A zero tolerance policy placed on these children will send the message to them that they are criminals and will be punished as such.
If the student has committed an act of violence that is worthy of severe punishment, then the zero tolerance policy is okay. but, if the child is involved in an incident such as a food fight, he should not be arrested or have a police record for such a minor infraction of the school's policies.
III. Counterargument
Gary and Cornell state that advocates of the zero tolerance policy in schools claim that it prevents violence in schools by removing dangerous students immediately after the infraction which sends a message to other students that the school means business (107). In some instances this statement is true. Students who bring weapons to school with the intention of harm or students who are bullies and harass and pick fights with other children should not be tolerated and should be punished accordingly. Parents want to feel that whenever their child steps outside of the home and is out of their presence that they are still safe. They have the right to expect that their children will not be in harm's way while they are in school.
However, when it is their child who leaves a pocket knife used on a fishing trip the day before, they need to know that if the knife is discovered in a zero tolerance school it will be seen as a weapon and their child could face expulsion or worse yet be arrested and now have a criminal...
The zero tolerance policies do not make concessions for any type of accidental infractions. Nor does it take into account the child's previous behavior or the severity of the crime. All schools should have some type of policies in place to protect not only the welfare of the children, but the entire school as a whole. However, zero tolerance policies may not be the best option given its limitations and inflexibility.
IV. Conclusion
In order to regain some type of balance and safety in schools, tough policies need to be enacted. This has almost become necessary given the magnitude of violence in schools nowadays. However, the policies such as zero tolerance need not be so inflexible that a minor infraction would cause an otherwise good kid to now have a police record. Perhaps zero tolerance in schools should be revised to become low tolerance in schools. We deserve it to our children to give them a fair chance in order that they may become productive citizens as they grow up.
Works Cited
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/zero-tolerance-in-schools-301284.html
Dupper, David R. "Does the Punishment Fit the Crime? The Impact of Zero Tolerance
Discipline on at Risk Youths." Children & Schools 32.2 (2010): 67-69.
Gregory, Anne and Cornell, Dewey. "Tolerating Adolescent Needs: Moving Beyond Zero
Tolerance Policies in High School." Theory Into Practice 48.2 (2009): 106-113.
