Restoring order

Ldate. But multiple cases now underscore where the new law falls dangerously short: failing to give judges any discretion whatsoever to use flight risk or threats to public safety to deem a small number of defendants worthy of being held.

While some in the state Senate are open to make some tweaks, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says no can do. “I think I’m ready to let the law continue the way it is,” Heastie declared Thursday.

It is the height of legislative irresponsibility to close one’s eyes to the very serious emerging ramifications of a new law that was sloppily crafted with no public input or open deliberation.

The city’s principals are revolting against Mayor de Blasio’s school discipline overhaul. Even understanding that the expression of frustration may be part of posturing for a better contract, we stand with them. Convinced that the old way of imposing discipline was too punitive and racially biased, the mayor and his schools chancellor have been greatly limiting tough-on-misconduct consequences, like suspensions, and pushing in their place a “restorative justice” model in which kids are expected to stay in school and learn to correct their bad behavior.

Principals say they’re in sync with the philosophy behind the shift. So are we, in theory. But they rightly grouse about the fact that they are now required to get central Education Department sign-off for insubordination suspensions — and are seeing some requests for tougher punishments for more serious offenses get denied.

Little wonder the fall survey of 2,300 school leaders by their union showed just 21% of principals satisfied with the overhaul to the discipline code. Only 31% were happy with the DOE’s direction with respect to student and staff safety.

It isn’t just educators that hurts. It’s the vast majority of kids.