Randy Cassingham's Blog

In many stories, Randy, you've summed it up that Zero Tolerance is simply an excuse to avoid thinking. Which is true. It's shameful, it's disgusting, it's revolting, and many people are complaining about it. But I'm seriously afraid that the human condition will never let it be eradicated. In religious circles, it's called dogma. In political circles, it's called Party Platform (which again is dogma). We're even seeing it in our legal system. People are so convinced that the legal system has utterly failed that now there are Mandatory Minimum sentences that don't allow for mitigating circumstances. Zero Tolerance crimes and the judges' hands are tied.

Zero Tolerance is not a function of a few power-mad tinhorns run amuck, but a manifestation of Society's lack of faith in itself. As a result, people keep searching for the One Rule Fits All, such as airport security Zero Tolerance. We can NOT trust others to do any thinking; they may make a mistake.

If the rule is good, then the person MUST be at fault. And, of course, the rule is good; otherwise it wouldn't have become a rule.

Boy, am I glad our school district hasn't implemented any ZT policies. (And, hopefully, never will.)

Unfortunately, the elementary schools at least, are limited in the punishment they can mete out. My son (4th grade at the time) was bullied quite often by a classmate, typically on the playground during recess. The most the school could do was keep the other boy in during recess, and contact his parents. And, since his parents didn't care (the old "boys will be boys" attitude), nothing happened. (I do know that more severe punishments can be handed down for "more severe" things, like bringing a weapon to school for example, but since I've never heard of a weapon being brought to school here, I don't know what would actually happen.)

---

Bullying is a severe problem. Schools had better start doing something about it, since the lawsuits over it are coming out more and more in the families' favor. -rc

ZT policies are bullshit and never work only a complete moron would support the idea of them.

I'm glad the Teacher revolted and the girls parents didn't take it laying down.

Parents all over the country should stand up and show they do not support ZT policies that throw a kid who might have made a simple mistake with gang leaders.

Actually all Zero tolerance policies and laws are fundamentally flawed and are the work of the feeble minded.

When will society at large learn these one-size-fits-all rules and laws do not work and are morally wrong?

---

C'mon, John: how do you really feel? And before you decide that it's obvious to everyone that ZT is stupid, take a look at the defense of ZT by TRUE reader Patricia! -rc