I'm in complete agreement with your stance. From 1970 to 1981, a worked most of the time as a policeman (for a little while) and a much longer period as a security patrol officer. I regularly made common-sense decisions, and that often took the form of, say, taking a wayward young person home to his folks -- not to jail. I wouldn't dare do that today; it was getting increasingly risky even as long ago when I left the field and went into another profession.
All the ZT stuff just makes me want to puke.
Posted by
Brandon from South Carolina on March 17, 2009:
I'm glad to say I haven't heard of any ZT SNAFU's like this in my state, but am saddened that they occur at all. Although funny, these stories indicate, indeed, that many people are willing to "sacrifice their freedom for their security, and are deserving of neither" (paraphrased).
My former school district took proper precautions. They didn't place zero-tolerance laws, but they did put metal detectors in all the schools. Everyone empties their pockets of metal and walks through the detector. The contents are examined, and, if the detector doesn't go off, then the contents are returned. If the detector rings, then, they do exactly what they'd do in an airport until the issue's resolved, or, as has yet to happen, a shootout takes place.
A funny story, though. In elementary school, there was a big problem with Pokemon merchandise in the school, especially kids playing with the cards in class. They made all Pokemon merchandise illegal in, like, the second week of January... and I'd gotten a Pokemon bookbag for Christmas. I was so upset that I wasn't going to get to use my new backpack, lol. But, what's really bad is that I wasn't one of the people who was playing with the cards in class, though I did play with friends outside of school. And the problem was the cards, not the other merchandise related to the franchise. In a sense, I guess that was a ZT rule (not law, since it was only in MY elementary school that it went into effect, and it obviously wasn't treated as criminal), in a sense. People play with cards in class, so we outlaw anything that might remind people of the cards...
---
According to Wikiquote, there are many version's of Benjamin Franklin's quote. "People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both." is one I've heard a lot, but see the link for others. -rc
Posted by
Brenda in Indiana on March 18, 2009:
My son also has been a victim of ZT. He's a 13 yr old 8th grader who unknowingly put another boys gymbag in his locker which contained some pot. Even tho the other boy confessed that the pot was his and that my son didnt know anything other than gym clothes were in the bag he was questioned, called a liar, arrested, charged with possession, detained in juvi for 37 hours without contact from a parent, suspended for 10 days then expelled for 3 months, mandated to attend drug rehab classes with high school boys (who tought him way too much) and pass once again a drug screen before he could return to school. Once he finally got back on schedule, he was seen throwing something away according to video surveilance, once again charged with posession, once again questioned and coereced to sign a confession and once again escorted by police thru his peers in handcuffs, without parental knowledge (till after the fact).
WTF? Zero tolerance is a joke and it it destroying good kids, their self esteem, education, as well as the jobs of good parents trying to earn a living to raise these kids. Oh... just to let the readers know, all of the drug screens have been negative for any and all substance abuse, including cigarettes.
It's time for a change in school policy.
Posted by
Brad, NL Canada on February 11, 2010:
I am a University student and have just recently come across "This Is True" and might i say that these zero tolerance policies are quite atrocious. I was raised knowing that my choices will yield consequences for my actions and that adults knew this as well. I also grew up thinking that adult were something that everyone will be in a few years and that we should learn from them to be exactly like them. But when i read about these "ZT" cases that seem to be so extreme, it makes my want to slap the adults that i had looked up to so much for being to immature.
I am glad to say that my parents are my best friends in which they always had time for me and too an active roll in my upbringing as they would spank me if it was necessary. Needless to say that i tried my best not to get spanked. It was not abuse and can not be tried as such. I have no ill-will towards my parents, actually it is the exact opposite as i have been able to stay away from drugs or alcohol.
The very first incident of Zero Tolerance Policies were quite eccentric. I read about a thirteen year old girl, strip searched because the teachers had "suspected her for carrying ibuprofen". It took me several minutes to realize what it was saying. It said that the TEACHERS, whom i respect greatly, had forced a thirteen year old girl to strip down to her underwear and expose herself.
After reading that i had searched for more to see if this was the only case and unfortunately, it was not. There are many cases where teachers have overstepped their rights to provide a safe education to children in the name of the Zero Tolerance Policies. I was disgusted. It made me sick to think that ADULTS would do something like this. I always thought that adults were mature, well mannered people. Sure there were some cases where people committed crimes because they were in need of something or were affected by many other things, but i had never thought that an adults moral compass could be so screwed up.
I must say that i appreciate what you are doing as you are informing people abut this and it is very well received for the most part. I thank you for your time in reading this.
---
Your only mistake was assuming all adults are mature. Yes, I covered the Savana Redding case extensively, here.
Posted by
Patrick, IN on May 21, 2010:
Here In Madison,IN, we don't have ZT in our schools. We have ZT with underage drinking drivers. And I can go with that.
Knives and such get confiscated when found and it takes a parental visit to recover them.
Gun possession - trying to get in school with one gets your sorry butt in jail. Tried as an adult.
We are aware of the problems facing our children and strive to educate them.
Reader Comments on "Zero Tolerance" - Comments
Posted by Kurt/Bangkok on January 14, 2009:
I'm in complete agreement with your stance. From 1970 to 1981, a worked most of the time as a policeman (for a little while) and a much longer period as a security patrol officer. I regularly made common-sense decisions, and that often took the form of, say, taking a wayward young person home to his folks -- not to jail. I wouldn't dare do that today; it was getting increasingly risky even as long ago when I left the field and went into another profession.
All the ZT stuff just makes me want to puke.
Posted by Brandon from South Carolina on March 17, 2009:
I'm glad to say I haven't heard of any ZT SNAFU's like this in my state, but am saddened that they occur at all. Although funny, these stories indicate, indeed, that many people are willing to "sacrifice their freedom for their security, and are deserving of neither" (paraphrased).
My former school district took proper precautions. They didn't place zero-tolerance laws, but they did put metal detectors in all the schools. Everyone empties their pockets of metal and walks through the detector. The contents are examined, and, if the detector doesn't go off, then the contents are returned. If the detector rings, then, they do exactly what they'd do in an airport until the issue's resolved, or, as has yet to happen, a shootout takes place.
A funny story, though. In elementary school, there was a big problem with Pokemon merchandise in the school, especially kids playing with the cards in class. They made all Pokemon merchandise illegal in, like, the second week of January... and I'd gotten a Pokemon bookbag for Christmas. I was so upset that I wasn't going to get to use my new backpack, lol. But, what's really bad is that I wasn't one of the people who was playing with the cards in class, though I did play with friends outside of school. And the problem was the cards, not the other merchandise related to the franchise. In a sense, I guess that was a ZT rule (not law, since it was only in MY elementary school that it went into effect, and it obviously wasn't treated as criminal), in a sense. People play with cards in class, so we outlaw anything that might remind people of the cards...
---
According to Wikiquote, there are many version's of Benjamin Franklin's quote. "People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both." is one I've heard a lot, but see the link for others. -rc
Posted by Brenda in Indiana on March 18, 2009:
My son also has been a victim of ZT. He's a 13 yr old 8th grader who unknowingly put another boys gymbag in his locker which contained some pot. Even tho the other boy confessed that the pot was his and that my son didnt know anything other than gym clothes were in the bag he was questioned, called a liar, arrested, charged with possession, detained in juvi for 37 hours without contact from a parent, suspended for 10 days then expelled for 3 months, mandated to attend drug rehab classes with high school boys (who tought him way too much) and pass once again a drug screen before he could return to school. Once he finally got back on schedule, he was seen throwing something away according to video surveilance, once again charged with posession, once again questioned and coereced to sign a confession and once again escorted by police thru his peers in handcuffs, without parental knowledge (till after the fact).
WTF? Zero tolerance is a joke and it it destroying good kids, their self esteem, education, as well as the jobs of good parents trying to earn a living to raise these kids. Oh... just to let the readers know, all of the drug screens have been negative for any and all substance abuse, including cigarettes.
It's time for a change in school policy.
Posted by Brad, NL Canada on February 11, 2010:
I am a University student and have just recently come across "This Is True" and might i say that these zero tolerance policies are quite atrocious. I was raised knowing that my choices will yield consequences for my actions and that adults knew this as well. I also grew up thinking that adult were something that everyone will be in a few years and that we should learn from them to be exactly like them. But when i read about these "ZT" cases that seem to be so extreme, it makes my want to slap the adults that i had looked up to so much for being to immature.
I am glad to say that my parents are my best friends in which they always had time for me and too an active roll in my upbringing as they would spank me if it was necessary. Needless to say that i tried my best not to get spanked. It was not abuse and can not be tried as such. I have no ill-will towards my parents, actually it is the exact opposite as i have been able to stay away from drugs or alcohol.
The very first incident of Zero Tolerance Policies were quite eccentric. I read about a thirteen year old girl, strip searched because the teachers had "suspected her for carrying ibuprofen". It took me several minutes to realize what it was saying. It said that the TEACHERS, whom i respect greatly, had forced a thirteen year old girl to strip down to her underwear and expose herself.
After reading that i had searched for more to see if this was the only case and unfortunately, it was not. There are many cases where teachers have overstepped their rights to provide a safe education to children in the name of the Zero Tolerance Policies. I was disgusted. It made me sick to think that ADULTS would do something like this. I always thought that adults were mature, well mannered people. Sure there were some cases where people committed crimes because they were in need of something or were affected by many other things, but i had never thought that an adults moral compass could be so screwed up.
I must say that i appreciate what you are doing as you are informing people abut this and it is very well received for the most part. I thank you for your time in reading this.
---
Your only mistake was assuming all adults are mature. Yes, I covered the Savana Redding case extensively, here.
Posted by Patrick, IN on May 21, 2010:
Here In Madison,IN, we don't have ZT in our schools. We have ZT with underage drinking drivers. And I can go with that.
Knives and such get confiscated when found and it takes a parental visit to recover them.
Gun possession - trying to get in school with one gets your sorry butt in jail. Tried as an adult.
We are aware of the problems facing our children and strive to educate them.
Some you win, some you lose.
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.