Comments on: Zero tolerance fun at our government schools http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/ The Unpredictable Union of Pragmatism, Idealism, and Cynicism Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:08:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: NOTR http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/#comment-16643 NOTR Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:37:05 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/#comment-16643 Thank God she did not have a fork or spoon too! Can you imagine the chaos she could have caused if they had them too? Oh! Wait a minute, she had those with her too? But only the knife was the problem? Tilt! It's called 'academentia' and I am ashamed to think that my children are exposed to it ... what have we done to ourselves ... and our children? Thank God she did not have a fork or spoon too! Can you imagine the chaos she could have caused if they had them too?

Oh! Wait a minute, she had those with her too? But only the knife was the problem? Tilt!

It’s called ‘academentia’ and I am ashamed to think that my children are exposed to it … what have we done to ourselves … and our children?

]]> By: C. Harris http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/#comment-16510 C. Harris Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:45:10 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/#comment-16510 One should keep in mind that teachers and administrators have lobbied for laws that take away their discretion on discipline matters so they cannot be held accountable for the exercise of their judgment. It's about saving face and protecting insiders, not about doing what's best for students. In case after case, students are being harshly disciplined for breaking rules where there was no harm done and none intended. Students aren't going to have respect for a system unless it makes sense. Just at the time in their lives when they need most to bond with, and trust, adults, students see the authority figures in their schools abandoning common sense and responding without compassion or discretion. Under a policy of zero tolerance, any exercise in the kind of bad judgment kids are famous for could dash college dreams, cut the last tether keeping a kid in school or land that child in front of a judge. And while a student may escape the worst zero tolerance has to offer, what lesson has been learned in the process? That adults have absolute authority, but are also blindly obedient to an unseen power? That Big Brother is watching, and that there is no good explanation, no extenuating circumstance, no second chances? I think students learn from zero tolerance policies that schools are not safe for them. And it has nothing to do with guns. * * * * C One should keep in mind that teachers and administrators have lobbied for laws that take away their discretion on discipline matters so they cannot be held accountable for the exercise of their judgment. It’s about saving face and protecting insiders, not about doing what’s best for students. In case after case, students are being harshly disciplined for breaking rules where there was no harm done and none intended. Students aren’t going to have respect for a system unless it makes sense. Just at the time in their lives when they need most to bond with, and trust, adults, students see the authority figures in their schools abandoning common sense and responding without compassion or discretion.

Under a policy of zero tolerance, any exercise in the kind of bad judgment kids are famous for could dash college dreams, cut the last tether keeping a kid in school or land that child in front of a judge. And while a student may escape the worst zero tolerance has to offer, what lesson has been learned in the process? That adults have absolute authority, but are also blindly obedient to an unseen power? That Big Brother is watching, and that there is no good explanation, no extenuating circumstance, no second chances? I think students learn from zero tolerance policies that schools are not safe for them. And it has nothing to do with guns.

* * * *

C

]]> By: GordonUnleashed » Blog Archive » Radical 5th Grade Terrorist Charged with Felony http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/#comment-16459 GordonUnleashed » Blog Archive » Radical 5th Grade Terrorist Charged with Felony Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:10:30 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/12/17/zero-tolerance-fun-at-our-government-schools/#comment-16459 [...] Props. [...] [...] Props. [...]

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