[Marty]

Suspension may well be the only answer. Making up suspension time will be expensive and if the student won't make up the time, she'll fail the classes and have to repeat the year or the semester. There must be costs to the student associated with the bad behavior or the behavior won't change for the better. Putting her in a situation where she'll be behind her peer group may well inspire her to change.

By the way, I work with high school students.

[hellinahandcart]

Suspension may well be the only answer.

The problem is that parents have sued when the schools suspend their little darling. Their attitude is, the kid's gauranteed a free education, so educate away, as long as you don't inconvenience me by putting the responsibility for my spoiled brat back on ME.

I would have put on the bowling shirt rather than have the principle call my mother in to the school. My mom wouldn't have brought me a T-shirt, she would have brought repercussions...