are bad and if they hear it enough times, that person may come to believe that they are indeed “bad.” When that happens, they may be more likely to engage in disruptive and antisocial behaviors. This reinforces the negative perception that others may have of the individual and so a vicious cycle begins. If the individual is an adolescent, stigmatizing labels can exacerbate delinquent behaviors and have long-term negative consequences. Unfortunately, this is an occurrence happening all too frequently in public schools across the United States, especially in those that have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with problematic behaviors in students. A practice in many of these schools is the use of exclusionary discipline, a form of punishment where the student is removed from the regular school setting through suspension or expulsion as a means of deterring antisocial behaviors and violations of school rules. However, there is a significant body of research which shows that exclusionary discipline may do the exact opposite by aggravating bad behaviors and making it more likely that the student will end up in the juvenile or criminal justice system—a trend sometimes referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline.

School suspension or expulsion can stigmatize students.

When students are expelled or suspended from school as a punishment, they become stigmatized and are effectively labeled as “bad” or “delinquent” separate and apart from the general student population. This has profound consequences and does not consider the underlying factors, such as socioeconomic status or family background, that may contribute to the student behaving in such a way that would justify the harsh punishment of suspension or expulsion. A student’s removal from the regular classroom setting denies them the structure and social support that schools offer, and which are critical to healthy adolescent development. In addition, studies show that students who have been expelled or suspended from school are more likely to lose access to a strong and robust emotional and social support system and instead may gravitate toward other individuals who engage in similar anti-social and delinquent behaviors. This could place these students at risk of getting entangled with the juvenile or criminal justice system.

Research also suggests that students who have been subject to a previous suspension are more likely to receive subsequent suspensions for even the most minor school infractions because they are already labeled and perceived by school authorities as being delinquent. Students who receive exclusionary discipline also experience poor academic outcomes and have a higher chance of dropping out of school altogether. The negative label that comes with being suspended or expelled from school becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where the student engages in the antisocial and delinquent behaviors that have come to be expected of them.

Alternative approaches to school discipline are needed.

Given the significant role of schools in building socialization skills, the practice of exclusionary discipline could be harmful for students’ behavioral development. Research states that “...an increased likelihood of formal sanctions, such as justice system contact, or an increased likelihood of a teacher or parent reporting subsequent delinquent outcomes of the student may be ascribed to a labeling effect rather than actual student behaviors.” Researchers have emphasized that these findings demonstrate a pressing need to address the potential negative consequences associated with exclusionary discipline through increased resources, training, and support for alternative approaches.

To learn more about how exclusionary discipline can negatively label students and lead to poor outcomes, read this article by Samantha Viano, assistant professor in the Education Leadership program within George Mason University’s School of Education. For more information on how the Education Leadership program develops graduates who can make a difference in education and policy, please visit the program website.