New Books in Sociology
Aaron Kupchik, "Suspended Education: School Punishment and the Legacy of Racial Injustice" (NYU Press, 2025)
Apr 17, 2025
Aaron Kupchik, a sociology professor and author of "Suspended Education," unpacks the harmful effects of school suspensions, particularly on Black students. He discusses how suspensions disrupt education without improving behavior and reveals their historical roots tied to racial injustice post-desegregation. Kupchik illustrates the impact of implicit racial bias through compelling stories, urging a shift from punitive practices to restorative methods. His research highlights the need for reform to better support marginalized communities in the educational system.
27:43
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Quick takeaways
- School suspensions are ineffective for behavior management and can worsen academic struggles, particularly harming Black students' educational experiences.
- The legacy of racial injustice deeply informs modern discipline strategies, leading to systemic biases that disproportionately affect Black students in schools.
Deep dives
The Ineffectiveness of School Suspensions
School suspensions are not effective for managing student behavior or improving academic performance. Research indicates that suspensions often exacerbate behavioral issues, as students may struggle academically while they are absent from class. This disconnection can lead to a wider gap in understanding the material, causing the root causes of their misbehavior to grow. Moreover, instead of deterring future misbehavior, suspensions can result in higher rates of retention, failure to graduate, and even increased chances of arrest, particularly affecting Black students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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