It depends on the seriousness of what they're having for zero-tolerance. If a kid brings drugs to sell at school or is involved in a gang fight or gang violence --- just get him out. I think schools should be for the kids who are motivated to learn, who have some clue why they are there. Kids there to disrupt the learning of others should leave.
You still don't get it. Zero-tolerance was NEVER about drugs, that was just the cover story. It is about lack of responsiblity and laziness on part of those who should do their jobs, but instead they choose to take the easy, harmful way (to the kids) and have a one catch all rule with a punishment that was either exspellment and/or arrest;
no excuses, even if you are innocent of what you are accuse of doing, or you were defending yourself.
Zero-tolerance is finding someone guilty on accusation ALONE and dening them the right to defend themselves against said accusation.
Zero-tolerance goes against one of the most important fondations of this country; "Innocent until PROVEN guilty."
Teach children that they have no freedoms, no rights whatsoever is going to kill the spirit of this country FASTER than anything else there is.