Zero tolerance

            
             Zero-tolerance policies used in public schools across the United States have been in affect for years now, and have failed to produce the intended results. All to often the method fails to differentiate between good students who make the typical mistakes of adolescence and the unruly delinquents who can bring learning to a standstill (Cauchon 23). A new report conducted by the Indiana University School of Education, reviewed the use of zero-tolerance policies since their inception in the 1980's (Petracca). The director of the project, Professor Russell Skiba, said, "Zero tolerance is a political response, not an educationally sound solution," (Petracca). In fact both children and teens are often over disciplined, or the method of discipline is far too serious. Zero-tolerance policies have become increasingly criticized in the past two years, as they have become the standard operating procedure in 109,000 of the nation's public schools (Cauchon 23). The policies are harsh, and they lack both the flexibility and the common sense needed to properly discipline students (Cauchon 23). .
             Zero tolerance policies started sweeping the nation in 1994 after Congress required states to adopt laws that guaranteed one-year expulsions for any student who brought a firearm to school (Cauchon 26). Of course all fifty states adopted such laws, which were required to receive federal funding (Cauchon 26). Today, eighty-seven percent of all schools have zero-tolerance policies for alcohol and drugs, often resulting in mandatory expulsions, no matter how small the infraction (Cauchon 23). Students have been kicked out of school for the possession of Midol, Tylenol, Alka Seltzer, cough drops, and Scope mouthwash, which is contraband that violates ant-drug policies (Cauchon 23). Given that the policies vary widely on the severity of punishment, and the amount of discretion used by the principals, the outcome is the same (Cauchon 24).