10 Harmful School Practices That Need to End Now.

I call myself a public education supporter. I advocate, I lobby, I educate myself on the issues. I truly believe strong public schools benefit all of society, not just our own kids.

But here’s the truth: schools are failing too many children, and it’s not because teachers don’t care or parents aren’t engaged. It’s because we keep clinging to outdated, harmful practices that don’t work and in many cases, actively drive families out of the system.

These aren’t isolated complaints. I hear the same stories from parents across the country—urban, rural, public, charter. These problems are systemic. And if we really want to save public education, we need to stop doing these 10 things.

Because every time a child leaves for private school, a charter, or homeschooling, public schools lose funding, and the people cheering for privatization gain more ammunition. If we want to keep public education alive, we have to demand better from it.

And let me say this upfront: I understand that funding is at the root of all of this. Schools are stretched too thin. Teachers are covering too many students. Support staff are underpaid, and special education services are chronically underfunded. None of these harmful practices exist in a vacuum, they’re symptoms of a system that refuses to adequately fund education. Which is exactly why advocacy for better funding is critical. But while we fight for those dollars, we also have to recognize that some practices are making things worse for kids, and we need to stop them.

1. Ignoring School Climate Issues
Anxiety, burnout, and school refusal are skyrocketing. Kids are struggling everywhere, and too many schools brush it off as “individual problems.” But toxic environments (harsh discipline, unrealistic expectations, bullying) are fueling this. If we want kids in school, schools need to be places where they feel safe, supported, and valued.

2. Suspending Kids Instead of Supporting Them
Suspensions don’t teach anything. They’re 100% punitive. Five-year-olds getting suspended isn’t discipline, it’s failure. Instead of pushing kids out, schools should use positive behavior supports, restorative justice, and social-emotional learning. Suspensions don’t solve behavior problems; they just create bigger ones.

3. Public Behavior Charts (a.k.a. Public Shaming)
Clip charts, stoplight charts, color systems, whatever you call them, they’re public shaming tools. No adult would accept their job performance being posted in the staff lounge. Kids shouldn’t either. Behavior management should be about relationships and support, not humiliation.

4. Attendance Awards That Punish Sick and Disabled Kids
Perfect attendance awards reward privilege and punish illness. They tell kids with chronic conditions or disabilities that their effort doesn’t matter. And they encourage sick kids to show up and spread germs. We should be celebrating learning, not just seat time.

5. Piling on Useless Homework
Especially in elementary school, homework doesn’t boost achievement. What it does is fuel stress, inequity, and power struggles at home. Instead of busywork, encourage reading for fun, self-directed projects, and free play. Learning doesn’t have to look like worksheets.

6. Empty Anti-Bullying Policies
Every school says, “We don’t tolerate bullying.” And every parent knows most policies are meaningless. Real anti-bullying work requires training staff, enforcing consequences, supporting victims, and creating safe environments. Posters and one-time assemblies won’t cut it.

7. Gaslighting and Bullying IEP Parents
We know schools are underfunded. We know services are stretched thin. But parents shouldn’t be treated as the enemy when we ask for help. Most of us are just trying to make sure our kids survive the school day. Districts need to stop saying “no” reflexively and start working with parents, not against them.

8. Zero Tolerance Policies That Harm Disabled Students
Zero tolerance was a knee-jerk reaction in the 1990s, and it has never worked. Kids with IEPs are disproportionately punished under these policies. Every student deserves due process—not blanket punishments that don’t fit the situation.

9. Ignoring Mental Health Needs
Kids don’t melt down or refuse school for fun. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and overwhelm are real barriers. Schools need to stop reacting with punishment and start providing mental health resources, counseling, and proactive supports.

10. Treating Parents Like the Enemy
Parents aren’t obstacles. We’re partners. Schools and families want the same thing: safe, supportive environments where kids learn. But that requires trust, communication, and respect; not adversarial battles at every IEP meeting. I’d say the same to parents–trust is a two-way street.

Public education is worth fighting for. But we can’t keep pretending these practices are harmless. They’re pushing families away, harming kids, and weakening schools.

If we want to save public schools, we have to stop repeating mistakes that never worked. And we need to fight for the funding that gives schools the tools and resources to truly serve every student.