Posted by Michelle Colorado Springs on January 24, 2009:

My son was playing volley ball at his elementary school. A girl kept pushing into him when they were playing. Finally, my son got mad and said, "I wish you were dead." Zero-tolerance. The principal and vice-principal are giving him an in school suspension and very sternly stated, "This will go on his permanent record!"

Okay, kids say things when they get pushed. Give me a break all these teachers need to go back to school and take a psychology class on the behaviors of children at this age. They are "children", "kids", please, it is a scientific fact that their brains are still developing. We need to teach kids that these things are not okay to say, but a firm talking to would do a lot, and believe me we did this, but I also pointed out that his principal should not be in charge of children because she has no concept of what children do naturally.

Posted by Garry Stahl of Dearborn, Mi on February 3, 2009:

Zero Tolerance: Means zero intelligence. A lame excuse for overreaction without thought or responsibility for one's overreactions. Anyone claiming or demanding Zero Tolerance should be taken out and shot without further adieu. However not being a promoter of zero tolerance I will settle for beating them sensible.

Posted by Dan, Northeast TN on March 12, 2009:

In a very similar situation, my wife's grandson was suspended from school for having a two-inch pot metal "rifle" on his key ring. That was in NY state. I doubt it would happen here in Northeast TN, where common sense seems more common.

Posted by Michele E. Redding, CA on March 19, 2009:

The examples seem pretty dated. I know this was a big trend after the '94 legislation, but haven't most districts dialed it back a bit since then?

---

Yes, this page could use some updating. No, not much has changed -- and there have been plenty of examples in the newsletter that haven't been posted on the site. You might consider subscribing and seeing for yourself. -rc

Posted by Art, Littleton Colorado on April 7, 2009:

Ha. Zero Tolerance. You can tell the lady who thought your opinion was "cavalier" that I went to Columbine. I was there on April 20th. I would like to know one way, ONE possible way that zero tolerance could have stopped that. Hell, a friend of mine got in a fight about two months before the shooting. Some kids jumped him from behind in the school parking lot. He never threw a punch. Yet they all got suspended. Zero intelligence is a much better term.

Posted by Mauricio, Addison Illinois on April 7, 2009:

My friend was a victim of these Zero Intelligence policies. Someone that didn't like him decided to put a bb gun in his locker and he was expelled from school.

Posted by Ayla, Michigan on April 7, 2009:

Laws like "Zero Tolerance" frighten me. I am amazed that I emerged from public schools unharmed (I graduated in 2007) and plan on sending my future children to private schools when that time arrives. Zero Tolerance is a great idea in theory. But if a kid brings a gun to school and shoots someone, the victim is still dead, whether the schools have "zero tolerance" on the perpetrator or not. Instead, the law has simply providing a loophole for power-hungry school administrators to abuse and punish children for everyday behaviors such as sharing and playing under the guise of "protecting" them. Ridiculous. I completely agree--let the punishment fit the crime. This is supposed to be the greatest country ever, right? Not one where a kid can be suspended for extending his index finger into the shape of a gun--something I've seen my 5 year old nephew do plenty of times. Hopefully no teacher ever notices for his sake.

Posted by Lisa, Colorado Springs on April 7, 2009:

I live in Colorado as well and I hate the Zero Tolerance BS. My son is in kindergarten and I am afraid of this stupidity possibly forcing me to abandon any attempt at a career and home school because school officials having a fit over children being children.

To explain: my son started kindergarten in the fall of last year. He is a very bright, if a little excitable, 5 year old child. He likes to run and scream and rough house like a lot of little boys. But he has some problems listening, and the first month in school was rough - a lot of pushing and hitting going on. But it wasn't just MY child. Though that's not what the school would have us parents believe. They act like any child who ever has any issues is a "problem". My son also has gotten in trouble for making a gun with his hand, not suspended, however the school cut him to a half day from full day kindergarten. My son has been bullied, punched, kicked and teased. But the school never found out about it till I went and had a fit in the principal's office. Now he is doing well in school but they refuse to keep him full day as was originally discussed was the plan when he was doing better. I had to abort my plans to attend nursing school this school year because the classes I need are afternoon classes - when my son is home now because the school dug in their heels and refuse to budge. They don't care. It isn't THEIR future. ZT is getting to be out of hand and overly retarded.

Posted by Stephen, Idstein Germany on April 8, 2009:

Zero Tolerance is just another example of overzealous American stupidity. I am an American, and have been living in Germany for almost 20 years. I have flown around the world and been exposed to many cultures. Yes stupidity is everywhere. But Zero Tolerance is American STUPIDITY in its prime. Kids are kids and need direction not harsh (in the cases listed here... cruel and unfortunately not unusual) punishment. As with most other things there is a small group of individuals that go to the extreme to prove something. Sharing candy has nothing to do with drugs unless it's laced with PCP. Bringing a water pistol to school (no matter how stupid it is) is not a crime, it's just stupid. Parents PLEASE talk to your kids about APPROPRIATE behavior, school board PLEASE talk to the staff about APPROPRIATE behavior.

Bringing a "REAL" weapon or mock-up should be punished. Selling/sharing dope (not advil, aspirin or lemon drops) should be punished.

Parents and teachers alike need to take RESPONSIBILITY for GUIDING the next generation. Making them responsible, respectable and well balanced individuals, not psychotic little monsters who get an overly harsh punishment for doing something that they though was right.

---

I'm not clear where ZT started, though I admit it was probably in the U.S. But no matter where it was invented, it has definitely been adopted in other countries, especially Britain. Let's hope they realize the mistake before they go too far down the road with this. -rc

Posted by Tom, Vancouver Canada on April 8, 2009:

I was suspended for bringing a miniature keychain gun to elementary school too. Worse, at my disciplinary hearing with a school liaison officer and the vice-superintendent, the (female) officer asked leading questions to the girl I had supposedly terrorized by showing off my keychain, said I was heading down a slippery slope, and suggested I be sent to boot camp at the tender age of 9 before I became some crazy killer. Thank goodness the vice-superintendent had some sense in his head and realized that officer had no clue what she was talking about.