Should Zero Tolerance Mean Zero Tolerance?

It should mean zero tolerance, as a knife is a knife, and it is hazardous, no matter how careful the user is. Remember "don't run with scissors"? This is why everyone doesn't own a gun.

Zero tolerance and I do not get along. I homeschool now, and Zero Tolerance is a big reason why. Awhile back, I wrote this article: associatedcontent.com/article/170339/is_... About zero tolerance.

I have absolutely no respect for legislation, leaders, judges, principals, you name it -- people in responsible leadership positions -- who hide behind zero tolerance as an excuse for being unable to use ordinary common sense to think through a situation and react accordingly. In this world, nothing is ever black or white. Everything is a shade somewhere in between, and to treat 6 year olds like hardened criminals for small infractions of the rules is just asinine.

But the ones that really scare me, really make me angry and really make me sad are the ones I wrote about in my article, like the little 11 year old girl with asthma who died because her rescue inhaler was in a nurses office, the nurse was off-campus, the child was on the field in PE running, and had an attack. By the time they get to her, then got her to the inhaler, she had died. A 'rescue' inhaler is called that because it's needed for immediate use - to rescue someone -- usually from death.It doesn't belong in the nurses office when a child with asthma is back on the playground running... My son was suspended for zero tolerance assault in 7th grade... why?

The kids have to wear lanyard to hold their ID cards, those ropes around their neck with the card hanging from them? So after school, he took his off and was swinging it around his head and another kid walked into it and it hit him in the face. Even the kid who got hit said it was an accident.

We pay these people to make choices about the future of our children... it's a scary, scary world.

In some cases that the zero tolerance policy has been applied to, it doesn't make any sense. If Zach didn't mean to do anything then he shouldn't get in trouble at school. The school should actually treat the student like a human being; he shouldn't get in trouble because of a policy that a rule must absolutely be enforced.

The principal should have met with Zach and analyzed the situation in order to make a logical decision.

Zero tolerance is a black and white system that doesn't not fit the shades of gray of the real world. Zero tolerance uses rules instead of common sense. It abolishes those who use those rules from the consequences of their actions.It's an example of CYA.

It's also an example of a well intentioned idea gone wrong.

Yes. In Japan zero tolerance for drinking and driving is taken very seriously. In fact, if the driver is caught with DUI, even his passengers go to jail for allowing it.

If it does not mean zero tolerance then it is an empty concept.

I saw this article earlier today and was considering asking a conundrum about it. Thanks for bringing it up! I think this is absolutely crazy and pretty inexcusable.

However, what's even worse is the other story referenced in the article about the teacher who took the knife and used it to cut the cake (as intended) BEFORE reporting it! Exceptions should definitely be made. One thing that I find surprising is that the people who create these rules never seem to be held accountable.

I have yet to see more than one or two stories like this where the victim truly stood up and started a smear campaign against the people responsible. Until that starts to become a trend, I don't think the rules are going to be adjusted too much.

This would not be the first time that a policy is just too vague and used wrecklessly. Schools need to do a better job in educating students and parents as to the district's definition of "weapon". It seems like such a simple thing to do, yet we are still hearing about 5 and 6 year olds suspended over the most silliest things.

The laws and rules now are preventing children from learning from their mistakes and from just being "kids". It is very sad.

Zero tolerance is a concept whose time was past hundreds of years ago when the Dark Ages gave way to more modern thinking. It is now a "quick fix" slogan used by incompetent politicians and managers who want instant results on their watch no matter how much damage and injustice is done.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.