Analysis Of Zero Tolerance

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Analysis of Zero Tolerance
Introduction
Safety is a paramount issue in leading any school in America. With the eminence of weapons, drugs, and violence within our communities; it has become necessary for school’s to develop zero tolerance policies. Zero tolerance policies are those that surround weapons, drugs, and physical violence; that carry a swift and severe punishment such as removal from school or expulsion from the school district. Within many school districts, these policies even cover students who may innocently or unknowingly bring weapons to school; this means that these policies leave very little room for discretion for teachers or administrators. On the other hand, these policies are designed to ensure that there is a uniformed …show more content…

Redding, Justice Souter does not directly buttress an anti-zero tolerance position; but rather says that in the mist of trying to enforce these zero- tolerance rules sometimes school officials violate student’s civil and constitutional rights. He further he notes that, “School officials have to carefully balance governmental and private interest.” These rights include a student’s fourteenth amendment right to equal protection, and their fourth amendment right against illegal searches (Noll, 2014)
Zero tolerance policy create an environment of policing and punitive discipline This argument stems from the fact that in order to enforce many of these rules and policies schools have to suspend more and more students. Likewise, schools are employing police officers; which in turn has led to more school arrest and negative feeling about authority figures. This is seen more prevalent in minority children who are being arrested in schools at a higher rate, and leads to a “higher level of disorder and a cycle of disorder.” Furthermore, these policies have resulted in more police issued tickets, and resulted in a “reciprocal, destructive relationship with police (Fuentes, …show more content…

According to one researcher, “Zero-tolerance policy is vital to helping children avoid the hazards of underage drinking and drugs.” Additionally, as parents are trying to protect their children from changing times and viewpoints with regards to alcohol and drugs; schools must assist in that process because oftentimes it is the place where students spend a majority of their time during the day. Moreover, this helps to expose students to the adversity of these behaviors and drug and alcohol abuse (“Teen

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