ABSTRACT
Martin 1 felt overwhelmed and consumed with guilt because of the suspension. His classmates rejected him outright and were pleased he wouldn’t be in class for the next three weeks. 2 They continued to post nasty comments on social media, which started two months prior to his suspension. Martin felt anxious, alienated, and scared about going back to school. He couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning at night. He was prescribed sleeping pills.
This chapter looks at school suspension through a social work lens. Young people like Martin require the collective to belong, to be a member of a group, to realise their social needs. This is the basic requirement of human mental and social stability. Suspension stands in opposition because it legitimises social exclusion and disregards the linkage between the individual and collective. This chapter advocates for a whole systems approach to tackle social problems and develop sustainable interventions that facilitate the realization of young people’s needs at school.
