3. Parent
As a parent, I am worried about the unreasonableness of
this policy. When it comes to students, one size does NOT
fit all. In the same way that teachers struggle to teach to
each individual student, we need to remember that same
individuality when students are punished for various
offences. The punishment for a 6 year old is not
necessarily appropriate for a 12 year old. The principal,
teachers, and parents need to be a team for the discipline
to be effective. Personally, I trust the teachers and the
principals of our schools to make the best decision for our
students. I urge the board to reconsider the policy of Zero
Tolerance.
4. Community Member
As a community member, I strongly believe Zero
Tolerance should be implemented in all schools.
Rules are made to be followed, not broken, and once
leniency is shown, breaking the rules becomes easier
and easier. Rules are important for students' safety
and Zero Tolerance is absolutely necessary to ensure
that all students are treated fairly and equally.
Weapons and drugs do not belong in the classroom
and with Zero Tolerance policies, students are aware
of this at the beginning of school. If a student
chooses to endanger themselves and others by
breaking these rules, the student should be expelled.
Nothing can prevent all violence from school, but if
Zero Tolerance helps prevent one tragedy, then it is
worth it. Keep the Zero Tolerance policy.
5. Student
As a student, I feel that Zero Tolerance is a fair way of
disciplining students. Teachers often play favorites with
some students and those students often get the benefit
of the doubt. With Zero Tolerance every student is
treated the same. No matter who you are, you receive
the same punishment for the same discipline problem. I
don't care if the student is the quarterback of the
football team or the class
president, if they break the rule they receive the same
punishment. Also with this policy students know, up
front, the consequences for disrupting the class, bringing
drugs or alcohol to school, or starting a fight on campus. I
hope the board keeps the policy. I think it's working for
most students.
6. Principal
When a discipline problem arises, I know who is
involved, what happened, where it happened,
and most of all I know what has happened in the
past. The Zero Tolerance policy discounts my
knowledge and does not allow any discretion.
Take, for example, a past incident where a
student punched another student. The fight
started with name calling by the student who was
punched. The incident was serious and was
addressed immediately. I took into consideration
that the other student had frequently bullied the
student, who started the fight. The student had
also never, ever been in a physical fight in 3 years
at my school. The student was disciplined
appropriately —parent conference, certain
privileges removed, and counseling on anger
management.
7. Principal
The other student was also counseled on bullying
and parents were consulted about the incident.
With this Zero Tolerance policy, I would have had to
immediately suspend the student for 3 days and
report the assault incident to the police. For any
student, three days out of the classroom can hurt
academically and the suspension becomes part of
their permanent record. I am not sure if these
discipline actions would have helped the situation.
Zero Tolerance is often seen as unfair and this can
only undermine the policy. I would ask the board to
reconsider this policy and allow me as the principal
of the school to use my best judgment concerning
discipline.
