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.
Posted by
Michael, LA on November 6, 2010:
I for one agree with you. I have been a victim of ZT several times. Back in the fifth grade years ago, I remember this one time in English class where I was extremely bored. So I made a gun out of paper. It didn't look like a real gun -- It was white, had no trigger, and it was a double barrel pistol that didn't shoot.
I was "Caught" with it after class, and sent to the principal's office. If I recall correctly, I was suspended for a week because of it. Before that, I got 3 day suspensions for drawing cartoons in science class where the characters used guns since it was an "Action" comic. The principal also referred me to counseling because of it.
In sixth grade, at the same school, this kid kept picking on me and making fun of me, and I got really mad at him. Now it turns out at the same time my Gifted teacher said that we were going to write a fictional story that had something to do with indians. I wrote a story to where the kid I was mad at was the villain, and I end up arresting him. The principal (same one as last year) gave me a discussion on why it was inappropriate, and as punishment, he let me off with a warning, and I had to write a different story, with the teacher taking off 10 points. He agreed to give me another chance. Sounds reasonable right?
The following Monday, the principal calls my mom and tells me I am suspended for the exact same story that got me in trouble the previous week. I did not do anything else wrong. He basically went back on his agreement to give me another chance, and sent me to an alternative school for the semester. His reasoning was that I had scratched out something on the original story that he didn't see beforehand. I think the real reason is because the other kid's parents were school board employees. The school board took pity on me and shortened my time to 2 months, and they took the incident off of my record, but if they were to make things fair, they should have revoked my "in-school suspension", as it was called.
Posted by
Jancey, CA on November 25, 2010:
If I ever have kids, I'll think about homeschooling.
After reading Stephen's comment & "Rule Of Law," I have been influenced to think that some of us are telling the future generation that Spiderman, Batman, all the heroes and the like belongs in a jail cell.
Education needs to be the second big thing (first being liberty).
The worst my high school has done was ban trench coats, and also backpacks the week of extended breaks (which was not always complied, since not all teachers are so understanding as not to require the textbooks in those days (We had no lockers)). Athletes used gym bags, most girls used purses, and the rest either ignored the call, or come empty-handed, so much for education and reasoning.
And to John in California, for the sake of argument,
This should be excessive (I certainly hope at least the majority of people find it so). Exceptions are made for ambulances and the like. Lives at risk require an exception of the law. They are what the law was set up to protect. That is what should be the common sense.
It is obvious there is political affiliation in your comments, but that shouldn't change anything.
Kids will be kids; and as time proceeds, it seems, so will adults. Age is no longer the line.
Good thing "This is True" still exists, a definite deserving of praise.
Posted by
Julie, Columbus, Ohio on January 13, 2012:
My daughter drove a family car to school. Unbeknownst to her, her uncle was in the car with a bag of marijuana 2 days before she drove it to school. The drug dogs came and hit on it. Police found one small mj seed about the size of a mustard seed. School suspended her for 10 days. My husband and I appealed it to the superintendent telling that we know her uncle was the one with the mj in the car. The school district reduced it to 5 days with mandatory counseling. It had nothing to do with her innocence! They only cared about their policy.
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.
Posted by Michael, LA on November 6, 2010:
I for one agree with you. I have been a victim of ZT several times. Back in the fifth grade years ago, I remember this one time in English class where I was extremely bored. So I made a gun out of paper. It didn't look like a real gun -- It was white, had no trigger, and it was a double barrel pistol that didn't shoot.
I was "Caught" with it after class, and sent to the principal's office. If I recall correctly, I was suspended for a week because of it. Before that, I got 3 day suspensions for drawing cartoons in science class where the characters used guns since it was an "Action" comic. The principal also referred me to counseling because of it.
In sixth grade, at the same school, this kid kept picking on me and making fun of me, and I got really mad at him. Now it turns out at the same time my Gifted teacher said that we were going to write a fictional story that had something to do with indians. I wrote a story to where the kid I was mad at was the villain, and I end up arresting him. The principal (same one as last year) gave me a discussion on why it was inappropriate, and as punishment, he let me off with a warning, and I had to write a different story, with the teacher taking off 10 points. He agreed to give me another chance. Sounds reasonable right?
The following Monday, the principal calls my mom and tells me I am suspended for the exact same story that got me in trouble the previous week. I did not do anything else wrong. He basically went back on his agreement to give me another chance, and sent me to an alternative school for the semester. His reasoning was that I had scratched out something on the original story that he didn't see beforehand. I think the real reason is because the other kid's parents were school board employees. The school board took pity on me and shortened my time to 2 months, and they took the incident off of my record, but if they were to make things fair, they should have revoked my "in-school suspension", as it was called.
Posted by Jancey, CA on November 25, 2010:
If I ever have kids, I'll think about homeschooling.
After reading Stephen's comment & "Rule Of Law," I have been influenced to think that some of us are telling the future generation that Spiderman, Batman, all the heroes and the like belongs in a jail cell.
Education needs to be the second big thing (first being liberty).
The worst my high school has done was ban trench coats, and also backpacks the week of extended breaks (which was not always complied, since not all teachers are so understanding as not to require the textbooks in those days (We had no lockers)). Athletes used gym bags, most girls used purses, and the rest either ignored the call, or come empty-handed, so much for education and reasoning.
And to John in California, for the sake of argument,
This should be excessive (I certainly hope at least the majority of people find it so). Exceptions are made for ambulances and the like. Lives at risk require an exception of the law. They are what the law was set up to protect. That is what should be the common sense.
It is obvious there is political affiliation in your comments, but that shouldn't change anything.
Kids will be kids; and as time proceeds, it seems, so will adults. Age is no longer the line.
Good thing "This is True" still exists, a definite deserving of praise.
Posted by Julie, Columbus, Ohio on January 13, 2012:
My daughter drove a family car to school. Unbeknownst to her, her uncle was in the car with a bag of marijuana 2 days before she drove it to school. The drug dogs came and hit on it. Police found one small mj seed about the size of a mustard seed. School suspended her for 10 days. My husband and I appealed it to the superintendent telling that we know her uncle was the one with the mj in the car. The school district reduced it to 5 days with mandatory counseling. It had nothing to do with her innocence! They only cared about their policy.
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.