tiveness of Suspension
As noted previously, Saturday detention is currently viewed by educators as a superior alternative to suspension in matters of discipline. In other to understand why an alternative is needed it is helpful to examine the literature on suspension as a disciplinary form.
From a historical perspective, it should be understood that suspension was first offered as a viable alternative to corporal punishment and other harsher methods of discipline. For example, writing in 1978 about discipline, Farley (1978) stated that:
A survey of 36 school districts indicates that there does seem to be a trend toward eliminating corporal punishment. Many districts felt that corporal punishment had proved less effective than alternative disciplinary measures such as suspension, parent conferences, counseling, and programs that helped to prevent delinquency. (p. 57).
In other words, Farley (1978) (as well as many other administrators and educators) viewed suspension not merely as a means of punishing an unruly stud
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