Posted by fred Florida on September 2, 2009:

the autonomy that schools have, coupled with the Supreme Court almost always siding with the schools is just plan silly.

Schools are able to make almost any rule they wish and you have to take them to court to change things.

If you want to accomplish anything, you have to jump through hoops to get a law passed.

very one sided...but this is what happens when a vocal minority gets control and allows the nanny-state to raise their children.

Posted by T.J., Georgia on September 27, 2009:

I agree Zero Tolerance is getting way out of hand. A few years ago, one of my sons was suspended for making a paper construction "Gun" that was non-functional, and didn't even look real.

When I questioned why he was suspended, the principal responded with some nonsense about how these guns lead to kids thinking that real guns are OK, and that it was a Zero tolerance law.

What the hell was that all about? Zero-Tolerance goes against common sense, and lawmakers need to know this once and for all.

Posted by Stacey, Columbia SC on October 6, 2009:

My son was just suspended today for having swimsuit models pics on his phone. The school's discipline officer (a minister's wife as she so proudly told me) considers the pictures "pornography" and tried to put that into my son's school record. I made sure it said it was from a swimsuit calendar. But my son still has 1 day of OSS. She told me my almost 12 yr old should have pictures of Mickey Mouse and Spongebob! She explained that the school's policy considers it pornographic material. When did bathing suits become pornography?

Posted by Ed, Richmondville on October 6, 2009:

This is one time I suggest a lawyer. Do not accept the day's suspension. Get a lawyer & go to court. As a retired teacher, I know from first hand experience that most schools will back down once real courts are brought in: they often don't want parents to know how much they violate their own policies based on someone's whim. Good luck.

Posted by Michael, Stevens Point WI. on October 8, 2009:

I think that zero tolerance policies are needed in the larger inner city schools where drugs and more violent behaviors are evident. I do believe that from your news article that zero tolerance needs to be more open for principals and assistant principals to have veto power in cases as the lemon drop debacle and the small luger shaped key ring. Principals in these cases need to use common sense and I believe the zero tolerance policy or law has these in place where the principal has the power to make case by case decisions and not make a bone head decision on suspending a boy for giving candy out to a friend, (is really absurd). I hope this situation gets resolved quickly for our future.

Posted by Jim Shreveport LA. on October 14, 2009:

I get so frustrated with comments like I think zero tolerance policies are needed in larger inner city schools. People just don't get it. Zero tolerance isn't prevention, it's reaction. Zero tolerance does not stop events from happening, it just tells people how to react when they do happen. But the worst thing about zero tolerance rules is that teachers and administrators have to treat every thing the same for fear that they are punished for thinking instead of reacting. Zero tolerance policies are written in a way that sounds good behind a desk in a board room. Example: guns and or gun facsimiles sounds good, covers everything, but in school if a kid bites the corner off of a saltine cracker square and holds it like a gun its a gun facsimile. Zero tolerance says he must be punished as if he or she brought a real gun. We need to do away with the zero tolerance mentality and get back to logic and common sense approaches to school discipline. We are all so worried about political correctness and being non discriminatory that we overreact to everything. Is it worse to appear discriminatory or overpunish an innocent person? Zero tolerance hurts more people than it helps, and I sure hope none of the people that support it have to find out the hard way that it's wrong, because once you're in that position and understand it's wrong, it's too late and there is nothing you can do.

Posted by Danny-Texas on October 14, 2009:

The only time zero-tolerance should be used is when it comes to our politicians -- If you do not pay your taxes you can not serve, if you commit adultery you can not serve. Also if you do get caught you also lose your pension and insurance and can not run for or hold any government position until and after reparations are made and or time served.

Posted by Butch, Clinton Utah on October 14, 2009:

Have we lost all sense of judgement? Give me a farm kid 10-12 years old and I will trust him with things that to bang and sharp pointy objects like toothpicks. He like an eagle scout mentioned earlier was raised with these things, I trust them.for someone who has no upbring with such things I do not trust. Now because I see you walking into your house with a firearm mean i should not trust you. Bull. How about at the dinner table, who is going to be the trained licensed authorized to cut my steak and seeing as how forks have sharp points I need tongs or fingers to eat with. Grow the ^&*(% up people the big stink you are making about zero tolerance may be from your own anal opening and not for any real need.

Let me ask: how many schools are there and how many students are there in these schools? and how many of them cause problems with what ever someone considers weapons? the actual percentage is so small that if placed on a normal bell curve it would be un recordable...

Oh yea I forgot what about combs and earings those studs could put someone's eye out. Need I say more.