The logic’s pretty simple: Kids sitting at home aren’t learning anything.
“And when it comes to disciplinary practices that keep kids out of San Diego Unified, black and Latino students are losing the most,” reports Mario Koran.
The district uses a disciplinary measure called a “willful defiance” suspension against infractions that can include anything from disrupting a class to forgetting to turn a cell phone off.
Experts say there are better ways to address behavior problems.
“There’s this idea that if we kick misbehaving kids out of school, we’d create a better learning environment. This idea has no basis in research,” one told us.
One Small Step for Civic San Diego
Civic San Diego wants to expand its reach beyond downtown — but it can only do that with the blessing of the City Council and the city’s white-collar union.
The City Council is going to consider green-lighting that negotiation process Monday, Andy Keatts writes.
If Civic San Diego ultimately gets what it wants, it will start to spur development near transit in low-income neighborhoods — with the help of a private-public investment fund.
Why Gangs Are Getting Worse
Law enforcement officials in San Diego mostly agree that the local gang problem is getting worse, according to a new study. But there’s different ideas floating around about what’s to blame – statewide prison realignment, local officials and activists not connecting with potential gang members early enough and, of course, not enough resources to carry out proper gang intervention measures.
What We Learned This Week
• San Diego officials long said pensions were off-limits in bankruptcy. Detroit proved them wrong.
• North Park’s line in the sand against drive-thrus hasn’t stopped new ones from opening.
• Chargers game blackouts are a slap in the face to San Diego taxpayers. (Speaking of the Chargers and insults to San Diegans, John Gennaro has more on blackouts, and Eli Manning’s return to San Diego this week in the Sports Report. Also, with the help of Toyota dealers and Fox 5, the Chargers ended up avoiding a blackout this Sunday.)
• The teachers union is not a big fan of parent group UPforEd.
• San Diego’s four hospital districts each have unique pressures, but they all face the same pressure to get bigger and make more money.
• Jim Jones is sticking around.
Quick News Hits
• We’ve learned there’s tremendous price variation for treatments patients receive in hospitals. That’s also true of ambulance rides, the New York Times reports. One woman told the times she was shocked by the price tag of her ambulance ride to Scripps Memorial in La Jolla for a minor injury. Pricing often depends on who’s running the ambulance service – a question San Diego will soon be answering.
• A plan to add a 650-spot parking garage for San Diego Zoo employees crossed a hurdle Thursday. (U-T)
Quote of the Week
“Right now I’m concerned that we’re at a point right now where your income is deciding more than it should: whether you can go to school or not. And if we keep on going down that path, I think we’ll become a country where only the rich get educated and the poor don’t.” — UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla.