Confronting our beliefs about poverty and discipline. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fergus, Edward
• Is Part Of: Phi Delta Kappan. Volume 100:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Greek letter societies -- Periodicals; Onderwijs; Éducation -- Périodiques; Associations désignées par des lettres grecques -- Périodiques; Éducation; Enseignement; Pédagogie; Politique éducative; Recherche en éducation; Réforme du système éducatif; Services aux élèves; Système éducatif; États-Unis; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 371.0097305
• DOI: 10.1177/0031721719827542
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-7217

Abstract

Many school practitioners think of poverty as a kind of "culture, " characterized by dysfunctional behaviors that can only be corrected by imposing harsh discipline on students. Further, beliefs about poverty are often used to justify racial disparities in disciplinary referrals, achievement, and enrollment in gifted, AP, and honors courses, as well as to justify harsh punishments for "disobedience" or "disorderly conduct" or "disrespect." Edward Fergus suggests that educators learn to understand their blind spots related to race and culture and to seek out feedback on the degree to which members of the school community experience bias .