Obama administration urges schools to abandon "zero-tolerance" policies

[jsr]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCHOOL_DISCIPLINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-01-08-11-08-05

Gov't: End overly zealous discipline in schools
By KIMBERLY HEFLING

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration is urging schools to abandon overly zealous discipline policies that civil rights advocates have long said lead to a school-to-prison pipeline that discriminates against minority students.

The wide-ranging series of guidelines issued Wednesday in essence tells schools that they must adhere to the principle of fairness and equity in student discipline or face strong action if they don't. The American Civil Liberties Union called the recommendations "ground-breaking."

"A routine school disciplinary infraction should land a student in the principal's office, not in a police precinct," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

Holder said the problem often stems from well intentioned "zero-tolerance" policies that too often inject the criminal justice system into the resolution of problems. Zero tolerance policies, a tool that became popular in the 1990s, often spell out uniform and swift punishment for offenses such as truancy, smoking or carrying a weapon. Violators can lose classroom time or become saddled with a criminal record.

[riversedge]

1. Several articles of late have shown how zero tolerance

policies are indeed detrimental to kids and parents--no matter the color.

We had a school near here--with much resistance--have dropped their z. policy---schools are afraid of being sued by parents.

[CrispyQ]

2. I don't understand how anyone could think zero tolerance with kids is a good thing.

They are kids! They are learning! They are going to make mistakes. I gotta wonder what the fuck has happened to common sense among adults?

[Wounded Bear]

3. Good news...

Zero Tolerance is right out of the Old Testament school of thought. Screw up? Smite them dead!

I have no doubt that the prison-industrial-complex helped fund many of these efforts. They had to know this would be the result. Clients for life!

[sarisataka]

4. Trouble for school administrators...

they will actually have to start to think again and deal with the kids.
It's sad these policies have lasted as long as they have.

[kentauros]

5. I can't K&R this enough!

The first step I'd do in their place, though, would be to fire all the control freaks that embraced those policies in the beginning, as well as the ones that embrace them now.