What is Marginalized Students

Traditional school discipline is based on a colonial structure of power and compliance where adults hold authority and children are expected to conform. Colonial discipline validates punitive and exclusionary practices as acceptable methods of behavior modification. Despite evidence negating their effectiveness, such methods still exist within our school systems. This chapter will outline suggested strategies for reform to reimagine school discipline through a lens of equity, wellbeing, and decolonization. With examples from the field, the author suggests ways to amplify student voice and move towards a process of relational discipline. Relational discipline embeds Indigenous pedagogy as it looks to repair harm, develop skills, learn from mistakes, and mend broken relationships. This chapter offers practical, research-based solutions to decolonize student discipline practices and cultivate compassionate, inclusive learning environments where all children belong.