I agree with you 100% and yes I do write letters and send emails and phone when possible. Right now I have about 145 letters/emails in my stored file. The problem is finding who to contact that will make a difference. I would imagine many emails go to the circular file. If possible when there is a ZT article if you could search and find the correct address it would help the impaired (like me) on the computer.
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Good for you! But if you're writing the principal/school, you're writing the wrong people. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. What you want is a public spotlight on the problem, not a letter in the principal's trash can. -rc
Seriously, if Zero Tolerance rules are the most horrible things in the world for you, you are having a pretty wonderful life.
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Read this page -- http://www.thisistrue.com/ztwtc.html -- and let me see you laugh off the terrific, probably life-long, damage done to that child. Or how about throwing life-saving heroes into jail? Only with public pressure was he let out. These are real examples of the ridiculous abuses done to people in the name of ZT. -rc
If Ben in Victoria, Australia, can't think of any ZT cases where he lives, he should be remind ZT isn't just in schools, and doesn't just happen to kids. From what I hear the gun control laws in Australia would qualify as ZT, as even law abiding people can't own most guns.
Joe's example of gun control doesn't really apply to this situation. It may be an example of what most ZT advocates presumably think they're striving for - strict and universal enforcement of laws against an actual or perceived wrong - but it's not an example of what ZT so often is in practice, and which Randy rightly rails against - "Zero Justice", characterised by punishment without (or indeed in spite of) due process.
ZT is not widespread in Australia, however, it is here. It sneaks in, just as it would have done there.
All it takes is outrage over a "terrible event" to get this garbage thinking accepted. Here it goes under the term "mandatory sentencing".
The media picks up on cases of murderers or rapists who get what appear to be light sentences. The ensuing public backlash that judges are "soft on crime" results in the political response of mandatory sentencing laws for particular crimes in certain states of Australia. Commit this crime get this sentence as though you were at the worst end of the spectrum. You know how it works.
The legal and judicial system was fine before mandatory sentencing, and in areas where it is not present still works fine.
If the prosecutors think the sentence was too light they can appeal. This appears to fix most mistakes and the others we just have to live with in a free society.
As I said, it is not widespread but it is insidiously making its way here.
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Several people have told me that ZT is indeed in Australia -- one just has to look more carefully. -rc
I am so glad I found this page. I am a parent whose child was a victim of ZT policy. My 12 year old was arrested for having a kitchen spice at school from which another teacher's child admitted to giving him. The boys were horsing around asking friends what it looked like. They had no idea they could get arrested.
My 12 year old was caught in possession of it. The school charged him with having a non-narcotic in lieu of a narcotic substance with intent to sell. He was arrested, driven to the police station, fingerprinted, booked, and charged with a felony.
We spent close to 3k on an attorney to get the state attorney to drop the charges. The school still will not take this off his record.
I have to admit that my son is all boy. He will play rough and try to pull a prank to get a good laugh. His ambitions are never to ever do any criminal behavior. When he was asked why he had the kitchen spices he said he didn't think he could get arrested or in trouble for it because it wasn't anything.
He was sent to alternative school from January to the end of the school year and then when he returned to regular school they put him on a behavior contract. It seemed like he was branded for good and the punishment would not be lifted for another year.
Keep reaching out because this is great information and an eye opener to those who want to see its true effects.
The effects of this arrest were all bad. When my son returned to regular school, I also didn't mention that he was kicked off the Lacrosse team and expelled from any public school activities outside of school that were representative of any public school, he had to deal with the rumors spread by the kids that didn't get arrested. Rumors stretched out to he was a weapons dealer, drug dealer, and drug user.
Upon his arrival to school the peer pressure was unbearable. His remaining years in middle school were extremely difficult. I thought he'd never get out of that school.
He is attending charter high school this year. I'm so glad for him.
What Can I Do About ZT? - Comments
I agree with you 100% and yes I do write letters and send emails and phone when possible. Right now I have about 145 letters/emails in my stored file. The problem is finding who to contact that will make a difference. I would imagine many emails go to the circular file. If possible when there is a ZT article if you could search and find the correct address it would help the impaired (like me) on the computer.
---
Good for you! But if you're writing the principal/school, you're writing the wrong people. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. What you want is a public spotlight on the problem, not a letter in the principal's trash can. -rc
Posted by: Walter, Florida USA | June 21, 2008 6:40 AM
Seriously, if Zero Tolerance rules are the most horrible things in the world for you, you are having a pretty wonderful life.
---
Read this page -- http://www.thisistrue.com/ztwtc.html -- and let me see you laugh off the terrific, probably life-long, damage done to that child. Or how about throwing life-saving heroes into jail? Only with public pressure was he let out. These are real examples of the ridiculous abuses done to people in the name of ZT. -rc
Posted by: Gary - San Jose, CA (Colorado Native) | June 21, 2008 5:44 PM
If Ben in Victoria, Australia, can't think of any ZT cases where he lives, he should be remind ZT isn't just in schools, and doesn't just happen to kids. From what I hear the gun control laws in Australia would qualify as ZT, as even law abiding people can't own most guns.
Posted by: Joe, Wisconsin | June 22, 2008 4:58 PM
Joe's example of gun control doesn't really apply to this situation. It may be an example of what most ZT advocates presumably think they're striving for - strict and universal enforcement of laws against an actual or perceived wrong - but it's not an example of what ZT so often is in practice, and which Randy rightly rails against - "Zero Justice", characterised by punishment without (or indeed in spite of) due process.
Posted by: Neil, UK | June 24, 2008 10:34 AM
ZT is not widespread in Australia, however, it is here. It sneaks in, just as it would have done there.
All it takes is outrage over a "terrible event" to get this garbage thinking accepted. Here it goes under the term "mandatory sentencing".
The media picks up on cases of murderers or rapists who get what appear to be light sentences. The ensuing public backlash that judges are "soft on crime" results in the political response of mandatory sentencing laws for particular crimes in certain states of Australia. Commit this crime get this sentence as though you were at the worst end of the spectrum. You know how it works.
The legal and judicial system was fine before mandatory sentencing, and in areas where it is not present still works fine.
If the prosecutors think the sentence was too light they can appeal. This appears to fix most mistakes and the others we just have to live with in a free society.
As I said, it is not widespread but it is insidiously making its way here.
---
Several people have told me that ZT is indeed in Australia -- one just has to look more carefully. -rc
Posted by: Mark, Queensland Australia | June 25, 2008 4:13 PM
I am so glad I found this page. I am a parent whose child was a victim of ZT policy. My 12 year old was arrested for having a kitchen spice at school from which another teacher's child admitted to giving him. The boys were horsing around asking friends what it looked like. They had no idea they could get arrested.
My 12 year old was caught in possession of it. The school charged him with having a non-narcotic in lieu of a narcotic substance with intent to sell. He was arrested, driven to the police station, fingerprinted, booked, and charged with a felony.
We spent close to 3k on an attorney to get the state attorney to drop the charges. The school still will not take this off his record.
I have to admit that my son is all boy. He will play rough and try to pull a prank to get a good laugh. His ambitions are never to ever do any criminal behavior. When he was asked why he had the kitchen spices he said he didn't think he could get arrested or in trouble for it because it wasn't anything.
He was sent to alternative school from January to the end of the school year and then when he returned to regular school they put him on a behavior contract. It seemed like he was branded for good and the punishment would not be lifted for another year.
Keep reaching out because this is great information and an eye opener to those who want to see its true effects.
The effects of this arrest were all bad. When my son returned to regular school, I also didn't mention that he was kicked off the Lacrosse team and expelled from any public school activities outside of school that were representative of any public school, he had to deal with the rumors spread by the kids that didn't get arrested. Rumors stretched out to he was a weapons dealer, drug dealer, and drug user.
Upon his arrival to school the peer pressure was unbearable. His remaining years in middle school were extremely difficult. I thought he'd never get out of that school.
He is attending charter high school this year. I'm so glad for him.
Posted by: pocketarrow, Florida | July 23, 2008 1:11 AM
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.