Zero Tolerance Policy In School Districts

Zero Tolerance Policy in School Districts

In the United States, the zero tolerance policy was put into place to help discipline the students and make school a better place for all. Increasingly, there has been many acts of violence in schools. School districts have decided to have tighter rules and policies to help keep the students safe but the real question is: Have they gone too far? I think schools should be lighter on the punishments when they believe a student has done something wrong. If they believe the student has done something against the rules, they should state their reasons why and how it affects the school, its environment and society itself.

First of all, Schools should be less harsh when it comes to disciplining students. Schools are punishing students for the most absurd reasons. For example, a New York girl was hauled out of class in handcuffs. Why? Because apparently she wrote on her desk with a erasable marker. In Houston, Texas an eighth grader was suspended for wearing rosary beads in memory of her late grandmother and the school insisted that the beads interpreted as gang involvement. The rules are too harsh and it seems like a child can't go to school without offending someone there. To me, this is completely ridiculous, students need to have a good learning environment in order for them to learn. With rules and policies like this, students might be too busy worrying about breaking rules to focus on whats really important and the whole reason why they're at school, their education.

Secondly, School districts are mistreating kids. Schools and law enforcement alike treat young kids like adults. This needs to stop. A mindset of a kindergartener is not the same as a mindset of a high school student. School districts today look and treat kids and teens like criminals. I am aware that there has been a lot of violence in schools through out the years but it is wrong and pointless to hold an entire school accountable for something that may or may not happen. Students are getting harassed by school officials because of the harmless things the school calls “dangerous” It is obviously getting out of hand. By suspending/expelling students for no good reason, you are abusing the power as the school official as well as depriving students of their education. Students come to learn not be judged by their teachers and administrators. The longer you keep them out of school, the longer they miss out on important learning.

Third of all, law enforcement should be the last resort for schools but recently for some schools, it seems like the first choice. Police are there to protect the citizens of the United States. I imagine that they are very busy people and I'm sure they do not have time or energy to arrest a girl that drew on her desk with an erasable marker. That punishment is harsh, unethical and cold. It's only logical to call law enforcement when there is a real threat or something illegal is going on. Most of the cases of the zero tolerance policies I read about could have been easily handled by the school rather than calling the police. It has gotten pathetic and ridiculous.

Finally, I am not in any way saying that the zero tolerance policy should be taken away. Of course not, students need discipline but what I am saying is schools should lessen the punishments when it comes to discipline. Schools shouldn't take minor offenses to the extreme. If you feel like what the student has or what he/she is doing is a threat, before you assume, talk to them. Ask them what they're doing or what they have. If it is a threat, then by all means take the necessary disciplinary actions needed. If it isn't a threat, then there isn't any reason to worry. Students want to feel safe at school but with all the rules and policies, students might not feel safe at all.