Zero Tolerance Sarah Beck Kelly Harmon Mike Ginnane

The Beginning of Zero Tolerance Zero Tolerance means all misbehavior will have some sanction. Zero Tolerance means all misbehavior will have some sanction. The Zero Tolerance policy began in 1994 when the federal government initiated the Gun-Free Schools Act The Zero Tolerance policy began in 1994 when the federal government initiated the Gun-Free Schools Act This act was created in reaction to the school shootings and rise in violent juvenile crime of the mid- 90s This act was created in reaction to the school shootings and rise in violent juvenile crime of the mid- 90s This policy required schools to expel students for one year if they bring fire arms and illegal drugs to school This policy required schools to expel students for one year if they bring fire arms and illegal drugs to school

Adoption of Zero Tolerance Congress required all schools to adopt the zero tolerance policy Congress required all schools to adopt the zero tolerance policy If a school refused to adopt zero tolerance, the school would no longer receive federal funding If a school refused to adopt zero tolerance, the school would no longer receive federal funding Now all 50 states have adopted zero tolerance and zero tolerance policies are now standard operating procedure in the nation’s 109,000 public schools. Now all 50 states have adopted zero tolerance and zero tolerance policies are now standard operating procedure in the nation’s 109,000 public schools.

Expansion Since its creation state legislatures and local school boards have expanded the zero tolerance policy Since its creation state legislatures and local school boards have expanded the zero tolerance policy The zero tolerance policy has been expanded to include alcohol, cigarettes, illegal drugs, gangs, fighting, cursing and prostitution The zero tolerance policy has been expanded to include alcohol, cigarettes, illegal drugs, gangs, fighting, cursing and prostitution

Suspension and Expulsion Rates Due to the widespread adoption of this new policy, in 1998 more than 3.1 million children in the United States were suspended and another 87,000 children were expelled. Due to the widespread adoption of this new policy, in 1998 more than 3.1 million children in the United States were suspended and another 87,000 children were expelled. The numbers of children being suspended and expelled is still rising The numbers of children being suspended and expelled is still rising

Positive VS Negative Increase in school safety Increase in school safety Fewer weapons brought to school Fewer weapons brought to school Control of illegal drugs brought to school Control of illegal drugs brought to school Harsh punishment for those who violate rules Harsh punishment for those who violate rules Good policy in theory Good policy in theory Teaches students to follow the rules or face the consequences, which helps prepare students for the real world Teaches students to follow the rules or face the consequences, which helps prepare students for the real world Well intentioned efforts have gotten out of control, resulting in exceedingly harsh punishments for minor infractions Well intentioned efforts have gotten out of control, resulting in exceedingly harsh punishments for minor infractions Has been interpreted that the maximum punishment is to be given for every transgression Has been interpreted that the maximum punishment is to be given for every transgression Causes many problems: denial of education, rise in drop out rates, increased rate of suspension and expulsion and racially biased punishment Causes many problems: denial of education, rise in drop out rates, increased rate of suspension and expulsion and racially biased punishment

Problems with Zero Tolerance Many schools have used this policy as an excuse to expel students for carrying: any object the could be considered a weapon, prescription drugs, and over the counter drugs. Many schools have used this policy as an excuse to expel students for carrying: any object the could be considered a weapon, prescription drugs, and over the counter drugs. Punishes too severely for stupid teenage mistakes Punishes too severely for stupid teenage mistakes

Horror Stories Students have been punished for bringing Midol or Advil to school, using Listerine during school hours, and taking cough drops at school Students have been punished for bringing Midol or Advil to school, using Listerine during school hours, and taking cough drops at school An 11 year old died at school from an asthma attack after the school would not allow him to bring an inhaler An 11 year old died at school from an asthma attack after the school would not allow him to bring an inhaler A 10 year old girl was suspended for sexual harassment when she repeatedly asked a little boy in her class if he liked her A 10 year old girl was suspended for sexual harassment when she repeatedly asked a little boy in her class if he liked her An honor student in Michigan was expelled for verbal assault when he told a joke to his friends An honor student in Michigan was expelled for verbal assault when he told a joke to his friends Students have been expelled for having water pistols and nail clippers because they are considered potential weapons Students have been expelled for having water pistols and nail clippers because they are considered potential weapons One student was expelled for pointing a piece of breaded chicken at a teacher during lunch and pretending it was a gun One student was expelled for pointing a piece of breaded chicken at a teacher during lunch and pretending it was a gun

Zero Tolerance and Discrimination Minorities are expelled and suspended more often, which shows a tendency toward discrimination Minorities are expelled and suspended more often, which shows a tendency toward discrimination The most frequently punished group are low achieving males of color, these are the students who need the most help The most frequently punished group are low achieving males of color, these are the students who need the most help African American students are suspended 2.3 times more often than Caucasian students African American students are suspended 2.3 times more often than Caucasian students Frequent suspension of minorities contributes to the achievement gap and starts the chain of events that leads to kids dropping out Frequent suspension of minorities contributes to the achievement gap and starts the chain of events that leads to kids dropping out

Is it Effective? After 10 years of implementation there is little or no evidence that strict zero tolerance policies have a significant contribution to reducing student misbehavior or improving school safety After 10 years of implementation there is little or no evidence that strict zero tolerance policies have a significant contribution to reducing student misbehavior or improving school safety Judging by statistics zero tolerance has had no real effect Judging by statistics zero tolerance has had no real effect Students are reporting crime at the same level as in the 1970s, while the number of youth suspensions has doubled from 3.7% of students in 1974 to 6.8% of students in 1998 Students are reporting crime at the same level as in the 1970s, while the number of youth suspensions has doubled from 3.7% of students in 1974 to 6.8% of students in 1998

Effectiveness - Continued Most of the time the students being suspended are repeat offenders, suggesting that the at risk students are not getting the message which the zero tolerance policy is trying to send. Most of the time the students being suspended are repeat offenders, suggesting that the at risk students are not getting the message which the zero tolerance policy is trying to send. The long term result of zero tolerance and frequent suspension is studetns dropping out of school The long term result of zero tolerance and frequent suspension is studetns dropping out of school

Alternatives to Zero Tolerance Intervention through anti violence programs like anti bullying, anger management, and peer mediation help to reduce discipline problems in schools. Intervention through anti violence programs like anti bullying, anger management, and peer mediation help to reduce discipline problems in schools. Building student teacher relationships Building student teacher relationships More teacher training in classroom management More teacher training in classroom management Discipline through compassion not an iron fist. Discipline through compassion not an iron fist. Include a range of less severe consequences which are geared to a variety of offenses Include a range of less severe consequences which are geared to a variety of offenses

Works Cited USA Today Education News – Zero Tolerance Policies Lack Flexibility USA Today Education News – Zero Tolerance Policies Lack Flexibility History of Zero Tolerance - e/facts.html History of Zero Tolerance - e/facts.html e/facts.html e/facts.html National Education Association Today - The Untolerated: What happens to students who run afoul of strict discipline rules? National Education Association Today - The Untolerated: What happens to students who run afoul of strict discipline rules? Harvard Graduate School of Education News – Zero Tolerance for School Violence Harvard Graduate School of Education News – Zero Tolerance for School Violence At Zero Tolerance: Punishment, Preventtion and School Violence At Zero Tolerance: Punishment, Preventtion and School Violence