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Teachers say students are becoming more unruly and disrespectful. Schools complain that it is getting harder to get parents involved. So what is the solution? Some school districts have turned to handcuffing and police intervention as a way to get students under control. However, that idea is not sitting well with many parents and community members – particularly when it is their own children on the receiving end of the harsh disciplinary measures. After all, what type of message does a school send to students when they are throwing handcuffs on young wrists? In this author's opinion, which is supported by research, it is a message that encourages a vicious cycle of future violence and criminality.

This video demonstrates handcuffing.

Recent Incident in Mississippi Results in Policy Change

Jackson 51����s in Mississippi have had a policy that allows handcuffing students to stationary objects as a means of discipline. The policy has been particularly prevalent at Capital City Alternative School, where teachers and administrators say discipline problems abound. According to a report in the , a suit was filed last year in response to this policy, which forced the school district to take another look at their disciplinary measures.

The lawsuit was filed by Jeanette Murry on behalf of her son, who was 16 at the time of the incident and a student at the alternative school. Murry stated

In an attempt to stop school closures across New York City, teacher unions are taking their case to the courtroom. Union members have called the closure of 24 schools a “sham,” used by the mayor and his team to oust teachers by stripping them of their contractual rights. City officials have said the closures are necessary for raising the education bar throughout the city and have denounced union members as obstacles in providing the best quality of education to New York City students.

The Plan to Close Schools

The school closure plan was put into place last month when the Panel for Educational Policy voted to close 24 under-performing schools over the summer. According to a report at NY1, new schools would immediately open to replace the closed schools this fall, with schools meeting in the same buildings under new names and leadership. Teachers and principals who have been working in those locations up to this point will have to reapply for their jobs in the new schools next year. City officials predict only about half of current staff will be rehired, with the rest made up of new applicants.

Because the buildings will technically house new schools, contractual obligations with the current staff of the old schools will not apply. This allows the city to move forward with plans to get rid of ineffective teachers, replacing them with stronger applicants. The union has no intention of allowing this plan to go through unhindered, stating that the

10 Major Challenges Facing 51����s

The American public education system stands at a critical crossroads in 2025, facing unprecedented challenges that threaten both student success and institutional stability. As educators and administrators navigate the post-pandemic landscape, they continue to grapple with long-standing issues while confronting emerging obstacles that reshape the educational environment. From technological inequities to mental health concerns, from budget constraints to shifting demographic needs, these challenges demand innovative solutions and renewed commitment from all education stakeholders. This article examines ten of the most pressing issues facing our public schools today, offering insights into their impact and potential pathways toward resolution.

Few would argue that the state of our education system has plenty of room for improvement.

• Developing a plan to take schools in the right direction is easier said than done.
• The first challenge lies in identifying underlying problems keeping students from learning today.
• This challenge, in part, is due to the fact that the problems may change considerably depending on who is labeling them, whether it is students, parents, educators, or lawmakers.
• Consider this list of 10 major challenges currently facing public schools, based on the perspective of many involved in the world of education today.

1. Classroom Size

Many areas of the country are facing classrooms that are literally busting out at the seams.

• A report at two years ago discussed how

In response to numerous changes made to the Detroit 51���� system this year, thousands of teachers in the district have received “pink slips” telling them they can reapply for their jobs this summer. With more than 4,000 teachers now unemployed for the upcoming school year, many are predicting that chaos will reign when students return to classrooms this fall. At the same time, district officials are attempting to reassure students and parents that the decision to lay off teachers is the best way to ensure they have sufficient teachers – and the right teachers – heading up classrooms at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.

"In this short video, Atlantic associate editor Alia Wong traces the history of Detroit 51����s—from a model for urban education at the turn of the century to a failing, debt-ridden system today."

Changes to the District Prompt Layoffs

One reason for the mass layoff is the many changes the Detroit school system will face in the upcoming school year. A new system, the Educational Achievement Authority, has been put in place to deal with schools that are consistently unable to perform at state standards. Under this system, 15 Detroit schools are slated to switch districts for the next school year, removing those schools from the Detroit 51���� system. All of those schools were classified as low-performing, according to state standards. This change involves approximately

Teacher unions have been a part of American education for well over a century, beginning with grassroots efforts to support teachers through improved salaries, benefits, and working conditions. The two national organizations, the s (AFT) and the (NEA), have paved the way for dozens of state and local teacher associations, often referred to as Independent Education Associations (IEAs). In light of education reform gaining speed nationwide, these teacher unions have recently been put in the spotlight – either as the major hurdle standing in the way of true reform, or a potentially valuable tool in bringing about the sort of change needed in education today.

This video offers an overview of the National Education Association.

History of the Teacher Union

According to the , the early beginnings of the teacher union can be traced all the way back to the early years of the 20^th century, when city boards of education began the first efforts at education reform. While this early focus was positive in some respects - including raising the standards of teaching, ensuring student achievement, and rooting out corruption - teachers at the time did not feel like a significant part of the reform process. Teachers rebelled against the changes implemented by business leaders and education bureaucrats, and they began forming local associations that eventually grew into the