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"A routine school disciplinary infraction should land a student in the principal's office, not in a police precinct," Attorney General Eric Holder said. Holder said the problem often stems from well intentioned "zero-tolerance" policies that too often inject the criminal justice system into the resolution of problems. Zero tolerance policies, a tool that became popular in the 1990s, often spell out uniform and swift punishment for offenses such as truancy, smoking or carrying a weapon. Violators can lose classroom time or become saddled with a criminal record.

Freepers (including me), have been railing against these idiotic "zero tolerance" policies in schools for years.

Holder is a loathsome, disgusting racist, but there is nothing in what he says here that I can disagree with.

It's not just about minorities. A lot of white kids have run afoul of zero tolerance policies too, and have suffered because of it.

You're right, the headline is a little misleading.

Ridiculous zero tolerance policies need to be reformed.

But Holder is still a corrupt racist bastard.

Could not agree more. I am a teacher at an alternative school. We get all the rejects from the district. We hate zero tolerance. We have some kids who really aren't too bad over here for stupid stuff. Too much law enforcement involvement also. We are really becoming a police state.
Also we do have some teachers who know how to “push” kids buttons if they don't like the kid. It's not right but it does happen. Humans act like that sometimes.
Zero tolerance is just a way for the administration and the school boards to get a free pass on discipline. No matter the reason for the infraction the punishment is the same. Stupid. They don't have to actually decide on individual cases as they should. Just makes their jobs easier and less drama for them. Not fairness for the student involved.
I don't get invited to many meeting because I tell them what I think. Works for me as they are a waste of my time.