Question Answered step-by-step Kids for cash Which moments in the clips provided jumped out at… Kids for cash Which moments in the clips provided jumped out at you? Did you have strong reactions to any particular stories? Which ones and why?After the Columbine shooting, there was a rise in zero tolerance policies in schools around the country, with a heightened focus on suspensions, expulsions and arrests. What do you think about this response to in-school behavior? Do you think rules of this nature make school environments safer? Why or why not?The superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre School District during the time of the scandal said that when students misbehaved in school, they could be “arrested in an instant if we believe that is the right thing to do.” As a result, there were probation and police officers in many of their schools. What are the pros and cons to having police officers in schools? How might this affect students? Ciavarella claims he “did what he thought was right” throughout his time as a judge, and he defends his high numbers of youth placed in confinement. Do you think the “tough on crime” mentality might have played a role in his decisions? If so, how? Can you think of alternate ways juvenile court judges can prevent crime and administer discipline?In your opinion, what is the role of schools in disciplining kids for bad behavior? What are some alternate ways schools can administer discipline and prevent bad behavior without resorting to the juvenile justice system?One of the children impacted, Justin, reflects that his peers who finished high school have “so many more options” than he does with a GED. How might a GED be limiting compared to a high school diploma? How can the juvenile justice system be supportive of a child’s learning and growth while providing effective discipline? Given that Luzerne County’s population is predominantly white, the stories in the film do not reflect the reality of disproportionate minority confinement. In fact, according to the W. Haywood Burns Institute, “youth of color comprise 38% of the youth population in the US, yet comprise nearly 70% of those who are confined.” Years of research from experts around the country demonstrate that youth of color are over-represented at every decision-making point of the juvenile justice system, and are given harsher sentences than their white counterparts for similar conduct. What do you think about this disparity? How can perceptions and biases at the decision-making level have an impact on young people? Social Science Sociology ECED 207 Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)