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No More Tolerance For Zero Tolerance (Cathryn Crawford)
The Washington Dispatch ^
| October 10, 2003
| Cathryn Crawford
Posted on 10/10/2003 8:49:57 AM PDT by Scenic Sounds
Once, long ago, there was legitimate reasoning behind the zero tolerance policy in our public schools that could be fathomed - but theres also legitimate reasoning behind the saying that good intentions pave the way to hell. Originally, zero tolerance measures were aimed at dangerous kids who brought guns and drugs to school. However, the number of items and behaviors now considered suspension or expulsion-worthy has grown to an infinitely ridiculous amount.
The terms regarding these items and behaviors are conveniently vague, as well, and vary from place to place. There is zero tolerance for weapons - what is a weapon? Is it a butter knife, a laser pointer, a beeper? The same question applies to drugs. Is a childrens multi-vitamin a drug? What about an inhaler? Certs? Mouthwash?
What about zero tolerance for disrespect or insubordination? Is that simply whatever the administrator of the school deems it to be? For example - in Mississippi, there is a law that allows students older than 13 to be expelled if they are disruptive in class three times over the course of the school year. What power that gives to administrators how convenient for them! With the vague wording of these laws, they can remand any child that they see as a troublemaker to an alternative school so that they no longer have to deal with them. What qualifies as a disruption? Is that chewing gum in class or passing notes or using profanity - or pulling out a gun and threatening the teacher with it?
Futures in the guise of college scholarships are being put in jeopardy because of zero tolerance. Consider the case of the 17 year old honors student from Arkansas that was sentenced to 45 days in alternative school because his father accidentally left a scraper and pocketknife in the car the weekend before. Despite the pleas from the father, the school system refused to budge on the inviolate weapons possession punishment. Then there was the 18 year old girl who was arrested and charged with a felony for having a kitchen knife in her car that she had been using to open boxes. She was denied her right to graduate and she now has a criminal felony on her record. Is this the ultimate aim of zero tolerance?
Does constant fear of the tiniest infraction bringing severe punishment actually cause children to respect teachers and school administrators? Hardly. On the contrary, it fosters an attitude of resentment, disrespect, and deep anger towards authority. It also leaves no room for a positive relationship between children and teachers there is, for the child, always a fear of punishment for the slightest unintended wrongdoing. It leads to a form of self-censorship that is representative of life under dictatorships.
Do we really want the cookie-cutter kids that zero tolerance strives to create, devoid of fire and passion and intelligence and creativity? Do we want kids that are always afraid to speak their own mind and stand up for themselves for fear of disrupting a classroom and being suspended or expelled for it?
Perhaps the only positive aspect of zero tolerance is the likelihood that the children who had to endure it will be the ones who are likely to change it.
Cathryn Crawford is a student at the University of Texas. She can be reached at cathryncrawford@washingtondispatch.com.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cathryncrawford; education; zerotolerance
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To: Scenic Sounds
The public schools strike again - running for their lives from predatory lawyers and sue-happy parents. Coupled with their NEA indoctrinated brains - it makes for the indefensible actions we read about in this article. Not to worry - they ALL will defend these nonsensical decisions as needed.
21
posted on
10/10/2003 9:30:29 AM PDT
by
Libertina
(Steadfast loyalty - The sign of a true friend and leader.)
To: Cathryn Crawford
INTREP - Now the question is: What can be done to reverse this tragic tidal wave of PCness?
To: Libertina
The public schools strike again - running for their lives from predatory lawyers and sue-happy parents.Let's just close all the law schools - no tolerance for predatory lawyers!!! ;-)
23
posted on
10/10/2003 9:33:43 AM PDT
by
Scenic Sounds
(Sé esta vieja calle. Puede ser muy peligroso.)
To: LiteKeeper
What can be done...?Teach your children to disrespect wrongful authority.
The Public Schools are at war with America's children - and they're winning!
Support the children against the system, always.
24
posted on
10/10/2003 9:36:14 AM PDT
by
headsonpikes
(Spirit of '76 bttt!)
To: Scenic Sounds
It is similar to England, more and more. Lawyers are important but that industry (as well as our judiciary) has gotten out of control. What's more, it is one of our "export" industries. :(
25
posted on
10/10/2003 9:37:25 AM PDT
by
Libertina
(Steadfast loyalty - The sign of a true friend and leader.)
To: headsonpikes
Teach your children to disrespect wrongful authority. Be prepared to get them out of the public school system, then, unless you want them to be punished severely.
26
posted on
10/10/2003 9:37:50 AM PDT
by
Cathryn Crawford
(Los vientos y la lluvia lo han lavado limpio.)
To: Scenic Sounds
27
posted on
10/10/2003 9:38:13 AM PDT
by
kesg
To: Libertina
Lawyers are important but that industry (as well as our judiciary) has gotten out of control. Lawyers have their good points, though. They're A-OK in my book.
28
posted on
10/10/2003 9:38:31 AM PDT
by
Cathryn Crawford
(Los vientos y la lluvia lo han lavado limpio.)
To: Modernman
Unfortunately, that's what it will take before people wake up to the fact that "Zero Tolerance" needs to be tempered with a degree of exercised common sense. My wife spent 3 days in the hospital last week because of an asthma attack, it's not something that should be taken lightly. What about people who are allergic to bee stings? Do they have to have their medication at the nurses office. It sure would be hard to get there when your in anaphalatic shock.
29
posted on
10/10/2003 9:40:38 AM PDT
by
CougarGA7
(Under penalty of law: Tag is to be removed only by consumer.)
To: Cathryn Crawford
;-)
30
posted on
10/10/2003 9:41:29 AM PDT
by
Sir Gawain
(Thanks Whizzinator...It worked like a charm!)
To: Sir Gawain
Thanks Whizzinator...It worked like a charm! How did you avoid clinking?
31
posted on
10/10/2003 9:43:11 AM PDT
by
Cathryn Crawford
(Los vientos y la lluvia lo han lavado limpio.)
To: Cathryn Crawford
It's a secret.
32
posted on
10/10/2003 9:45:16 AM PDT
by
Sir Gawain
(Thanks Whizzinator...It worked like a charm!)
To: Cathryn Crawford
There needs to be a common sense "release valve" in place in situations like these that give a panel or judge power to disallow implementation on an individual basis if the circumstances permit.
The problem with some laws are that the are global in action when there should be limitations.
Then they automatically give penalties out when they should be "stayed".
There needs to be "release valves" in these types of laws to not throw the good people into the barrel with the rotten apples IMO!
33
posted on
10/10/2003 9:50:21 AM PDT
by
A CA Guy
(God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
To: Odyssey-x
The whole reason for zero tolerance is so that principals could take action against violent gangs without being called racist. They could just say they were merely carrying out administrative procedures. Au contraire. The whole reason for zero tolerance is so that "educators" (NEAA union members) can act out their liberal fantasies without being called to task for having made a decision.
34
posted on
10/10/2003 9:52:01 AM PDT
by
TXnMA
(No Longer!!! -- and glad to be back home in God's Gountry!!)
To: Cathryn Crawford
Some lawyers are ok.
35
posted on
10/10/2003 9:52:13 AM PDT
by
patton
(I wish we could all look at the evil of abortion with the pure, honest heart of a child.)
To: Cathryn Crawford
Are you making a pass at me again?
36
posted on
10/10/2003 9:55:36 AM PDT
by
LanPB01
To: LanPB01
Are you making a pass at me again? Again? I don't remember the first time. :-)
37
posted on
10/10/2003 10:00:04 AM PDT
by
Cathryn Crawford
(Los vientos y la lluvia lo han lavado limpio.)
To: Cathryn Crawford
Be prepared to get them out of the public school system... Well, yes, but where that is a present difficulty, then be prepared to teach them how to survive the system - how to dissemble, how to be discrete, how to never trust the 'occupying power'.
Of course, one could always choose to teach them how to work the system, and milk the taxpayers - I know that many parents do.
I believe that to be a short-sighted policy.
38
posted on
10/10/2003 10:00:12 AM PDT
by
headsonpikes
(Spirit of '76 bttt!)
To: headsonpikes
Well, yes, but where that is a present difficulty, then be prepared to teach them how to survive the system - how to dissemble, how to be discrete, how to never trust the 'occupying power'. I fully agree - but you have to be practical, too. And part of that is being prepared to simply pull them out of the system.
39
posted on
10/10/2003 10:02:58 AM PDT
by
Cathryn Crawford
(Los vientos y la lluvia lo han lavado limpio.)
To: Modernman
My daughter's school is the same way. Either she has to run across school (while having an attack for crying out loud) or have another student run there and run all the way back. Death can occur either way.
Zero Tolerance = Zero Common Sense
40
posted on
10/10/2003 10:04:57 AM PDT
by
sunryse
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