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My Baby Brother and the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Teaching for Social Justice

Quincy Ward

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Published in Being Bad: My Baby Brother And The School To Prison Pipeline (Teaching For Social Justice Series)

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Being Bad: My Baby Brother and the School-to-Prison Pipeline (Teaching For Social Justice Series)

by Thomas M. McCann

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	340 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	144 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

I remember the day my baby brother was born like it was yesterday. He was the cutest little thing, with big brown eyes and a tiny button nose. I couldn't wait to hold him in my arms and shower him with love.

But as my brother grew older, I started to notice that he was different from other kids. He was always getting into trouble at school, and he seemed to have a lot of anger inside of him. I didn't understand why he was so different, and I didn't know how to help him.

One day, my brother was suspended from school for fighting. I was so worried about him, and I didn't know what to do. I called my mom, and she told me that my brother had been struggling with ADHD and other behavioral problems. She said that he had been seeing a therapist, but it wasn't helping.

I was so scared for my brother. I knew that he was headed down a dangerous path, and I didn't know how to stop him. I felt like I was failing him, and I didn't know what to do.

Then, one day, I met a teacher who changed my life. Her name was Ms. Smith, and she was a social justice teacher. She taught her students about the school-to-prison pipeline, and she showed them how to break the cycle.

Ms. Smith's class was a safe space for my brother. He could talk about his problems without being judged, and he could learn about ways to cope with his anger and frustration.

Ms. Smith also taught my brother about his rights, and she showed him how to stand up for himself. He learned that he didn't have to accept being treated unfairly, and he learned how to fight for what he believed in.

My brother is now a successful young man. He graduated from high school and went on to college. He is now working as a social worker, and he is helping other kids who are struggling with the same problems that he faced.

I am so grateful to Ms. Smith for saving my brother's life. She showed him that there is hope, and she gave him the tools he needed to succeed.

I believe that all children deserve a fair chance in life, regardless of their race, gender, or background. I am committed to teaching for social justice, and I will continue to fight for the rights of all students.

The School-to-Prison Pipeline

The school-to-prison pipeline is a system of policies and practices that push students out of school and into the juvenile justice system. This pipeline is fueled by a number of factors, including:

Poverty
Racism
Inequality
Lack of resources
Harsh discipline policies

The school-to-prison pipeline has a devastating impact on students. It can lead to:

Dropping out of school
Juvenile delinquency
Adult crime
Unemployment
Poverty

The school-to-prison pipeline is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. We need to invest in our schools and our students, and we need to create a more just and equitable society.

Teaching for Social Justice

Teaching for social justice is a way of teaching that challenges the status quo and promotes equality and justice for all. Social justice teachers use their classrooms to:

Raise awareness of social issues
Teach students about their rights
Help students develop critical thinking skills
Empower students to take action for change

Teaching for social justice is not easy, but it is essential. We need to prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century, and we need to give them the tools they need to create a more just and equitable world.

My brother's story is a reminder that the school-to-prison pipeline is a real and serious problem. But it is also a reminder that there is hope. We can break the cycle of poverty, racism, and inequality by investing in our schools and our students, and by teaching for social justice.

I believe that all children deserve a fair chance in life, and I am committed to fighting for the rights of all students. I will continue to teach for social justice, and I will continue to fight for the day when all students have access to a quality education.

Being Bad: My Baby Brother and the School-to-Prison Pipeline (Teaching For Social Justice Series)

by Thomas M. McCann

4.6 out of 5