| In the news recently, a middle school student - a | | | | are pro-active in the education and prevention of |
| 14 year old boy, to be precise - was suspended | | | | violence in the schools. They believe that such a |
| from Arizona Schools because of a drawing he | | | | policy, and the punishments, should be on view for |
| made while sitting in class. No teacher wants to | | | | the world to see. They feel that this will frighten |
| find his or her student doodling, but must admit | | | | the students into behaving themselves. |
| that not all students will be as enamored of their | | | | In fact, this message conflicts with the reasons |
| subject as the teacher is. | | | | zero-tolerance policies are in place in such |
| The Arizona Schools district the boy attends has | | | | systems as the ones in Arizona Schools. |
| a zero tolerance policy concerning weapons; this | | | | Supporters believe that the fear of being punished |
| includes drawing them, or even writing about | | | | will "scare them straight. |
| them. In response to the Columbine massacre in | | | | Detractors to zero-tolerance policies in Arizona |
| 1999, most Arizona Schools have some version | | | | Schools and elsewhere have many concerns. |
| of such a policy in place. (Approximately 96% of | | | | They worry that the policies are unfair, rigid, |
| all Arizona Schools have a zero-tolerance policy.) | | | | create fear for students, and infringe upon a |
| Understandably, schools need to send the | | | | person's right to express themselves. While it's |
| message that it is not okay to bring weapons to | | | | important to have a safe and secure learning |
| school. Nobody wants to see another Columbine. | | | | environment, it's easy to see that individual |
| We must do all in our power to stop the violence, | | | | consideration should be given to some situations |
| and this must include educating students about | | | | like the one involving the student from Arizona |
| the harm an atmosphere of fear can do. Students | | | | Schools. |
| who go to school every day afraid for their lives | | | | Those opposed to zero-tolerance policies like the |
| because they don't know if they'll be attacked or | | | | one in place for Arizona Schools object because |
| not are not learning, which is the principle purpose | | | | of the probability of punishing students who may |
| for attending school in the first place. Arizona | | | | have made mistakes, as opposed to those |
| Schools understand this, and have sent the | | | | planning to commit a criminal act. A 14-year-old |
| message that they will tolerate no weapons, in | | | | boy (or girl) is an enigma; peer pressure, work |
| any form, even on paper. | | | | load at school, and wildly fluctuating hormones are |
| Supporters of zero-tolerance policies in place in | | | | all new challenges that these young teens have to |
| Arizona Public Schools (and across the nation) say | | | | deal with. These kids aren't known for their |
| that this sends the message that the schools are | | | | excellent decision making skills; the case of the |
| concerned about the safety of their students, and | | | | Arizona Schools student is an example of this. |