Comments on: When zero tolerance equals zero sense: A first grader in Delaware avoids reform school http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:27:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sarge http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-15069 Sarge Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:06:52 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-15069 Politicians and administrators of all ilk...in order to play it safe, always remain within the box of rules, regs and other senseless items which only serve to gum up the wheels of human endeavor. Never question the validity of that which you must mindlessly and blindly enforce, and above all, never, never, never think outside that tightly-defined comfort zone established by other fools who share your complete lack of backbone and guts. SLEEP WELL TONIGHT, BASKING IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY SCREWED UP ANOTHER KID WHOSE ONLY QUESTION IS "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS"? Politicians and administrators of all ilk…in order to play it safe, always remain within the box of rules, regs and other senseless items which only serve to gum up the wheels of human endeavor. Never question the validity of that which you must mindlessly and blindly enforce, and above all, never, never, never think outside that tightly-defined comfort zone established by other fools who share your complete lack of backbone and guts. SLEEP WELL TONIGHT, BASKING IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY SCREWED UP ANOTHER KID WHOSE ONLY QUESTION IS “WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS”?

]]> By: Lee http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14558 Lee Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:00:46 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14558 The title says it all; "When zero tolerance equals zero sense." The evidence is almost legendary. Ten year old girls suspended for a toy Tweety Bird keychain. Eagle Scouts suspended for having a camp axe in his truck in a parking lot. Honor students suspended for Tylenol. The ultimate insanity are the numerous students suspended for DRAWING A GUN. Not drawing a picture of shooting someone, mind you, but a simple sketch of a gun. All in the name of some arbitrary zero tolerance rule. Weak men like a lot of rules. They wield them as though they were a Roman Gladiator shield as they ruin the lives of those they preside over. The title says it all; “When zero tolerance equals zero sense.”

The evidence is almost legendary. Ten year old girls suspended for a toy Tweety Bird keychain. Eagle Scouts suspended for having a camp axe in his truck in a parking lot. Honor students suspended for Tylenol.

The ultimate insanity are the numerous students suspended for DRAWING A GUN. Not drawing a picture of shooting someone, mind you, but a simple sketch of a gun.

All in the name of some arbitrary zero tolerance rule.

Weak men like a lot of rules. They wield them as though they were a Roman Gladiator shield as they ruin the lives of those they preside over.

]]> By: Jessica http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14556 Jessica Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:39:01 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14556 This is ridiculous. The little boy broke a rule and should have been disciplined, but sending him to reform school is extreme overkill. What happened to consequences like detention, writing sentences 100 times ("I will not bring camping gear to class. I will not bring camping gear to class...") or staying in during recess to clean the blackboard? This is ridiculous. The little boy broke a rule and should have been disciplined, but sending him to reform school is extreme overkill. What happened to consequences like detention, writing sentences 100 times (”I will not bring camping gear to class. I will not bring camping gear to class…”) or staying in during recess to clean the blackboard?

]]> By: Walt http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14553 Walt Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:57:17 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14553 Thank god someone is teaching young people how to take care of them selves. And not the government like everyone else. Thank you Boy Scouts of America Thank god someone is teaching young people how to take care of them selves. And not the government like everyone else. Thank you Boy Scouts of America

]]> By: Also Ran http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14551 Also Ran Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:42 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14551 Years ago my daughter made a similar mistake in fourth grade. She took a multipurpose tool to school because it had a nail clipper. It also had a little pen knife. The principal was an intelligent man with common sense. He called me in and explained the policy. But he knew she did not mean any harm and it ended right there and then. A camping tool, really. This issue should never have gotten this far. A little common sense please. Years ago my daughter made a similar mistake in fourth grade. She took a multipurpose tool to school because it had a nail clipper. It also had a little pen knife. The principal was an intelligent man with common sense. He called me in and explained the policy. But he knew she did not mean any harm and it ended right there and then.

A camping tool, really. This issue should never have gotten this far. A little common sense please.

]]> By: catlady http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14543 catlady Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:18:18 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14543 Ugaaccountant--I am thinking, in this day and time, either he or his parents better be aware. catlady,UGA PhD Ugaaccountant–I am thinking, in this day and time, either he or his parents better be aware. catlady,UGA PhD

]]> By: ugaaccountant http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14539 ugaaccountant Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:13:30 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14539 HRJ - 6 year olds don't understand abstract rules such as "no weapons". If you sit a fork in front of a 6 year old and ask him what it is he'll say a fork. If you ask him what you do with it, he'll say you eat with it. I'd also be willing to bet a 6 year old had no idea there was a "zero tolerance no weapons" policy. 6 year olds don't read school handbooks. Do you honestly think a 6 year old is aware of such a rule? HRJ – 6 year olds don’t understand abstract rules such as “no weapons”. If you sit a fork in front of a 6 year old and ask him what it is he’ll say a fork. If you ask him what you do with it, he’ll say you eat with it.

I’d also be willing to bet a 6 year old had no idea there was a “zero tolerance no weapons” policy. 6 year olds don’t read school handbooks. Do you honestly think a 6 year old is aware of such a rule?

]]> By: HRJ http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14530 HRJ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:24:46 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14530 Seems like the young lad's mother is too busy tending to her new romance instead of properly parenting her child. Hope this child learned his lesson and doesn't grow up thinking that he can bend the rules again. The unfortunate part of the now defunct "zero tolerance" policy at this particular school / district is that others will push the limits. If people would just follow common sense rules and instill that in their children, our society would be a much better place. Instead, we always look to the "government" for help. Seems like the young lad’s mother is too busy tending to her new romance instead of properly parenting her child.

Hope this child learned his lesson and doesn’t grow up thinking that he can bend the rules again. The unfortunate part of the now defunct “zero tolerance” policy at this particular school / district is that others will push the limits.

If people would just follow common sense rules and instill that in their children, our society would be a much better place. Instead, we always look to the “government” for help.

]]> By: ugaaccountant http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14522 ugaaccountant Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:05:54 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14522 6 year olds don't have intent. As little as 10 years ago, you weren't held responsible for your actions until you were 18. You could get in a fist fight in the middle of your high school lunchroom and nobody would call a cop or send you to alternative school. Now a decade later you want 6 year olds to have adult levels of responsibility? Sounds like you are the one without critical thinking skills "admin". 6 year olds don’t have intent. As little as 10 years ago, you weren’t held responsible for your actions until you were 18. You could get in a fist fight in the middle of your high school lunchroom and nobody would call a cop or send you to alternative school. Now a decade later you want 6 year olds to have adult levels of responsibility? Sounds like you are the one without critical thinking skills “admin”.

]]> By: jim d http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/13/when-zero-tolerance-equals-zero-sense-a-first-grader-in-delaware-faces-reform-school/comment-page-2/#comment-14521 jim d Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:03:21 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2286#comment-14521 yeah admin, we really need to watch those 6 year old terroists yeah admin,

we really need to watch those 6 year old terroists

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