Baltimore County school officials are concerned that black students are being suspended at twice the rate of their white peers -- but they're not surprised.
The situation has persisted for at least 15 years, despite recurring attempts to change it.
The numbers are sobering: During the 1993-1994 school year, almost a third of the black males and about 14 percent of black females in county secondary schools were suspended for various infractions.
Most school officials deny any outright bias. They're reluctant to label specific groups and hesitant to put specific causes behind the numbers.
But leaders of the African-American community, including the two black members of the school board, say something is obviously amiss in a system with a black enrollment of 25 percent.
"I'm not casting aspersions that there is something sinister among teachers and staff. I don't think it's a conscious effort to get black kids out of school," said Dunbar Brooks, one of two black board members and the father of three children.
But he added, "Clearly there are teachers who are not comfortable with black kids. There are teachers who don't understand black students, who don't have a clue."
Officials say the forces behind higher suspension rates for black students are complex. They include inexperienced teachers, cultural differences, lower expectations for blacks, intimidating behavior among students and a growing emphasis on safe schools.
"I think that folks really try to be fair to all kids," said Judith Edgar, principal at the Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies, one of five schools for chronically disruptive students. "I think it's a very complex issue."
Adding to the complexity are the administrative discretion allowed in punishing certain offenses and the larger classes in recent years, which can be harder for teachers to control.
Several students interviewed said they had not noticed overt bias among teachers or principals. They said, instead, that some students were repeatedly blamed for bad behavior because of their reputations rather than their race.
"There are some white kids who the teachers will say, 'He did it, because he always does things,' " said Daryl Stokes, a black 10th-grader at Owings Mills High. "Then you may have a black kid who has a nice reputation, like me, and teachers won't believe he did anything."
The school system has a long list of offenses for which students can be suspended for one to 10 days, or expelled for longer periods. Some, such as possession of a weapon, allow little discretion. But when the allegation is "insubordination" or "chronic disruption," the situation is different.
The most common offense that brought suspension last year was fighting, with more than 1,800 incidents.
Newly appointed board member Robert F. Dashiell, who is black, said what others would not: "It would not surprise me that in some instances either the selection of some students or the decision to suspend was made in part because the student is black or white."
Mr. Brooks said the larger problem is that suspensions shortchange black youngsters, particularly males. "If we are suspending one-third of the African-American males, we are relegating them to low academic achievement" because of missed class time, he said.
The issue surfaced in a recent report showing an overall suspension rate of nearly 14 percent for high school students and 12 percent for middle schoolers in 1993-1994. Both rates were up about 2 percentage points from the previous year.
When the figures were broken down by race, 32.9 percent of black males and 16.3 percent of white males in high school were suspended; 14.3 percent of black females were suspended, compared with 5.7 percent of white females.
The disparity among middle school students was even greater last year, when 31.6 percent of the black males were suspended, compared with 13.6 percent of the whites. Among females, 14.5 percent of the black students were suspended, compared with 3.9 percent of white students.
Even in 1992-1993, when the overall suspension rate dropped markedly, the disparity between blacks and whites was the same.
The overall decline may have been an initial reaction to the arrival of Dr. Stuart Berger as superintendent. He has often criticized suspension as ineffective and counterproductive because it removes from school the youngsters who most need to be there. But lacking an alternative, school officials pushed the rate back up in subsequent years.
Other school systems see similar trends. In Howard County, where the overall suspension rate is much lower, black students account for about one-third of all suspensions, but only about 15 percent of the enrollment.
As far back as 1989, a Baltimore County minority achievement committee noted the disparity in suspensions and said it had remained the same since 1979.
Some of those concerned, such as Mr. Brooks, see cultural differences between black students and an overwhelmingly white faculty as part of the problem -- evidenced by a high teacher turnover rate in schools with large black enrollments.
Longtime school system watchdog James R. Pennington said racial bias is "a part of the human condition," but a part that can be overcome when people of different races get to know and understand each other.
"A lot of teachers come into schools with preconceived notions. They don't know any African-Americans," said Mr. Pennington, a former county NAACP president and chairman of the school system's African-American Advisory Council.
Behavior that may be typical in a black culture may not play well in a white culture, said Evelyn Chatmon, assistant superintendent for equity and staff development.
For instance, she said, "The African-American male likes to carry himself a certain way. Young males often affect a walk, a distinctive walk. That sometimes comes off as being cocky."
To the young man, she said, the walk "is part of being cool." But to a teacher, it may indicate defiance.
Others believe that cultural misunderstandings are only part of the problem. They say there are perceptions that put black youngsters at a disadvantage.
"The assumption is that the aggressor in a fight has always been the African-American boys and girls," said the Rev. James Favorite, president of the Coalition of African-American Organizations of Baltimore County and a frequent critic of the schools' minority practices.
The perceptions carry over into academics, Mr. Favorite suggested.
Teachers and administrators agree that students who feel they are not expected to succeed, who have no stake in school, tend to be the most disruptive.
"It's a hard core of kids who are disenfranchised. They don't feel connected to the school, but they can disrupt the entire school," said Woodlawn Principal Joan L. Powell.
Despite the failure of earlier plans to deal with the problem, school officials say they're ready to attack it again.
Mr. Pennington said his advisory council will make recommendations to the board next month.
Among them will be to remove the responsibility from principals for suspending students and to establish a "human relations group" at each school to handle behavior problems. That group might include parents, social workers and even judges, he said.
He also advocates a parent education conference to help parents be more responsible. "Parents who have not supported their children in school are nothing but the lowest form of thief," he said.
Mr. Brooks agreed: "The school system cannot do it by itself. You cannot put it all on the teacher. Something has to come from the home."
SUSPENSION RATES
This table shows the percentage of students in each category who were suspended in Baltimore County schools last year. The first column shows the percentage of minority enrollment in each school. In schools marked with an asterisk (*) minority enrollment is below 10 percent and percentage breakdowns by race may not be statistically valid.
HIGH SCHOOLS
Carver
Minority Pct. -- 20.4
Black Males -- 26.9
Black Fem. -- 6.1
White Males -- 24.7
White Fem. -- 4.9
All Males -- 24.6
All Fem. -- 5.1
All -- 14.1
Catonsville
Minority Pct. -- 20.8
Black Males -- 27.5
Black Fem. -- 13.3
White Males -- 8.8
White Fem. -- 2.6
All Males -- 11.3
All Fem. -- 4.1
All -- 7.5
Chesapeake
Minority Pct. -- 23.1
Black Males -- 33.8
Black Fem. -- 10.6
White Males -- 29.0
White Fem. -- 11.0
All Males -- 30.4
All Fem. -- 11.0
All -- 20.1
Dulaney
Minority Pct. -- 16.1
Black Males -- 33.3
Black Fem. -- 18.5
White Males -- 11.9
White Fem. -- 2.4
All Males -- 12.6
All Fem. -- 3.1
All -- 7.5
Dundalk
Minority Pct. -- 17.3
Black Males -- 21.2
Black Fem. -- 8.1
White Males -- 10.2
White Fem. -- 2.3
All Males -- 12.1
All Fem. -- 3.1
All -- 7.6
East. Tech.*
Minority Pct. -- 9.5
Black Males -- 17.3
Black Fem. -- 6.7
White Males -- 14.9
White Fem. -- 4.1
All Males -- 15.1
All Fem. -- 4.3
All -- 10.6
Franklin
Minority Pct. -- 21.9
Black Males -- 14.3
Black Fem. -- 4.0
White Males -- 2.8
White Fem. -- 0.6
All Males -- 4.5
All Fem. -- 1.0
All -- 2.8
Hereford*
Minority Pct. -- 2.5
Black Males -- 14.3
Black Fem. -- 0.0
White Males -- 13.5
White Fem. -- 3.6
All Males -- 13.4
All Fem. -- 3.5
All -- 8.3
Kenwood
Minority Pct. -- 14.7
Black Males -- 41.2
Black Fem. -- 5.5
White Males -- 28.3
White Fem. -- 12.4
All Males -- 29.8
All Fem. -- 11.4
All -- 20.2
Lansdowne*
Minority Pct. -- 9.6
Black Males -- 35.9
Black Fem. -- 28.6
White Males -- 19.0
White Fem. -- 10.3
All Males -- 20.4
All Fem. -- 11.2
All -- 15.7
Loch Raven
Minority Pct. -- 11.3
Black Males -- 0.0
Black Fem. -- 5.9
White Males -- 14.7
White Fem. -- 3.5
All Males -- 13.6
All Fem. -- 3.6
All -- 8.6
Milford Mill
Minority Pct. -- 94.9
Black Males -- 38.4
Black Fem. -- 16.6
White Males -- 10.0
White Fem. -- 5.0
All Males -- 36.5
All Fem. -- 16.1
All -- 26.0
Overlea
Minority Pct. -- 28.3
Black Males -- 36.2
Black Fem. -- 12.0
White Males -- 21.8
White Fem. -- 9.0
All Males -- 25.3
All Fem. -- 9.9
All -- 17.5
Owings Mills
Minority Pct. -- 31.2
Black Males -- 31.8
Black Fem. -- 25.5
White Males -- 22.8
White Fem. -- 6.5
All Males -- 23.8
All Fem. -- 10.8
All -- 17.5
Parkville
Minority Pct. -- 29.4
Black Males -- 37.6
Black Fem. -- 7.9
White Males -- 18.9
White Fem. -- 5.9
All Males -- 21.3
All Fem. -- 6.1
All -- 13.8
Patapsco*
Minority Pct. -- 6.3
Black Males -- 53.3
Black Fem. -- 36.8
White Males -- 15.4
White Fem. -- 9.8
All Males -- 16.6
All Fem. -- 11.3
All -- 14.0
Perry Hall
Minority Pct. -- 14.6
Black Males -- 24.4
Black Fem. -- 10.8
White Males -- 9.2
White Fem. -- 2.9
All Males -- 10.8
All Fem. -- 3.5
All -- 7.2
Pikesville*
Minority Pct. -- 9.7
Black Males -- 46.8
Black Fem. -- 18.8
White Males -- 11.9
White Fem. -- 5.2
All Males -- 15.1
All Fem. -- 6.2
All -- 10.7
Randallstown
Minority Pct. -- 72.0
Black Males -- 32.4
Black Fem. -- 14.7
White Males -- 10.9
White Fem. -- 7.1
All Males -- 26.1
All Fem. -- 12.1
All -- 19.8
S.E. Tech.
Minority Pct. -- 16.0
Black Males -- N/A
Black Fem. -- N/A
White Males -- N/A
White Fem. -- N/A
All Males -- N/A
All Fem. -- N/A
All -- N/A
Sparrows Pt.*
Minority Pct. -- 6.3
Black Males -- 31.6
Black Fem. -- 36.4
White Males -- 29.6
White Fem. -- 9.0
All Males -- 30.5
All Fem. -- 9.9
All -- 19.9
Towson
Minority Pct. -- 13.1
Black Males --
Black Fem. -- 26.8
White Males -- 2.4
White Fem. -- 8.4
All Males -- 1.4
All Fem. -- 9.8
All -- 1.7 5.7
West. Tech.
Minority Pct. -- 38.9
Black Males -- 17.5
Black Fem. -- 8.9
White Males -- 13.9
White Fem. -- 0.0
All Males -- 15.1
All Fem. -- 3.8
All -- 10.4
Woodlawn
Minority Pct. -- 84.0
Black Males -- 30.2
Black Fem. -- 14.2
White Males -- 14.2
White Fem. -- 1.8
All Males -- 26.6
All Fem. -- 11.8
All -- 19.7
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Arbutus
Minority Pct. -- 14.2
Black Males -- 28.6
Black Fem. -- 18.9
White Males -- 13.8
White Fem. -- 1.8
All Males -- 15.5
All Fem. -- 5.5
All -- 9.3
Catonsville
Minority Pct. -- 18.9
Black Males -- 31.0
Black Fem. -- 11.1
White Males -- 14.4
White Fem. -- 4.0
All Males -- 17.6
All Fem. -- 5.0
All -- 11.4
Cockeysville
Minority Pct. -- 14.2
Black Males -- 11.1
Black Fem. -- 16.7
White Males -- 10.4
White Fem. -- 0.8
All Males -- 10.6
All Fem. -- 1.6
All -- 5.7
Deep Creek
Minority Pct. -- 26.1
Black Males -- 50.5
Black Fem. -- 28.3
White Males -- 28.1
White Fem. -- 9.5
All Males -- 34.1
All Fem. -- 13.6
All -- 23.5
Deer Park
Minority Pct. -- 54.5
Black Males -- 30.5
Black Fem. -- 12.8
White Males -- 15.1
White Fem. -- 6.8
All Males -- 22.7
All Fem. -- 9.7
All -- 16.1
Dumbarton
Minority Pct. -- 17.1
Black Males -- 54.6
Black Fem. -- 13.8
White Males -- 7.9
White Fem. -- 2.4
All Males -- 10.8
All Fem. -- 3.1
All -- 6.9
Dundalk
Minority Pct. -- 32.0
Black Males -- 22.6
Black Fem. -- 8.7
White Males -- 8.2
White Fem. -- 0.5
All Males -- 12.7
All Fem. -- 3.2
All -- 8.2
Franklin
Minority Pct. -- 20.0
Black Males -- 19.1
Black Fem. -- 13.9
White Males -- 7.6
White Fem. -- 3.4
All Males -- 8.9
All Fem. -- 4.7
All -- 6.6
Golden Ring
Minority Pct. -- 33.9
Black Males -- 29.6
Black Fem. -- 11.8
White Males -- 9.1
White Fem. -- 4.8
All Males -- 15.7
All Fem. -- 7.0
All -- 11.2
Hereford*
Minority Pct. -- 2.5
Black Males -- 0.0
Black Fem. -- 0.0
White Males -- 9.2
White Fem. -- 2.3
All Males -- 8.9
All Fem. -- 2.6
All -- 5.9
Holabird*
Minority Pct. -- 3.7
Black Males -- 20.0
Black Fem. -- 20.0
White Males -- 17.6
White Fem. -- 4.2
All Males -- 17.3
All Fem. -- 4.4
All -- 10.9
Johnnycake
Minority Pct. -- 69.0
Black Males -- 23.7
Black Fem. -- 7.9
White Males -- 6.8
White Fem. -- 0.7
All Males -- 16.9
All Fem. -- 5.4
All -- 10.8
Lansdowne
Minority Pct. -- 14.9
Black Males -- 23.4
Black Fem. -- 10.3
White Males -- 14.0
White Fem. -- 3.4
All Males -- 15.1
All Fem. -- 4.0
All -- 9.7
Loch Raven
Minority Pct. -- 46.0
Black Males -- 25.8
Black Fem. -- 11.6
White Males -- 7.5
White Fem. -- 1.0
All Males -- 15.3
All Fem. -- 5.9
All -- 10.5
Middle River
Minority Pct. -- 21.7
Black Males -- 55.7
Black Fem. -- 29.8
White Males -- 28.6
White Fem. -- 11.0
All Males -- 34.6
All Fem. -- 14.6
All -- 24.7
Old Court
Minority Pct. -- 84.0
Black Males -- 37.6
Black Fem. -- 16.5
White Males -- 29.4
White Fem. -- 1.3
All Males -- 34.7
All Fem. -- 13.2
All -- 23.5
Parkville*
Minority Pct. -- 6.0
Black Males -- 50.0
Black Fem. -- 25.0
White Males -- 20.0
White Fem. -- 4.4
All Males -- 21.1
All Fem. -- 5.4
All -- 14.0
Perry Hall
Minority Pct. -- 10.2
Black Males -- 6.3
Black Fem. -- 4.0
White Males -- 10.7
White Fem. -- 2.3
All Males -- 10.6
All Fem. -- 2.5
All -- 6.6
Pikesville
Minority Pct. -- 35.7
Black Males -- 24.3
Black Fem. -- 19.3
White Males -- 7.9
White Fem. -- 2.3
All Males -- 13.4
All Fem. -- 8.1
All -- 10.8
Pine Grove
Minority Pct. -- 11.3
Black Males -- 6.9
Black Fem. -- 0.0
White Males -- 9.6
White Fem. -- 3.2
All Males -- 10.0
All Fem. -- 2.9
All -- 6.4
Ridgeley
Minority Pct. -- 11.8
Black Males -- 40.0
Black Fem. -- 25.0
White Males -- 5.7
White Fem. -- 2.8
All Males -- 6.8
All Fem. -- 3.3
All -- 5.1
Sparrows Pt.*
Minority Pct. -- 5.6
Black Males -- 33.3
Black Fem. -- 0.0
White Males -- 21.2
White Fem. -- 7.6
All Males -- 21.9
All Fem. -- 7.3
All -- 15.5
Stemmers Run
Minority Pct. -- 14.3
Black Males -- 44.6
Black Fem. -- 14.3
White Males -- 14.9
White Fem. -- 5.3
All Males -- 18.3
All Fem. -- 6.6
All -- 12.5
Stricker*
Minority Pct. -- 7.4
Black Males -- 40.6
Black Fem. -- 25.9
White Males -- 15.9
White Fem. -- 3.9
All Males -- 17.1
All Fem. -- 5.3
All -- 11.7
Woodlawn
Minority Pct. -- 95.5
Black Males -- 31.8
Black Fem. -- 14.2
White Males -- 9.1
White Fem. -- 0.0
All Males -- 30.7
All Fem. -- 13.6
All -- 22.7