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Introduction to zero tolerance in schools essays
Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools
Zero tolerance policy in american schools
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Alternative Education after Exclusion
Zero Tolerance Policies do not provide any alternative education for students who are suspended or expelled. Because of the adverse effects of zero-tolerance policies to the disciplined students, the school and the community as a whole, some school districts have decided to switch to in-school suspensions or alternative education programs. The studies show that these programs have made very good outcomes as to the student's behavior and school performance. Also, it has created a more safe school climate that consistently promotes counseling and continued school work.
Article 14 (2) (1) of the Constitution further provides that the State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society. But, zero tolerance policies have been the subject of discourses as to its constitutionality and have been criticized by experts and law advocates for being repugnant to the system of education desired to be achieved.
The fight against the implementation of
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These one-strike-and-you’re-out policies have proven to be largely unsuccessful and have been criticized by such professional organizations as the National Association of Psychologists, by giving off a statement that says: Research indicates that, as implemented, zero tolerance policies are ineffective in the long run and are related to a number of negative consequences, including increased rates of school dropout and discriminatory application of school discipline practices.” Consequently, with the adhesion to zero tolerance policies, school officials have now forsaken the time-honored distinction between punishment and discipline. It is settled that schools exist to educate students about their rights and the law and discipline those who need
The proposed expulsions and suspensions from their disability behaviors deprived them of their right to a free and appropriate public education in accordance to the EHA. The Judge ordered the school district from making other disciplinary acts other than a two-to-five-day suspension against any disabled child for disability-related behaviors and ensured that the “stay-put” provision would be in place and no student would be removed. This went to the Ninth-Circuit appeal where the previous decision was affirmed and modified to allow up to a ten-day suspension.
Martinez, S. (2009). A system gone berserk: How are zero-tolerance policies really …..affecting schools? Preventing School Failure, 53(3), 153-157. Retrieved from …..http://search.proquest.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/docview/228530113?acco…..untid=6579
A new policy is needed and most certainly should start out with holding schools to handle their own discipline situations, rather than relying on school security and police (Wilson, 2014). School administrators must be able to differentiate between what is a true discipline situation and when a student simply made a mistake. The rate of school suspensions have skyrocketed over the last thirty years from 1.7 million nationwide to 3.1 million and growing today (ACLU, n.d.). Each school needs to create policies of when to get school security involved and what the school’s security job involves. Unless there is a true threat to the safety of the school and/or its student’s law enforcement should never be called (Wison, 2014). The instinct to dial 911 at every infraction has to stop. Furthermore the schools must develop a gender and racial fairness; black children should not be receiving harsher punishments for similar infractions of white students (Wilson,
Another major reason why juveniles are ending up in the juvenile justice system is because many schools have incorporate the zero tolerance policy and other extreme school disciplinary rules. In response to violent incidents in schools, such as the Columbine High School massacre, school disciplinary policies have become increasingly grave. These policies have been enacted at the school, district and state levels with the hopes of ensuring the safety of students and educators. These policies all rely on the zero tolerance policy. While it is understandable that protecting children and teachers is a priority, it is not clear that these strict policies are succeeding in improving the safety in schools.
Following the Columbine tragedy in 1999, “school systems across the nation introduced the zero-tolerance policies aimed at the curtailment of harmful student behaviors” (Noll, 2014, p. 295). The original focus of the policies was to eliminate the use/carrying of weapons but soon after spread to restricting drugs and medication (2014). By 2006 95% of the U.S. public schools had adopted the zero-tolerance policies and more than half of them reported taking significant action against students, many of which resulted in expulsion (2014). While the zero-tolerance polices were originally welcomed by all members of a community as a means of promoting and keeping a safer environment-- as of late many individuals are questioning the relevance of some actions and some school officials (2014).
The zero tolerance policy has become a national controversy in regards to the solid proven facts that it criminalizes children and seems to catch kids who have no intention of doing harm. Although, there has been substantial evidence to prove that the policies enforced in many schools have gone far beyond the extreme to convict children of their wrongdoing. The punishments for the act of misconduct have reached a devastating high, and have pointed students in the wrong direction. Despite the opinions of administrators and parents, as well as evidence that zero tolerance policies have deterred violence in many public and private schools, the rules of conviction and punishment are unreasonable and should be modified.
Schools inevitably must deal with disciplinary action when it comes to misconduct in students. However, at what point should the courts and law enforcement intervene? “Zero tolerance” policies started as a trend in the school setting during the 1990s in “response to the widespread perception that juvenile violence was increasing and school officials needed to take desperate measures to address the problem” (Aull 2012:182-183). However, national statistics indicated a decrease in juvenile’s share of crime during the influx of zero tolerance policies in schools (National Crime Justice Reference Service 2005).
In all grades of education, from kindergarten to college, there is a form of discipline known as a zero tolerance policy. While the exact wording is different from school to school, basically a zero tolerance policy means that a student is immediately suspended, asked to attend an alternative school, or expelled if they are suspected or caught doing certain things. These policies are in place to hopefully deter students from doing drugs or being violent, but the ethics behind them are questionable. Some research has shown that these policies may not even work, and other forms of discipline would be better suited to help students. The three main activities that result in the zero tolerance policy are being caught with drugs or alcohol, being caught with a weapon, and bullying.
Censorship in School Libraries The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional.
...nt. If children are raised in such erroneous ways, how can the world expect them to have a bright future? Each case should not be judged by the color of one’s skin, but individually, regarding the facts at hand. Well intended or not, zero-tolerance policies have some changing to do.
Throughout time and still today there are still people and communities who destroy and censor books or any other publications that might seem offensive or vulgar in any way. Censorship is any restriction or removal from the public of information or publications, or the prevention of free expression. In the past the world has always had issues with censorship and the restriction of releasing certain information or published articles within any age group or school district. It will not matter what year it is, or how old you are or what grade or the education you have, there will always be problems with censorship in schools.
In today’s world, there are numerous places where people create a society that is full of diversity. Although these societies exist, we have people who do not have tolerance for others because of the differences among each other. These differences include race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and more. In our society, there are also multiple prejudices which prevent us from understanding each other. The relationship between tolerance and prejudice is that if we promote tolerance, we slowly end prejudice. The only way in which we can live happier and healthier lives is if we let go of all the negatives and begin to understand one another.
Silverman discusses the implications of the zero tolerance approach on minorities and the national attention it has created. Silverman and others agree that there needs to be consequences for students that are out to hurt others, but that there needs to be room for administrators to use sound judgement or in most cases good ole common sense. Zero tolerance policies currently do not distinguish between a 5-year-old bringing a nerf gun to school and a 15-year-old bringing a loaded .45 caliber with the intention of doing harm to
Zero tolerance laws initially were introduced as a means to discipline drug offenses of students while attending school. Due to increased gang violence, the policy spread nationwide after the 1994 signing of the “Gun Free Schools Act” where zero tolerance policies were coupled with the mandated reporting of a student to the police if they are carrying a gun or acting violence to other students or school
Discipline has always been an issue that has plagued education. Troublesome students have always been a source of disturbances and distractions. Many school have implemented an in school suspension (ISS) program to combat the disruptiveness of problem students. These programs aim to remove students from the classroom while keeping them in an educational setting.