ISS investigation
Written by Carly Wice and Rachael McCauley [EDITORIAL] Photography by Lindsay Perry 6/3/19
Student reporters sit in the ISS room investigating the process (Photo by Lindsay Perry)
IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION: AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
For years, we had wondered what it would be like to spend a day serving In-School Suspension (ISS).
When we were assigned to write a feature article in our Journalism class, we both knew it would be our chance to write the investigative feature we had always wanted.
Assistant Principal, Mrs. Daugherty, approved the endeavour, but we had to keep the suspension a secret for the integrity of the investigative piece. Besides serving the suspension, the process included having to face each of our teachers and ask them to sign the ISS assignment paper so that we could complete the work missed in class in ISS.
This feature will present our separate perspectives on how we felt going through the process.
RACHAEL’S EXPERIENCE:
As we got our ISS forms signed, we were met with judgemental stares and concerned gazes. The teachers never expected us to get in-school suspension and some seemed awed that we could have done something that bad. It felt as though some staff gave us silent treatments and couldn’t seem more disappointed in our actions. Others laughed and couldn’t wait to tell fellow faculty about this seemingly funny joke.
As the day came closer, rumors floated around the halls of all of the possible things my accomplice and I could have done. Even though I hadn’t done anything, a part of me felt embarrassed to have all of these accusations against me roaming through the school. I felt like the teachers even viewed me differently, and every time they saw me I could see ideas circling in their minds of what landed me in this position.
The day came, and as soon as fifth period ended, we reported to the office waiting to be escorted to the ISS room. Once we got there, we were met with two other kids already sitting in desks facing the wall. My friend and I took and seat and immediately pulled out work as there were signs plastered all around with lists of rules.
A period later we went to get lunch in between periods so that we wouldn’t have the opportunity to talk to any “outside” kids. While on scheduled restroom breaks, we also had to sit and wait one by one for everyone to go as kids walked by in the hall staring at us being guarded by a teacher. We were marched in line back to the room and immediately got back to work, and every teacher made sure to check that we had something to do.
Some periods the door was left open, and as the bell rang, rushes of people would walk by and stare inside to see what the room had in store that day. (To be fair, I have done that on occasion). In one instance, a teacher walked by and did a double take, making eye contact with me. She stood outside the room and questioned whether I was actually supposed to be in there.
Other periods, both the chorus and band room would be in full swing, and I thought whoever chose this space to be the ISS room made a merciless but wise decision.
As the day wound down, I couldn’t wait to tell the teachers the next day that this was all an experiment, as well as many of my peers who had confronted me about it. I had felt a subtle form of embarrassment for days, and I was ready for it to come to an end.
CARLY’S EXPERIENCE:
To begin with the process of getting ISS, my classmate and I had to get our forms signed so our teachers would be able to give us our work missed.
As I went from class to class, my embarrassment grew. I felt like I had lost a little bit of trust from each of my teachers. They could not believe or think of what my classmate and I had done.
As I tried to explain myself, I got asked quite a few questions from my teachers and received a wave of different emotions. Some teachers were shocked and left speechless, while other teachers took it more as a joke and laughed.
The worst of it all was having to explain to my classmates that we received ISS. My classmate and I just tried to say the bare minimum and continued on with our day.
Finally, the big day came. Rumors had spread, ¨What have those girls done?¨, they whispered in the hallways. We had a gut feeling that this day was going to be one for the books.
As the 11:00 o'clock bell rang, we gathered ourselves for the walk to the office. We had a teacher escort to the ISS room. As we entered into the room, the pits in our stomachs grew. We actually were inside of the ISS room.
When I sat down in my seat, I couldn't help not to notice the yellow signs on the wall. Some of the signs said, ¨ No talking¨ and ¨Keep computer screen towards teacher¨. It felt like I was being watched all the time.
As the first period of ISS came to an end, it was lunch time. My classmate along with a few other students, were escorted to the lunch line, away from all other students. We were quickly escorted back to the ISS room to eat our meals.
As the periods went by, so did the teachers. Some of the teachers would ask us why we were in there and others did not seem to care. The only thing I could think of at this point was how excited I was to tell all the staff and students how this was a planned assignment for a class.
While serving the suspension, we were often asked what assignments we were working on and if we were getting all of it done. Overall, this was an eye opening afternoon that showed me what a day in ISS is like and how differently I can be perceived by my classmates and staff.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
In the end, we really asked ourselves, what part of it is the real punishment, and is it enough to keep people from getting in trouble? The jury is still out on that one. What works for one doesn’t work for another. There are the “frequenters” that are viewed as “bad kids” by the school culture. Society in general think that when someone gets in trouble or makes a mistake, he/she is a bad person. One thing is for sure though. The public humiliation throughout the process of and serving ISS is enough for us not to get into trouble.
Through this investigation, we found that being in the in-school suspension room was less of a punishment because the judgement we felt from both teachers and classmates was worse. It was a nice insight on what is considered punishment and what kind of social aspects come along with it.