Students At Clearview Middle School - 1709 Words

A majority of the students in Middle Tennessee Public Schools come from a low- income family household. The school in which I work, Clearview Middle School is not only low- income, but is also a â€Å"priority† school. Priority schools are in the bottom five percent in being in the category of lowest- performing in the school district. The population of students at Clearview Middle School are majority African- American, but the cultures among the school are rich and diverse. Many students at Clearview Middle School have high potential of achieving great academic success, but fall short due consistent classroom disruptions throughout the day. Although a majority of the students in the school do not display inappropriate classroom behaviors,†¦show more content†¦A handful of my students were either emotionally disturbed or had experienced traumatic experiences outside of the classroom, typically in the communities they live in. For example, I had a student named â€Å" Brandon† who experienced daily issues with misbehaviors and defiance in the classrooms in which he entered. This student had been classified as emotionally disturbed before entering Clearview Middle. Brandon had issues with obtaining safe relationships with peers and staff, refusing to follow basic safety procedures, and defiance with authority on multiple occasions. As a part of his safety plan, Brandon was to come to my classroom to â€Å"reset† when these types of behaviors occurred. Brandon and I had a relationship where he knew my expectations when he entered my classroom and we had a trusting relationship. I had built this relationship with Brandon based upon implementing morning â€Å"check- ins† with him in a social and emotional learning aspect. I would make sure he was feeling okay before entering his classes and seeing what I could do to fix any problems that had happened that morning or could arise as the day goes on. Soon later this student was expelled due to continuous defiance and interfering with the safety with himself and with other students. I believe this could have been avoided if Brandon had received social and emotional learning experiences with other

Custodial issues Free Essays

Every year thousands of prisoners are released from prisons on parole or after completing their jail terms. To ensure that prisoners return to their normal lives without re- offending governments adopt programs meant to prepare prisoners for life after prison. Such programs may involve prisoners being allowed to work in community projects in order to instill a sense of responsibility in them. We will write a custom essay sample on Custodial issues or any similar topic only for you Order Now Additionally, prisoners may be allowed to work away from prisons and return when they have finished work. In some cases prisoners are permitted to visit the community. But despite these noble initiatives, cases of prisoners re-offending soon after they are released from prisons are not uncommon. This reveals that the programs are not always effective and something needs to be done to improve the situation. I strongly agree with probation experts such as Maburi (2009) that the psychological confusion, social stigma and economic hardships that they experience are partly to blame for prisoners re-offending tendencies. I believe that the excessively punitive sentences issued to convicts harden them instead of reforming them. Such sentences ignore the fact that convicts will at one time return to the community yet and do little to prepare them for life after prison. To prevent cases of ex convicts re-offending, courts should take bear in mind rehabilitation of prisoners back to the community after their jail terms. Towards this end, I believe there is need for further cooperation between the judiciary and the prisons and rehabilitation departments. By issuing humane punishments, courts will not only help in decongesting prisons but also save time and resources spent in charging and convicting the same persons for the same criminal offence repeatedly. This will definitely boost efficiency of both departments. While the move by governments to rehabilitate ex-prisoners into the community is laudable, I think there is need to enhance cooperation between rehabilitation departments and prisoners’ families and communities. This helps reduce stigmatization of prisoners thereby helping them regain their self esteem and quicken their reintegration into the community. The community also benefits from reduced cases of crimes. At the same time, by working closely with ex convicts, community leaders are able to monitor ex convicts movements and detect any criminal tendencies. Such monitoring also protects reformed ex convicts from being accused of criminal behaviors. I also believe that there is need to increase financial assistance accorded to ex-prisoners. As a result of social stigma that faces ex convicts, they face challenges in securing employment, consequently some of them may resort to criminal activities such as robbery to meet their needs. To reduce chances of ex prisoners re-offending, I would strongly advocate for the creation of organizations based on the alcohol anonymous model. This would entail prisoners and ex prisoners coming together to help each other overcome their criminal behaviours. Since they share similar experiences it would be easier for them to open up to each other and get assistance. Such a move will help reduce recidivism and other offences. Finally, I would propose that ex prisoners be made to pay back to the community for crimes committed. This could help deter them from committing crimes and boost reconciliation efforts in the community. References Maburi T, K (2009) Re-Integration of Ex-Prisoners Back Into Society – What More Can We Do? In The New Times 26 October 2009 retrieved from http://allafrica. com/stories/200910270086. html on May 10, 2010 How to cite Custodial issues, Papers

Creating Slave Laws Essay Example For Students

Creating Slave Laws Essay The institution of slavery is a black mark on the record of Americans. Marking a time of hate and racism, an oppression spurred by fear that would plague our nation for decades upon decades. An Act for the Better Order and Government of Negroes and Slaves, and Conflicts between Masters and Slaves: Maryland in the Mid-Seventeenth Century, illustrate the dismay and panic European Colonials endured as they enslaved Africans. This dismay and panic generated laws to be established that further widened the gap between Europeans and Africans, stripping the Africans of any legal rights. The dismay and panic concerned loosing a valuable economic pawn. The first piece, An Act for Better Ordinance, clearly portrays the attitude of the majority of White Europeans. Whereaes the plantations and estates of this Province cannot be well and sufficiently manages and brought into use, without the labor and service of negroes and other slaves i.e., Indians; and forasmuch as the said negroes and other slaves brought unto the people of this Province for that purpose, are barbarous, wild, savage natures, and such as renders them wholly unqualified to be governed by the laws, customs, and practices of this Province; but that is absolutely necessary.1 The white men of the time felt that their superiority was deemed by a higher power, why else would their skin tones be so drastically different. Racist views of these savage men created fear. With the growing number of slaves, they had to be stripped of everything to prevent anarchy, as the white men could not envision a world without slave labor. The white men rationalized that slaves will escape. To prevent this one must allow them nothing beyond the plantation they were running from. The white men turn to government. And for the better security of all such persons that shall endeavor to take any run-away, or shall examine any slave for his ticket, passing to and from his masters plantation, it is hereby declared lawful for any white person to beat, maim or assault, and if such negro or slave cannot otherwise be taken, to kill him, who shall refuse to shew his ticket, or, by running away or resistance, shall endeavor to avoid being apprehended or taken.2 White men had granted themselves a license to kill Africans whose desire for freedom was too strong. Likewise, the second piece, Conflicts between Masters and Slaves, continues to clarify the sentiment of white slave owners. Whereupon Mr. Overzee beate him with some peare tree wands or tweiggs to the bigness of mans finger att the biggest end, which hee held in his hand, and uppon the stubberness of the negro caused his dublett to be taken of and whipd him upon his bare back . . . 3 This testimony was given at a trial holding Mr. Overzee responsible for the death of the slave that ensued from the beating described. The case discussed illustrates that there was an extent. The license to kill apparently had restrictions. However, Mr. Overzee was acquitted when the case went before a higher court.4 Equally important as the feelings of slave owners and the means that they used to justify their feelings is the fact that these two pieces are not biased. Securing the Leg Irons: Restriction of Legal Rights for Slaves in Virginia and Maryland, 1625-1791 and Enslaved African rebellions in Vir ginia continue to demonstrate the fear of slave labor disappearing caused many to turn to government. Securing the Leg Irons vocalizes the relationship of slave and owner, the right of personal liberty in the slave is utterly inconsistent with the idea of slavery, and whenever the slave acquires this right, his condition is ipso facto changed . . . So long as two races of men live together, the one as masters and the others as dependents and slaves to a certain extent, all of the superior race shall exercise a controlling power over the inferior.5 This view on the association between the two classes does not ignore fear of the freedom of slaves as factor in legal proceedings but lays the groundwork for legal justification of the treatment of slaves. Outwin goes on to articulate the slaves were more valuable as slaves