In their eyes, teachers too hasty in handing out punishment

Last update: May 17, 2008 - 9:37 PM

Tia Funches, 18, and her niece, Rae'Anne Hayes, 16, left Robbinsdale Cooper High School after each received two 45-day suspensions last school year and another 90-day suspension last spring. The penalties stemmed from another student claiming that a group of kids smelled like marijuana, according to the girls. They deny they had or were using drugs. But, Tia said, they'd been in trouble before.

A Robbinsdale schools spokesman said privacy laws prohibit the district from confirming or giving details about the girls' suspensions.

"Once you get into trouble, teachers look at you like you're just trouble," Tia said.

Rae'Anne said teachers are too quick to send students to the office. "Just ask me not to do it."

Both girls say black students catch teachers' eyes more than white students.

Said Tia: "When stuff used to happen, they always came to us for it."

Said Rae'Anne: "I notice little things, like if a whole class is talking, the teacher says, 'Rae'Anne, quiet!'"

The girls now are students at MERC Alternative High School in Minneapolis, where they say teachers aren't so quick to boot them from school.

Tia, who is on track to graduate in June, said MERC has provided a smaller, more personal -- and more patient -- place to learn. Once, she said, she was sent to the office at another school for not having a pencil. What happens at MERC when she doesn't have a pencil?

"They give you one."

And Rae'Anne? She was suspended last week for having a cell phone in class.

JAMES WALSH

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