Zero tolerance policies should be revised because it can punish the well-intended. To emphasize, while zero tolerance policies were once only used for major offenses, now the policies are used for minor offenses as well, resulting in suspension and expulsion. Garman and Walker reveal the solution most commonly used is the zero-tolerance policy (289+). The solution of zero-tolerance policy has become useful to school administrators that are over stressed and over worked because it takes the work out individual decision making and applying one rule to every situation no matter the differences ( Garman Walker 289+). Martinez observes that the zero tolerance policy is misused and when implemented, usually leads to suspension or expulsion (153+).
Censorship of Books in School Should people be able to deny a student’s freedom to read any book they want to at school? Every time an adult bans a book, children lose the chance to gain knowledge from it. The students’ outlook on the world becomes narrower as they lose access to an insightful piece of literature, and prohibiting books like that limits a students’ access to fantastic literary texts. Book censorship in schools limits the education of minors, and the students’ can’t receive the full knowledge inside. Book banning has a huge negative effect on how students live, at school as well as at home.
Then, she says that teachers believe they portray such horrific behaviors that are immoral. We live in a world in which school shootings, drugs, and alcohol are rampant; therefore, professors shouldn’t teach those books in the classroom because they don't model good behavior. On the other hand, Omanovic points out in a report called Reading at Risk from the National Endowment for Arts that school districts are banning books. Instead of reading books, they’re more interested in the internet. The reports goes on to say that as more Americans lose an interest in reading the more our nation becomes "less informed, tolerant, and independent-minded."
Many educators tend to bend over backwards to give students breaks that they would not receive in the streets of society or the workplace. Kids that are taught less firm discipline end up being taught that there are no consequences for inappropriate behavior as long as it occurs on school grounds (Trump). The zero tolerance policy is very beneficial because it doesn’t allow room for anyone to slip through. Although there are many good things about this policy it also has a very negative side. “Schools across the United States have employed an unforgiving system of discipline in which children and youth are punished for punishment's sake.
In many cases students are just suspended for minor and major disciplinary infractions. The severity of the incidents should be handled differently. The factors of certain situations should also be taken into consideration. If a student finds a knife placed in lunch box by a parent that was meant to be used for lunch and handed it over to administration, they should not have the same punishment for someone who brings the same item with different intentions. As discusses in source B, the irrational removal of students from schools after the implementation of the Zero Tolerance policies began to arise.
Why Students Should Wear Uniforms in Public Schools Many students believe that school uniforms should not be introduced, because of the limitation of their freedom. I believe that introducing a uniform to the school would decrease the diversity between each student, and it will be the solution for many problems. Taking this issue in to consideration, I wish to explain the benefits/ advantages of wearing a uniform to school. I personally think that a dress code enforces discipline in learning by changing a person’s attitude toward success. Students generally act the way they are dressed.
Many different people, for and against the zero tolerance policies, have very interesting views with there only being two punishment options. Some people are for the zero tolerance policies but against suspension and expulsion as the only punishment. They fear the full purpose of the policies is not being instated effectively. They also believed that only expelling or suspending a student based solely on what they have done without looking at their history or their age, is not treating the students fairly. Also, it is looked upon as contributing to the increase number of dropouts in schools.
There might be some benefit keeping the students around until they turn 18, but the cons outweigh what’s the best interest to these kids. They disrupt other students, teachers, and are unmotivated to reach their potential, often find themselves stuck on a daily basis. Dropping out is the only choice they can have and limiting this very choice only makes things worse. Although I agree with Chapman, I think that Obama serves good intentions with this proposal but the idea may be thought not well enough. I believe that you cannot force kids into learning and even doing so, they will have a harder time attending classes than before.
This case took place in Ohio and the legal definition for assault is “the willful threat … to harm or touch another offensively, [where that] threat or attempt reasonably places the other in fear of such contact.” (Groves Sr, n.d.) In other words, while most people will think that assault is a physical act, it is in fact making someone think that you are going to physically abuse them. It is illegal for someone to assault another person. This article gives an example of a student being disruptive in class. The teacher makes a comment about causing physical harm to the student to make them stop the disruptive behavior. The disruptive behavior stops because the student believes that the teacher will physically harm him.
Of course no one can force any student to learn when they don’t want to. When deciding to drop out of school it affects you, your family, friends, and your future to come. There are several ways to help young undecided students from dropping out, they just need to wake up and make a difference. Having a better family engagement, safer schools, and a service learning program would help decrease dropout rates. Family engagement you say?