How should Zero Tolerance Policies in public schools be amended, if at all?

I think that it should apply to teachers and those sort of people too, and I think that a lot of places take it too far, and overreact to little things.

Some people consider 'stormy' behavior 'violent.' I'd hate to think what school administrators would do with that idea. Zero tolerance for violence would mean you couldn't stomp your feet in anger, slam a door, or even slam your own stuff down on a table.

We don't live in the stone age, we live in an age of tolerance. Treat infractions on a case by case basis.

For those of you who need &/or want more information on Zero Tolerance.
Here are three websites that have a lot of info on the subject including links to, law sites, ‘Federal Gun-Free Schools Act 1994’ (the federal act that started what we now know as ZT), and even sites where you can even look up your State’s ZT policies.
LPHS Zero Tolerance Expulsions – http://www.ztnightmares.com
Students Rights – http://www.tentler.com/StudentsRights.htm
Zero Tolerance = Zero Common Sense = Zero Justice – http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/zerotol/zero-tol.html

My school has a Zero Tolerance policy and it is very strict. My school is also one of the best in the state of California (yes, it is public). I think the zero tolerance policy is very beneficial; I believe it applies to students as well as the adults on campus. It makes for a very safe and comfortable learning environment, if the policy didn't exist, I think much of the school's focus would be diverted and the education wouldn't be as good as it is.

... although the name "Zero Tolerance" might sound scary to a potential nogoodnik. Keep the name, change the policy.

it seems to me i remember reading of a few cases where the zero tolerance policies were used in cases that they were not really meant to be used in.......such as expelling a girl who had a small stuffed animal attached to a key chain on her duffel bag and no one was suppose to have chains(like weapon sized chains) so she was out. so i choose the 2nd choice. guns, gangs and drugs are zero tolerance and other things are low and dealt with on case by case basis.

I chose that option too. Here in Washington State, things have gone way overboard. A kindergarten boy was suspended for kissing a girl on the playground(sexual harassment), a boy was suspended because the G.I. Joe doll he brought to school had a fake plastic knife, doll size in it's hand(a weapon), another kindergarten student was suspended for bringing a plastic ax to school as part of his Firefighter Halloween costume(a weapon), a girl was suspended because her purse had a strap made out of chain(a weapon). Other cases I have heard of, a girl mistakenly brought her mother's lunch to school. It had a paring knife in it to slice fruit with, so she was suspended under Zero Tolerance, even after explaining the mix up. Girls suspended for having nail clippers in their purses, girls suspended for giving each other cough drops or Midol. I believe a boy was suspended for accidently bringing a can of beer with his lunch when he thought he was grabbing a soda from the fridge. He went straight to school officials when the mistake was discovered and turned over the can, his reward for his honesty...suspension for possession of alcohol on school grounds. Inane!

wow, i knew i had heard some other stories but couldn't remember them. i'm surprised that that is washington state....... i don't know why but i am.

Zero Tolerance policies are just a lame excuse for stupid people to do stupid things. It takes judgement away from those who should deal justly with every situation and replaces it with blanket punishment. Anyone that has the slightest spirit of truth in them knows that the action of a person is rarely the problem, but rather the motivation of the heart. No set of Zero Tolerance rules will ever change the evil will of a man's heart.

I think this question could have been so much simpler: ask if people agree or disagree with the concept of Zero Tolerance.

Well the *concept* of the policy was a good one, but it has been TOTALLY misused. The major problem with what is NOW Zero Tolerance policies is that it enfringes upon students' constitutional rights of due process, when the original idea DID give way for circumstance & due process (the right to explain why said crime orrured). Right now ZT alows for buricrates to hide behind it, instead of takeing the time to investigate each case (which is part of their job). I heard that other countries are jumping on the band waggon with these policies. Recently I ran across an article about a 10 year old British boy being explelled from school for racisism. His crime...he said hello to a new Australian boy, in a manner he new he'd understand "G-day mate."

Well the *concept* of the policy was a good one, but it has been TOTALLY misused & over exaggerated. The major problem with what is NOW Zero Tolerance policies is that it infringes upon students' constitutional rights of due process, when the original idea DID give way for circumstance & due process (the right to explain why said 'crime' occurred). Right now ZT allows for officials to hide behind it, instead of taking the time to investigate each case (which is part of their job).

I heard that other countries are jumping on the bandwagon with these policies. Recently, I ran across an article about a 10-year-old British boy being expelled from school for the rest of the term for racism. His crime...he said hello to a new Australian boy, in a manner he felt he'd understand & feel more at home hearing, "G-day mate."

All of this would be quite funny, if not for the fact that innocent children are being treated like criminals before they've even done anything wrong.

BTW, here's another one for you. A 6th grade girl was expelled for the rest of the school year for 'drug possession' and school officials treated her like a drug trafficker & added the offense to her record. What did she do? She saved a fellow classmates life on the school bus by giving them her inhaler. The student, other children, & the child's parents considered her a hero, but even their pleading that she did nothing wrong. How is this girl going to get into college or even get a job with this in her record? (In case you didn't know, new schools & and possible employers can ask to see school transcripts.)

Vancouver, Canada

Actually saying "G'Day mate" to an Australian *is* in my opinion (as an Australian) offensive and racist (I'm sure if you asked Australians you'd get a wide range of opinions: some would agree with me, a lot wouldn't), for the same reason that assuming someone from Ireland is a jolly drunk moron or someone from America is a loud obnoxious buffoon is racist. It is still of course absurd for a school to do anything about it.

Only in America.

Zero Tolerance, Mandatory Sentencing, and other such buzzwords serve to take away discretion, which is never a good thing.

Drugs, guns yes. Others low tolerance. I remember seeing an item on the news here about an 8 yo American boy who was expelled from school for sneaking a kiss from a girl in his class. He was labelled a sexual harasser for it. The item was commented on by the newsreader who said "Only in America", but I guess it's happening everywhere.

Yes, I understand what you are saying.

However, you being an adult might also understand that we are referring to a 10-year-old boy, who only wanted to get to know the new kid in school. Without malice, or knowing that it might be considered offensive (since neither word is a *cuss* word) greeted the new student with a saying that he heard on most any film involving an Australian (Crocodile Dundee). The Australian boy in question did NOT take it as offensive at all, a British teacher who over heard the remark did. In addition, without even explaining WHAT he had done, the teacher took him off to the principle's office, where he was expelled for racism. That is why I had mentioned it; if the boy did know that it might be considered offensive, he would not have said it. The Australian boy understood that, why did not the school? What do we need to do, have an assembly every time someone different from the masses attends the school? That is a bit ridiculous, don’t you think.

Personally, due to the fast that I have not been to Australia, I would have made the same mistake (& I am 25). Until it was mentioned on the radio, during this year’s Olympic Games, I did not even know that Australians do not even speak that particular phrase, & therefore cannot stand it when someone says it to them.

Ignorance is never a defense, whether he knew it or not the act was offensive.

The point that I already stated was very simple: it IS offensive (to some people), and it should NOT have been punished by the school, which is fairly close to what you are saying anyway, so the rhetoric is aimed in the wrong direction.

Personally I believe that kids should be left to sort out their own problems between each other, and intervention is only required if the events are extreme or in danger of becoming so.