We all know ISS—In School Suspension—where students go when they receive a referral. In ISS, students must complete a packet of work and are not allowed to work on any school work during that time. They also have to make up all the classwork that they missed while in ISS.

Many students have complained about ISS, saying that after school detention or Saturday detention may be a better option for the students because then they would not miss any class time, and as a result, less work that they would need to make up. However, Dean Matthew Narducci says that “When Joliet West had detention, many students would skip their detention, but since the ISS system was put into place, there are very few cases of students skipping; and therefore, less out of school suspensions and expulsions.” One student even said that “If they had after school detention, I would be guaranteed not to go.”

Some of the other complaints students have had about ISS are that it is very long and boring. Also, if you are in ISS, there are very few times you are allowed to get out of your seat, and the ISS supervisors are very strict about this rule. One student explained that “Since there is a limit to the times you can get up, if you have a cold, they will not let you get up constantly to get tissues.” There are also not enough bathroom breaks, and another student said that “If you have an emergency, they will add an extra hour of ISS.”

In response to these complaints, Dean Narducci states that since ISS is a punishment, “[s]tudents are not supposed to like ISS.” So, if you are thinking of how much you do not like ISS, remember that you are not supposed to like it.