Zero tolerance has gone too far?

[shannipoo714]

 I read this article on the New York Times website today.  I think zero tolerance has gone too far in many cases.  What does everyone else think?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/education/12discipline.html?no_interstitial

[ironkitten]

Oct. 12, 2009 at 4:59 PM

The school did the right thing in light of all of the school problems we've had.  There is a place for a weapon and school is NOT that place.  The parents should not have allowed him to take that to school.

I went to get my mail the other day and the 7 year old girl was heard saying to the boy who was bothering her " I'm going home to get a knife."

Do you think she was serious?  I do.  We talked.  It is very disturbing.  If parents don't know what their child is brining to school, they better start to learn now.

[shell81]

Oct. 12, 2009 at 5:03 PM

I read this and I really do feel for the child BUT zero tolerance is zero tolerance. A boy last yr in 3rd grade gave my son a pocket knife. Nothing happened to this child BUT something should have. The reason nothing happened is cause it happened on the bus and I took care of it with the other parent and I was so steamed when I fount out everyone was gone from school for the weekend so I took it up w the other kids parent. By time Monday came there was pretty much nothing they could do cause I gave the knife back and took care of it. It was not on camera the child giving the knife to my child.

NOT saying this child is not normal but there are kids out there with problems at a young age so I stand by the zero policy!

[Anouck]

Oct. 12, 2009 at 5:03 PM

I have to agree.... It may seem a bit extreme, but seriously, those parents should have known better. I mean, I'm sure they were aware of the zero tolerance rule. And once the school starts making exceptions, where do they draw the "next line"?

I feel bad for the kid, and I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by it, but the parents should have known better...

[shell81]

Oct. 12, 2009 at 5:05 PM

 Anouck

I agree and dang I check my kids if I even think they have something like a toy on them. LOL I know my kids very well where I can tell if they are going to try and sneak a toy to school.

The thing this boy took his parents should have had put up in the first place not down where he can just get it when he wants it:)

[shannipoo714]

Oct. 12, 2009 at 5:12 PM

I agree that he shouldn't have brought it to school, but 45 days in a reform school? That's a bit extreme. Zero tolerance is fine, but maybe a gradient of punishment depending on the situation would be better.

(Original Poster)

[Anouck]

Oct. 12, 2009 at 5:23 PM

Agreed, shannipoo, that does seem a bit extreme to me too...