Controversy lies in so many places in society. For some the earth’s status as an oblate spheroid is controversial. When we lend the air of “controversy” to the arguments of those who hold little to no stake in something we are being disingenuous.

I could posit that all sorts of things about which I have little stake or expertise are controversial, but that would not make them so to those with experience in the matter.

Is the use of exclusion in school discipline controversial for a whole breadth and depth of reasons? Sure is. Is the immediate exclusion of a student if that “student’s continued presence in school would pose a specific, documentable concern about the infliction of serious bodily injury or other serious harm upon another person while in school.” controversial? Nope. In fact that quote is straight out of the latest update to MA’s regulations on school exclusion, one’s which lean heavily on non-exclusionary discipline. As an educator and someone who wants what is best for my students, they (and I!) should not be forced to try to learn (or teach!) in the presence of someone who poses a specific risk of violence.