Times have changed significantly within the public school system. Zero tolerance policies have been implemented in schools all across the country and all over the world. Zero tolerance no longer allows schools to look at each individual incident on a case by case basis. The policies require that punishments be predetermined for certain behaviors or acts regardless of whether or not they are truly warranted and many argue their effectiveness.
Do zero tolerance policies really work as well as they had hoped? Or could zero tolerance policies be taking away a piece of our children’s innocence? Some children are being punished for simple things that completely lack culpability. We hear breaking news stories about a children being suspended from school for pulling out a steak knife in the lunch room which was actually intended for, you guessed it, cutting their steak! However, due to these policies in place, whether a child brings a steak knife to cut their food or they bring a switch blade to fight after school, it does not matter; the punishment is automatic. They are both punished to the same extent regardless of the circumstance. What does this tell the children and how can one offense not be worse than the other? High courts are repeatedly striking down the policies in favor of students and parents to opt to fight for the claimed unfair practices.
School age children have a difficult enough time dealing with peer pressure and figuring out their own way, if you will. They do not also need the added stress of walking on eggshells for fear of committing an innocent act that may be deemed intolerable by definition of a zero tolerance policy. If you have a child in school, you must know your rights and if you are having problems within the system you have a right to be heard and your child has a right to a good education.