Wow

[trinityvixen]

I feel the need to spread this article, not only because it's excellent and my good friend xannoside found it, but because it references this article at the end.

I just...yeah. The part where kids are locked up because of 'zero tolerance' being a liberal thing of the Clinton era is a tad-disheartening. The real angrifying piece is the types of zero tolerance policies that they enforce. I mean, zero tolerance in New York for kids who have any alcohol in them when pulled over is okay because it is illegal for them to drink under age. They're already violating one law and they're making a bad decision that could cost someone else their life (not to mention the offender's own). But zero tolerance for minors who eat on a fucking train? That's the age when kids still sort of respect authority, so why not just scare them with a warning and a talking-to? It's the adults who should get the zero tolerance riot act (or at least hefty fines).

And the types of laws that are good but ruined by idiots and their self-righteous, sanctimonious applications of zero tolerance? Even worse! I am serious about the zero tolerance where lives are in danger--no guns in schools, period, is a good idea. The kid in the article who forgot about the gun in his truck? That deserved suspension and review, no questions about it. If, upon investigation, he was found to have acted completely innocently, then he can be reinstated. But expulsion? A kid so sweet the entire neighborhood stands up for him? And the little boy with his paper gun? I'm the first to think that that's a sad commentary on America's obsession with guns, but IT WAS A PIECE OF PAPER. Would you rather he brought a toy? Oh, no, sorry, can't bring those either, even if they're action figure guns that, and I quote, "the principal had to tape to a piece of paper to keep from losing."

Notice me not ranting about video game violence? That's how upsetting the article referenced in the video-games-don't-make-violent-kids-you-idiots article made me.

Comments

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

The flipside, of course, is that many zero-tolerance drug policies (and punishments in general) in schools are completely ineffective. The law requires that children under 16 be educated, so you can't "really" expell them from school. The best you can do is transfer them and call it expulsion. And suspension (at least at my high school) just meant they had extra days off from school to go do drugs...

The American school system needs such an overhaul, I'm not even sure where to start.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

You're right, of course, as regards to drug policy. There's not enough effective abstinence programs when its comes to drugs, too much law enforcement around them, and too little treatment for addiction. It's very puritanical--punish the pathetic users for not withstanding their urges and restraining their curiosity--and not at all realistic. I knew plenty of druggies in school, and give them more than an hour on their own, guess what they'd do? Expel them, suspend them, they're just going to get that much more wasted.