In 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson Signed The Elementary And Secondary

We watched videos and read articles about the problems in the school system and the suspension rates. The first two video was about students being suspended and having their education taken away because of the zero tolerance policy. The zero tolerance policy is a school or district policy that mandates predetermination consequences or punishments for specific offences that are intended to be applied regardless of the seriousness of behavior.

In school zero-tolerance policies are intended to eliminate behaviors deemed as intolerable, such as violence, bullying, or having a weapon. But these policies are useless and unneeded because they cannot be used until after the damage has been done. Often times the intolerable behavior becomes more prevalent when the types of policies are put into place.

There are hundreds if not thousands of students in any given school. The sheer size and magnitude of the student population encompassed in these schools leads to complications of school safety. Zero tolerance is a policy which was brought about enforcing school safety more firmly, and aimed to better protect students. However, the way in which these students are protected is highly debatable, making the zero tolerance ideology very controversial. Exactly which approach is most effective in protecting a student, let alone, thousands? Is strictness more effective than leniency? Overly strict policies aim to protect the majority, however, severally punish those who have to deal with the wrath of zero tolerance, those who violate the rules. Overly lenient policies can lead to dreadful events, however, give students a sense of reason, in turn creating an understanding of what they have done wrong. In the long run which method is most effective in protecting students? These type of questions, along with the excess amount of questionable cases, compose a highly controversial topic.

In an effort to maintain peace, safety and a disciplined environment conducive to effective teaching and learning, many schools have adopted the zero tolerance policy. This philosophy was originally created in the 1990’s as an approach towards drug enforcement to address the rampant use, possession and sales of drugs in schools (Jones, 2013). Today, this policy is used to mandate the application of pre-determined consequences of violation of stated rules. These rules may pertain to a number of issues; drugs, bullying, theft, and corporal punishment.

Zero tolerance has been taken to an extreme level in schools. Zero tolerance should be put into force in schools for the students who intentionally misbehave. There will always be accidents and there should be consequences.There needs to be some consideration taken for the students that do not intentionally get into trouble.

Zero Tolerance policies have criminalized normal disruptive classroom behavior, and “ha[s] generally involved harsh disciplinary consequences such as long-term and/or permanent suspension or expulsion for violations, and often arrest” which are often enacted on “minor or non-violent violations of rules such as tardiness and disorderly conduct” (Heitzeg 9). On the other hand, the existence of No Child Left Behind “finds that the higher the stakes and the longer such an accountability system governs schools, the more school personnel view students not as children to educate but as potential liabilities” (Rice University). In fact, “the No Child Left Behind Act represents another kind of extension of the crime model in education” (Simon 226). Both regulations have positioned students as the enemy. The negative impact and pressure that has evolved in the school environment is palatable. Students’ behavior is more of a focus than their learning; teachers are under pressure to teach and maintain credentials, administrators have become police in monitoring both the teachers and the students in order for the school to remain in operation. In fact, teachers are affected by both regulations since “accountability as a system

Zero tolerance policies arguably have a negative impact on all those involved. This paper seeks to examine the reasoning as to why these policies were developed beginning from the effect of the public, from the governmental perspective, and the school system’s perspective. Additionally, the rationalization behind why these policies have remained in place for so long will be considered in relation to the plethora of

Zero tolerance puts teachers and school professionals in a position to create negative relationships with students. Students see teachers as authoritarian dictators when zero tolerance is enforced. There needs to be a better students discipline practice in place in order to address the needs of students who are acting

There are hundreds if not thousands of students in any given school. The sheer size and magnitude of the student population encompassed in these schools leads to complications of school safety. Zero tolerance is a policy which was brought about enforcing school safety more firmly, and aimed to better protect students. However, the way in which these students are protected is highly debatable, making the zero tolerance ideology very controversial. Exactly which approach is most effective in protecting a student, let alone, thousands? Is strictness more effective than leniency? Overly strict policies aim to protect the majority, however, severally punish those who have to deal with the wrath of zero tolerance, those who violate the rules. Overly lenient policies can lead to dreadful events, however, give students a sense of reason, in turn creating an understanding of what they have done wrong. In the long run which method is most effective in protecting students? These type of questions, along with the excess amount of questionable cases, compose a highly controversial topic.

     There are many disciplinary actions that have been used and are still in use in order to deal with problems in the school system today. However, it seems that zero tolerance is now the most widely used and most controversial policy that has came into effect. Zero tolerance means absolutely no mercy for students when accused of doing something wrong. This policy leaves no room at all for error. These cases are not judged for their individual qualities. They are all treated the same regardless of the circumstances.

“I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10.” This is what twelve year old Alexa Gonzalez doodled on her desk before she was handcuffed and escorted out of school in front of her teachers and peers. She was taken to a precinct across the street where she was detained for several hours. Alexa’s situation was a result of the zero-tolerance policy in place at the school she attended. Having a zero-tolerance policy means that any student who violates school rules, regardless of circumstance, will be punished with the same treatment, usually a suspension or expulsion. Alexa’s case is not the only one of absurd nature to come out of having a zero-tolerance policy in a school. For this very reason, zero-tolerance policies should be eradicated

The main consequence in the zero tolerance policy is suspension. However, due to the misuse of the policy, many students being suspended that prohibits their academic achievement. Students around the world and all ages are being suspended under ridiculous circumstances. In the film, “The War on Kids” it shows 4 kindergarteners being suspended for playing “cops and robbers”. It is one thing to punish students that play too rough because of a game based on guns and violence, but to have innocent children as young as 5 years old be suspended for something of that case is absurd. Many kids at that age do not comprehend what is going on, as they are still in the beginning stages of life: learning their numbers and alphabets.

Nowadays, more and more schools have the principle of ‘zero-tolerance’ to restrict the student’s behavior. What is a ‘zero-tolerance?’ ‘Zero-tolerance policy’ is defined as “a policy that has a high level of strict, uncompromising rules or laws” in dictionary.com. In other words, there is no excuse for any disturbing behaviors even tiny mistakes in the school. If some students disobey rules, teachers or someone who has the power of the punishment can punish these students immediately. In this definition, we have to focus on words; strict and uncompromising. These meanings are usually spoken or used to the criminals. Why are these words used in the school? Are all students potential criminals?

There is no doubt that schools need some disciplinary action to maintain school safety and promote learning. Proper discipline ensures the safety of students and teachers, creates conductive learning, and removes troublemakers in order to improve the school climate for others. By 1993 The Kalamazoo Public Schools have adopted a zero-tolerance policy out of fear towards punishment. According to Russell Skiba, an American educational psychologist known for researching school discipline and school violence, “this zero-tolerance policy has lead to an substantial increase of expulsions, suspensions, and dropout rates” (Skiba). The National Center of Education Statistics Report that “94% of schools in the US have a zero tolerance for weapons and firearms and 87% have a zero tolerance for alcohol.” (education stats) Kalamazoo Public Schools claims that they implemented the zero tolerance policy to send a message that certain behaviors will not be tolerated no matter how minor. The zero- tolerance policy seems to cause more problems than it solves. According to school suspension rates from Kalamazoo Public Schools, school suspension is not reserved for the severe behaviors. Although school fights and violence are the leading causes for suspension, lesser non-violent crimes (tardiness, cutting class) have the same punishment. The zero-tolerance policy needs to be changed to be more lenient towards less severe crimes. Certain behaviors in schools should have different punishments

Nowadays,more and more schools have the principle of ‘zero-tolerance’ to restrict the student’s behavior. What is a ‘zero-tolerance?’ ‘Zero-tolerance policy’ is defined as “a policy that has a high level of strict, uncompromising rules of laws” in dictionary.com. In other words, there is no excuse for any disturbing behaviors even tiny mistakes in the school. If some students disobey rules, teachers or someone who has the power of the punishment can punish these students immediately. In this definition, we have to focus on words; strict and uncompromising. These meanings are usually spoken or used for the criminals. Why are these words used in the school? Are all students potential criminals?