Schools, Prisons, and Social Implications of Punishment: Rethinking

Disciplinary Practices
(Pedro A. Noguera)
Annotation #9
Questions:
Why school fails to respond to students unmet needs and factors
responsible for their problematic behavior?
The article answers this question by focusing on the understanding that
many schools have a preoccupation with control and why certain students
are more likely than others to be targeted for punishment. Schools with a
zero tolerance policy have created a Jim Crow enforcement mentality.
Schools in urban communities tend to convey an illusion of control in
communities that are out of control economically, politically, and socially.
Schools fail because they implement control bluntly out of fear of giving in
to the out of control surrounding communities.
Why has the drive for order and safety resulted in the neediest and
most disadvantaged students being the ones most likely to be
punished?
The article answers this question by stating that schools policies are a
reflection of governments approach to crimes in society to remove all the
bad individuals and keep them from others who are presumed to be
good and law abiding. So, the ones frequently targeted for punishment
in school often look-in terms of race, gender, and socioeconomic status-a
lot like adults who are most likely to be targeted for incarceration in
society.
How do schools break the cycle of failure and restore the social
contract that underlines schooling?
The article stated that the primary functions of school are: first sorting
students based of their academic ability, second socializing students by
teaching the values and norms, and finally, social control are functions
that are important and central to the operation of most schools. But, also
mentions that without the third one the other two functions cannot be
easily accomplished. So, the simple answer that Noguera suggests is to
be real enough to respect them, by getting to know them, understanding
their community, and being a professional teacher for the students.
Reaction:
This article was great. It raised a lot of concerns as I approach teaching. Im
one for law and order but when it comes to the future of our youth Im about
helping them ignite their flame of knowledge to help see their own path and
maneuver through obstacles that may be in their future. I want to invest as
much as I can to the service of my students goals.
Connections:
I connected with this article as an elementary student, teacher, and citizen. As
a student I was one of the neediest students, that was always targeted for
behavior issues. As a future teacher it opened my eyes to how I need to
approach my students but to suspend all my biases. Each student should be
given some latitude when it comes to discipline to help build relationships to

address the issues. As a citizen I look to making a difference in Arizonas school

system starting with my class room.
Restatements:
Noguera unveils the tradition of slavery in American school system. A tradition
of control as it applies in urban schools caries the stigma of slavery, Jim Crow,
and criminal law methods of social enforcement against unwanted people.
Applications: In the future I intend to be a prepared and organized teacher,
whose sole purpose, when on school grounds, is to serve my students by helping
them become functioning citizens in society.