‘Pushouts’ should stop blaming others for failure

Ricardo. Reyna’s op-ed of Sept. 22 (“Let’s stop the ‘school pushout’”) castigates the educational system for the plight of so many “young people of color” who are being subjected to “school pushout” (his term for suspensions and expulsions), denying them “from receiving education and opportunities,” simply for “minor misbehavior like ‘defiance’ or acting out”, defacing school property (writing in books) and “getting smart with teachers.”

He doesn’t understand the principle of “cause and effect,” that had he not engaged in the “misbehavior” he cited, there wouldn’t have been reason to, in his words, suspend him “more times than I can count,” that it was his fault and not because the school system was out to get him and others “of color.”

Being “of color” has nothing to do with it. The job of all students, if they want an education and the future opportunities it gives, is to go to school every day and on time, sit still, open their ears and shut their mouths, pay attention, do the work assigned, and obey teachers and staff.

Stop playing the victim, blaming others for your own failures – unless it’s your parents, for failing to teach you proper respect.

This story was originally published October 6, 2016 at 5:02 PM with the headline "‘Pushouts’ should stop blaming others for failure."