Reading through the "zero tolerance" pages makes me sad. I was in 6th grade when the Columbine shootings occurred, and even in California, people were going nuts. I remember that new rules were implemented, but honestly the effect was mute. Our school banned us from wearing shoes with XIV on them because of gang relations, and while I can see they were looking out for our safety, suspending us is not positive reinforcement.
Sexual harassment became a major focus, and people were suspended on a daily basis. However, when I was in 1st grade, I remember people tickling me on Halloween and refusing to stop, and thinking back on it, that would have been considered "sexual harassment."
I have young cousins, and they are absolute terrors because they are not disciplined, and those that would discipline them are afraid to because "spanking a child will get you arrested." Whatever happened to thinking, people knowing the difference between right and wrong, and good old common sense? What is happening to people? Banning something only causes it to increase in popularity, and hiding it only desensitizes the populace to the true natures of the hidden. Just look at Prohibition and the popularity of alcohol.
"Zero Tolerance" rules are simply a shield behind which cowardly school boards and school adminis-traitors hide so they can avoid any exercise of thought or judgment. They do this because in our litigious society they fear that any judgment call they make that turns out to be wrong could expose them to the lawyers of vengeful parents.
Are they being cowardly? Of course, and worse yet by their example they are teaching cowardice to the children in their charge.
Are they wrong? Sadly, I can only pity them their cowardice, but I cannot fault their reasoning.
You see, when we pay the people whom we expect to civilize our children about as much as we pay those who collect our garbage then we can hardly expect them to risk anything like courageous actions in the performance of their jobs.
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Good theory, except it's wrong. Remember, the story is talking about a principal. As I pointed out in my response to a comment on another post about education, "the National Association of Elementary School Principals puts the average salary for their members at $76,144 for the [2004-2005] school year (source). I would think it's far higher in upper grade levels and college levels. I certainly consider those to be professional wages, and I'm sure they've gone up in the three years since those surveys were completed." We are paying them to make those decisions. If they're not going to make them, then we need to lower their wages (and give the money to teachers, instead!) -rc
After reading the post "ZT: the readers argue" and "Beware the Geek," I decided to post a comment. I graduated in 1963, and don't remember anything in school that was a problem. The worst anyone did was one year when someone stole another school's mascot, and that was considered terrible. I raised two children who were 6-1/2 years apart, then raised a grandchild who is almost 21 now. I have watched all the changes and tried to protest stupidity, but was only answered with stupidity. With each child, I have seen less authority and respect in the schools, and fewer parents who teach values, or much of anything else to their children. Knowing my great grandchildren will be in school in a few years is frightening. Until both parents and school officials take some responsibility and teach respect and manners, nothing will help. Not ZT or fear or anything will change what is happening.
When I say manners and common sense died and nobody noticed, people look at me like I just went into some weird zone that they don't recognize. Kind of reminds me of the movie "Idiocracy." CPS and authorities who say all you have to do is talk to your children have helped destroy all discipline. I'm not advocating beatings or anything, just people who actually care enough to know where their children are, what they are doing, and have the guts to say no. That seems to be a foreign word today.
As the mother of a child who was bullied severely in school I totally agree with "Fear the Geek" - he graduated in 2006. I was also bullied and I graduated in 1978. It was not just the kids who bullied - his English teacher called him a liar when he came back from the bathroom on 9/11 to tell her what happened (janitor was watching the news). The teacher said he was lying and to sit down. When she found out during the next break it was true she did not apologize. He has a learning disability in English and she equated struggle with stupidity and troublemaker -- same teacher falsely accused him of causing a problem in Grade 9 and almost got him kicked out of school. School yard bullies grow up to be the tyrant / emotional / nasty bosses and co-workers.
ZT: The Readers Argue - Comments
Reading through the "zero tolerance" pages makes me sad. I was in 6th grade when the Columbine shootings occurred, and even in California, people were going nuts. I remember that new rules were implemented, but honestly the effect was mute. Our school banned us from wearing shoes with XIV on them because of gang relations, and while I can see they were looking out for our safety, suspending us is not positive reinforcement.
Sexual harassment became a major focus, and people were suspended on a daily basis. However, when I was in 1st grade, I remember people tickling me on Halloween and refusing to stop, and thinking back on it, that would have been considered "sexual harassment."
I have young cousins, and they are absolute terrors because they are not disciplined, and those that would discipline them are afraid to because "spanking a child will get you arrested." Whatever happened to thinking, people knowing the difference between right and wrong, and good old common sense? What is happening to people? Banning something only causes it to increase in popularity, and hiding it only desensitizes the populace to the true natures of the hidden. Just look at Prohibition and the popularity of alcohol.
Posted by: Stephanie, California | April 7, 2007 10:59 AM
"Zero Tolerance" rules are simply a shield behind which cowardly school boards and school adminis-traitors hide so they can avoid any exercise of thought or judgment. They do this because in our litigious society they fear that any judgment call they make that turns out to be wrong could expose them to the lawyers of vengeful parents.
Are they being cowardly? Of course, and worse yet by their example they are teaching cowardice to the children in their charge.
Are they wrong? Sadly, I can only pity them their cowardice, but I cannot fault their reasoning.
You see, when we pay the people whom we expect to civilize our children about as much as we pay those who collect our garbage then we can hardly expect them to risk anything like courageous actions in the performance of their jobs.
---
Good theory, except it's wrong. Remember, the story is talking about a principal. As I pointed out in my response to a comment on another post about education, "the National Association of Elementary School Principals puts the average salary for their members at $76,144 for the [2004-2005] school year (source). I would think it's far higher in upper grade levels and college levels. I certainly consider those to be professional wages, and I'm sure they've gone up in the three years since those surveys were completed." We are paying them to make those decisions. If they're not going to make them, then we need to lower their wages (and give the money to teachers, instead!) -rc
Posted by: Gordon Paterson, Richmond, VA, USA | March 29, 2008 9:57 AM
After reading the post "ZT: the readers argue" and "Beware the Geek," I decided to post a comment. I graduated in 1963, and don't remember anything in school that was a problem. The worst anyone did was one year when someone stole another school's mascot, and that was considered terrible. I raised two children who were 6-1/2 years apart, then raised a grandchild who is almost 21 now. I have watched all the changes and tried to protest stupidity, but was only answered with stupidity. With each child, I have seen less authority and respect in the schools, and fewer parents who teach values, or much of anything else to their children. Knowing my great grandchildren will be in school in a few years is frightening. Until both parents and school officials take some responsibility and teach respect and manners, nothing will help. Not ZT or fear or anything will change what is happening.
When I say manners and common sense died and nobody noticed, people look at me like I just went into some weird zone that they don't recognize. Kind of reminds me of the movie "Idiocracy." CPS and authorities who say all you have to do is talk to your children have helped destroy all discipline. I'm not advocating beatings or anything, just people who actually care enough to know where their children are, what they are doing, and have the guts to say no. That seems to be a foreign word today.
Posted by: Nancy in Pasadena Texas | March 30, 2008 9:03 PM
As the mother of a child who was bullied severely in school I totally agree with "Fear the Geek" - he graduated in 2006. I was also bullied and I graduated in 1978. It was not just the kids who bullied - his English teacher called him a liar when he came back from the bathroom on 9/11 to tell her what happened (janitor was watching the news). The teacher said he was lying and to sit down. When she found out during the next break it was true she did not apologize. He has a learning disability in English and she equated struggle with stupidity and troublemaker -- same teacher falsely accused him of causing a problem in Grade 9 and almost got him kicked out of school. School yard bullies grow up to be the tyrant / emotional / nasty bosses and co-workers.
Posted by: Sheila in Calgary, AB, Canada | April 1, 2008 7:27 PM
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.