> without beating kids

There's a pretty wide spectrum between: "Can't discipline kids that act up" and "Beating kids"

Kids need boundaries. It's literally what they spend a good portion of their time testing for. If you aren't allowed to provide boundaries for them, then they will flounder, which turns into a self-reinforcing cycle.

The only tool I remember teachers or schools having the ability to wield against students when I was in school was suspension or expulsion. Are US schools not allowed to suspend kids?

> Are US schools not allowed to suspend kids?

I've heard from some teacher acquaintances that it's highly discouraged because the parents tend to complain a lot and the kids view it as a free vacation from school.

It sounds like "try to ignore them" is basically the only recourse teachers have in some districts against disruptive or worse students.

My dad was a public school teacher and his last year got a class of “sweat hogs.” Three students were extremely disruptive, regularly. He went to the principal and said he wanted all three out of his class or he’d quit. Next day two were suspended but the third wasn’t. He told the office he’s stay until noon to find a sub. Later that week, the third student was arrested for stealing an 18 wheeler and driving it across the state.

There's also detention and "in-school suspension" (which is basically a big detention).

I think these punishments are commonly decided by administrators, not teachers. The teacher just reports them up the chain for misbehavior.

Suspension and expulsion are becoming embroiled in the anti-racism crusade due to some high-profile incidents, so blunt laws are being written to outlaw them altogether.