Educational Information: Zero tolerance policies in schools
Labels: Discipline
Zero tolerance policies intended to keep our children safe. A guide to these ideas and whether or not they are effective safety measure.
In, 1989, President George Bush along with the nation's fifty governors held an educational summit that culminated in the adoption of the U.S. national educational goals, which were intended to serve as a framework for future educational reform (Crews, 1997). "The sixth of the U.S. national education goals states: By the year two thousand, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning" (Crews, 1997). We are upon this time and our society still faces problems with drugs and violence in our nation's schools.
Juvenile Delinquency in Schools:
As reported by the National Association of School Psychologists (1993) the most common reported misbehaviors at school are violence , theft, and vandalism. In addition to these misbehaviors bullying and sexual harassment are two trends in school disturbance that often go unreported due to the social and psychological consequences of exposure (Crews, 1997). Statistics on present day juvenile delinquency at schools are varied and often contradictory. In general statistics do show a decline in juvenile delinquency acts in the past years (Abruzzese, 1997). Although there seems to be a decline in juvenile delinquency in general, some shocking information remains regarding the rates of juvenile delinquency in schools. "In any given year across the United States, approximately one hundred thousand children take guns to their schools each day, and one hundred and sixty thousand miss school because of fear of injury (National center for Education Statistics, 1994). Hence, it is safe to say that nearly all of our children will be affected by violence, theft, vandalism, bullying, or sexual harrassment. To say the least, juvenile delinquency is still alive and well in our nation's schools.
Zero Tolerance Policies:
At one time in our nation's history juvenile delinquency was viewed as a problem to be handled by law enforcement and judicial systems alone (Kopka, 1997). However, as violent acts reamin a force in the public schools it is more commonly recognized as a major public health problem. More recntly, schools have adopted something called Zero Tolerance Policies. Zero Tolerance Policies mandate the permanent expulsion of any student bringing a dangerous weapon to school, committing arson on school property, or engaging in criminal or sexual misconduct (Student Advocacy Center, 1998). These new laws completely focus on punative approaches in dealing with juvenile delinquency. "Although the law does include several exemption clauses, which recognize a variety of mitigating circumstances and attempt to address the issue of intent, these provisions are often ignored by local, school borad and school officials (Student Advocay Center, 1998). This discriminatory law enforcement creates problematic policy implications for individuals, families, and society.
Why has my child been suspended for having tylenol? Zero Tolerance Policies what they say and what they actually do:
Seemingly there were parents and school administrators applauding the day Zero Tolerance Polciies came into our schools. With out further exploration these policies seem to be taking a tough love stance on juvenile delinquency in our schools. Once and for all it seems like there are finally laws that will keep our children safe. However, if one cared to venture further into the world of school juvenile delinquency and conduct additional analysis about the actual enforcement and implications of these laws for our children, our families, and our society (as a whole) one may start to see that these laws are classist, racist, sexist and are doing anything but keeping our children safe.
Zero Tolerance Policies affect certain groups in our society harsher than they affect other groups. It is no surprise that data show African American students are being expelled from the public school systems in disproportionate numbers. "While African Americans represent forty percent of the student population in the school districts surveyed, they account for sixty four percent of school expulsions (Mobilization for Equity, 1998)". Year after year national school disciplinary data has displayed that male minority students are more likely to be targets of school discipline (Mobilizatoin for Equity, 1998). Further, we have all heard about children being permanently expelled for having a plastic kinife, or tylenol ,that their mother put in their lunch box, at school. Is this what we intended when we adopted these laws?
It seems as though evertime schools encounter a problem of any sorts now they claim Zero Tolerance and throw the child out. The result of these laws, if they continue to be enforced as they have been, are going to be larger racial discord, higher minority drop out rates, a continual violation of due process rights, and an increased crime and violence incidents among youth.
In, 1989, President George Bush along with the nation's fifty governors held an educational summit that culminated in the adoption of the U.S. national educational goals, which were intended to serve as a framework for future educational reform (Crews, 1997). "The sixth of the U.S. national education goals states: By the year two thousand, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning" (Crews, 1997). We are upon this time and our society still faces problems with drugs and violence in our nation's schools.
Juvenile Delinquency in Schools:
As reported by the National Association of School Psychologists (1993) the most common reported misbehaviors at school are violence , theft, and vandalism. In addition to these misbehaviors bullying and sexual harassment are two trends in school disturbance that often go unreported due to the social and psychological consequences of exposure (Crews, 1997). Statistics on present day juvenile delinquency at schools are varied and often contradictory. In general statistics do show a decline in juvenile delinquency acts in the past years (Abruzzese, 1997). Although there seems to be a decline in juvenile delinquency in general, some shocking information remains regarding the rates of juvenile delinquency in schools. "In any given year across the United States, approximately one hundred thousand children take guns to their schools each day, and one hundred and sixty thousand miss school because of fear of injury (National center for Education Statistics, 1994). Hence, it is safe to say that nearly all of our children will be affected by violence, theft, vandalism, bullying, or sexual harrassment. To say the least, juvenile delinquency is still alive and well in our nation's schools.
Zero Tolerance Policies:
At one time in our nation's history juvenile delinquency was viewed as a problem to be handled by law enforcement and judicial systems alone (Kopka, 1997). However, as violent acts reamin a force in the public schools it is more commonly recognized as a major public health problem. More recntly, schools have adopted something called Zero Tolerance Policies. Zero Tolerance Policies mandate the permanent expulsion of any student bringing a dangerous weapon to school, committing arson on school property, or engaging in criminal or sexual misconduct (Student Advocacy Center, 1998). These new laws completely focus on punative approaches in dealing with juvenile delinquency. "Although the law does include several exemption clauses, which recognize a variety of mitigating circumstances and attempt to address the issue of intent, these provisions are often ignored by local, school borad and school officials (Student Advocay Center, 1998). This discriminatory law enforcement creates problematic policy implications for individuals, families, and society.
Why has my child been suspended for having tylenol? Zero Tolerance Policies what they say and what they actually do:
Seemingly there were parents and school administrators applauding the day Zero Tolerance Polciies came into our schools. With out further exploration these policies seem to be taking a tough love stance on juvenile delinquency in our schools. Once and for all it seems like there are finally laws that will keep our children safe. However, if one cared to venture further into the world of school juvenile delinquency and conduct additional analysis about the actual enforcement and implications of these laws for our children, our families, and our society (as a whole) one may start to see that these laws are classist, racist, sexist and are doing anything but keeping our children safe.
Zero Tolerance Policies affect certain groups in our society harsher than they affect other groups. It is no surprise that data show African American students are being expelled from the public school systems in disproportionate numbers. "While African Americans represent forty percent of the student population in the school districts surveyed, they account for sixty four percent of school expulsions (Mobilization for Equity, 1998)". Year after year national school disciplinary data has displayed that male minority students are more likely to be targets of school discipline (Mobilizatoin for Equity, 1998). Further, we have all heard about children being permanently expelled for having a plastic kinife, or tylenol ,that their mother put in their lunch box, at school. Is this what we intended when we adopted these laws?
It seems as though evertime schools encounter a problem of any sorts now they claim Zero Tolerance and throw the child out. The result of these laws, if they continue to be enforced as they have been, are going to be larger racial discord, higher minority drop out rates, a continual violation of due process rights, and an increased crime and violence incidents among youth.