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Many schools today are enforcing a new "Zero Tolerance" policy in which
severe and immediate punishment is issued upon first offense misbehaviors without a glance at the student's history or grades
or the severity of the misbehavior. These policies make students feel like prisoners instead of students and turn a learning
environment into a breeding ground for fear and alienation.
Students are usually either suspended or expelled for their crimes, even first offenses of honor
students.
When students are expelled
or suspended, they fall behind academically, raising the chances they may become involved in criminal activities. Is this
not the exact thing the policy is trying to prevent?
Even in our Adult Criminal Justice System, these methods are considered "too harsh". In the Criminal
Justice System, the punishments are chosen to fit the severity of the crime.
In light of recent events, such as the Virginia Tech Tragedy, more
and more schools will probably be considering adopting the Zero Tolerance Policy to prevent and protect their students from
crime. However, while the policy could be effective against gun control, what else is it punishing? For some examples of ridiculous
punishment under the policy, check out the "Student Stories" section by following the link on the navigation bar. ~Thanks
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