Beyond Punishment: Racial Disparities, Mental Health, and the Case for Restorative School Discipline
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study explores the intersection of school discipline, racial disparities, and mental health, with a particular focus on Black male students. Black male students face disproportionately harsh disciplinary measures, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). Further, Black male students are not assessed for mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression, which further contributes to the STPP. Using the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) as a framework, this study examines how school counselors and administrators perceive and implement disciplinary practices and whether mental health is considered in their decision-making. This is a secondary data analysis of previously collected qualitative data from three focus groups with school counselors and administrators, three key themes emerged: (1) The Complexities of Restorative Practices, (2) Racial Bias and Disproportionate Discipline, and (3) Socioeconomic Barriers and Resource Gaps. Notably, no themes emerged regarding whether and how mental health is considered in disciplinary practices, revealing a critical gap in how schools address student mental health needs in relation to discipline. Findings highlight the need for structured restorative justice programs, increased mental health resources, and equity-focused reforms to ensure disciplinary practices support, rather than harm, Black male students' well-being.
DOI: 10.17615/p1ty-7d22
Author: Lemma, Yakob
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6887866466
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