Comments on: Zero-Tolerance Policies Go Bonkers…Again

By: Mark in TX

Mark in TX — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:14:27 +0000

I often have to wonder what would have happened if this story had a different ending.
For example: “A 6yr old boy was stabbed today at a local school. A young boy had wanted to take his new boy scout knife to school to eat with. Another young boy got into an a verbal conflict when wanting to see the knife but did not want to share it. A scuffle followed that led to the accidental stabbing of a 3rd young boy” So now who would be to blame? Zero Tolerance is not only about racial issues, but the simple matter of the danger any kind of weapon can pose at school. Seeing a news story today of how boys not much older in Florida set fire to another boy of similar age because he stopped them from stealing his dads bike. It is not only the intent of the person that brought the object to school but the interaction it will have with others at the school.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:29:58 +0000

We need a zero tolerance policy on zero tolerance policies.

By: Teddi

Teddi — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:13:24 +0000

Well said Tully.
and for you Jamie, pull your head out and be realistic! The world must be rejoicing that you are not a teacher and I pray not a mother.

By: Tully

Tully — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:30 +0000

The problem with Zero Tolerance policies is (as the article alludes) that there is also zero discretion in applying the prescribed penalties.

A five-day suspension I can see, even though this was an honest mistake on the part of a 6 year old. Harsh, but I can see it. But mandatory “alternative placement” or expulsion? Excuse me? That’s insane.

And as for the principal, s/he should be tossed into that ring of hell reserved for pettifogging loophole-sucking lawyers and spineless/mindless bureaucrats. Anyone with an ounce of real concern for their juvenile charges would have tossed the “utensil” in a drawer and called the parents to come get it and explain to the kid that you don’t bring knives to school. But such a SANE reaction would, of course, be a step outside the straitjacket of gutless zombie bureaucratic reflex…

(Remember, these are the EXACT same kind of people who would be enforcing the ObamaCare rules via the IRS.)

By: Jamie Toth

Jamie Toth — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:20 +0000

I strongly agree with Tony…The Mother on the Today show just killed me, watching her stroke his little hand like he was some victum of a terrible conspiracy about him.

By: Jamie Toth

Jamie Toth — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:11:48 +0000

You let 1 go you have to let them all go.Then you have a school full of knives.And let’s be REAL clear about this…It’s not a UTENSILE, It is a SWISS ARMY KNIFE,”KNIFE” being the key word here.I don’t know about other schools,But in our district and others around us,there are NO eating knives given to Elementary children.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:59:32 +0000

If the little face shown with this story was brown skinned, it wouldn’t be a news story at all. Why can’t the rule stand and the example be made? The intention of the zero tolerance policy is to send a strong (harsh?) message to parents and children to keep dangerous items home. It works, if every grade school child hears the news. The rule was not taught to this boy, or his parents, well enough. How many times do you need to tell your first grader not to run out into the street or parking lot? Many many times.

By: Hall Monitor

Hall Monitor — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:32 +0000

This story made http://detentionslip.org ! Check it out for all the crazy headlines from our schools.

By: maggie m

maggie m — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:28:45 +0000

Come on America, use your common sense and stop living in fear! This is obviously a normal 6 year boy who loves camping so much he carries his eating tool with him every day. I understand the need for zero tolerance, however, each situation is worth careful review and then addressed with common sense. When did a spoon, knife and fork tool become a weapon? If schools are so fearful of eating utensils, they should be eliminated from the cafeterias and have the children eat with their fingers! This is so ridicious.

The school administrators should immediately reverse their decision and allow Zachary to go back to his school.

By: Jamie Toth

Jamie Toth — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:15:22 +0000

I think the kid should get the punishment, I think he knew that he wasn’t to take something like the knife to school and he shouldn’t be treated different from anyone else . Let’s go into the thought , what if another child would have gotten hurt by this knife.I also feel the parents are the blame here,You know your child has this knife,Let’s be RESPONSIBLE for the child’s actions.Next time it may be a gun.

By: cody beemer

cody beemer — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:05:44 +0000

I’m a 40 yr old white male from MO ..This story made me think back to the day when I was Zach’s age . It was every young boys dream to own a Swiss army knife with the fork and spoon and almost every cub or boyscout did own one they also carried it everywhere they went including , The grocery store ,to friends house ,to grandmas, to bed ,and yes even to school .

Having said this I agree that there should be some guidelines on weapons being brought into school ,But as usual Americans have taken things way too far . Kids can still be kids and be safe there has to be a mature rational adult at the school that could have made a distinction between a first grader wanting to eat his lunch with his Swiss army knife and a first grader that wanted to stab his teacher and kill his class mates .

Not every crime should be treated and punished the same This doesn’t happen in very severe murder cases being tried in our court systems and it shouldn’t happen in our elementary schools.

By: laura johnson

laura johnson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:29:54 +0000

I just watched your interview on the Today Show after they showed a story of the grandmother who cursed and resisted arrested for speeding in a work zone and was tased by law enforcement then received a $40,000 payout for breaking the law! This is an outrage.I have two sons myself that love camping and don’t see a camping tool as a weapon but a tool which is what Zachary had at school.School officials should talk to this child and take his age into consideration and realize he’s too young to see his tool as a weapon and the fact he has a strong and stable support system at home and did’nt take this tool to school to cause harm but simply eat his lunch.How can granny get $40,000 for on video so disrespectfully breaking the law while an innocent child thinking as an innocent child be threatened with juvenile detention?If this is justice we need to start over.My thoughts and prayers are with Zachary and his family and I sincerely hope this child is not sent to juvenile detention and is allowed to go back to school and maybe he should get $40,000 too or more considering his “offense” is nothing compared to what grandma did. GOOD LUCK! GOD BLESS!

By: jason p

jason p — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:25:45 +0000

i agree with the zero tolerance rule, but i think it should be taken a step further and schools (all of them) should be equiped with metal detectors. this way, all items would be caught before they 1) just fall out of a pocket or 2) are used inappropriately. i also feel the parents should be held responsible for not being aware of the items their child took to school (regardless of his age or intent). the utility tool is FOR CAMPING, not show and tell at school. i’m tired of America not taking responsibility for their actions. step up America!!

By: Stacey Westphal

Stacey Westphal — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:03:07 +0000

Yea for zero tolerence – this world has so much crime now. TV rewards bad behavior, the courts are a joke. It seems here in the United States, that we reward crime – all you get is a slap on the hand, and the justice system is nothing but a revolving door for criminals. All which the behavior begins in the home with parents not supervising their children, and noinstilling any meaningful values to offspring. When something happens they cry oh poor me. I say more zero tolerence rules, and stick to them. The parents were responsible in this case to be sure the child knew the rules and should have been monitoring what he brings to school. And shame on ABC for rewarding this behavior by putting the child and his parents on TV.