Zero Tolerance Policies: Sending Our Children from the Schoolhouse to the Jailhouse

Zero-tolerance school policies are discipline procedures that impose harsh, pre-determined disciplines for certain offenses. These policies were initially implemented in response to a juvenile crime wave during the late 1980's, seeking to warn students that certain behaviors would not be tolerated and thus would be punished severely, irrespective of the particular circumstances.
Presently, government and school officials are increasingly implementing vague, expansive zero-tolerance policies as a speedy, uniform approach to student misconduct. Currently, at least one component of a zero-tolerance policy is in place in over 80 percent of schools nationwide. These actions are largely in response to the growing public concern aimed at addressing the perceived threat of increasing school violence. Interestingly enough, however, data negates any perception of an increase in school violence, and indicates that violent crimes against students between the ages of 12 and 18 actually decreased by 50 percent between 1992 and 2002. In addition, statistics reveal less than a 1 to 1.7 million chance of a student dying as a result of a school homicide. Despite the data contrary to the public's overwhelming fear of school related violence, several school districts nationwide have expanded the Guns Free School Act's zero tolerance firearm policy (one of the original national zero tolerance campaigns) to include removal for possessing any items that could be perceived as a potentially dangerous weapon, drug possession/usage, gang membership, and other vague offenses such as committing serious offenses on school grounds. Thus, seemingly trivial behavior, like disrupting a class or being disrespectful to a teacher, despite not being either violent or dangerous, has become grounds for permanent expulsion and referral to the juvenile justice court system.
Need a clearer understanding of the devastation zero-tolerance policies are causing? Consider the following:

• A 6 yr old was suspended and is facing 45 days in a reform school for bringing his new Cub Scout camping utensil to school to use at lunch. (Newark, Delaware 2009)
• A 10 yr old girl was suspended under her school district's "zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy" after she repeatedly asked a boy if he liked her. (Thornton, Colorado 1997)
• A high school junior was expelled after a school security guard found a bread knife in the bed of his pick-up truck. The knife was accidentally left in the truck after the teen had helped his father take his grandmother's linens, books, and kitchenware to the local charity thrift shop. (Bedford, Texas).
• An 8 yr old was suspended for pointing a chicken finger at a teacher and saying "pow pow." (Jonesboro, Arkansas)

Zero-tolerance policies are removing our children from schools and preparing them for the adult prison system. Now that you know the facts, what are you prepared to do about it?