Schools have developed zero tolerance policies against such things as drugs, fighting and bullying. I agree schools need to take tough stances against anything that may endanger our children. However, it seems as policies move toward zero tolerance, they also tend to make zero sense.
School administrators hide behind these policies so they don’t have to think for themselves and actually solve a problem, but instead just make everyone involved a perpetrator and forget there may be a victim.
A zero tolerance policy against fighting, for example, may automatically suspend anyone involved in a fight while forgetting that one student may be merely defending himself or herself and may not actually be an instigator or active offensive participant. Instead of taking the time, energy and thought to sort things out, just suspend everyone and forget about it.
I read Another Dumbass School Official Story and the source article Jeffersonville middle school student suspended for touching pill and was amazed at the eyes-wide-shut approach taken by the school system to this particular problem.
A middle school girl did just what she was taught – she said no to drugs by turning down drugs offered by another student. She was still suspended for violating the district’s zero tolerance drug policy.
The parents of a Kentuckiana seventh grade student say their young daughter was suspended from school for doing exactly what she’s been taught to do for years – to just say no to drugs.The girl did not bring the prescription drug to her Jeffersonville, IN school, nor did she take it, but she admits that she touched it and in Greater Clark County Schools that is drug possession.
Rachael Greer said it happened on Feb. 23 during fifth period gym class at River Valley Middle School when a girl walked into the locker room with a bag of pills.”She was talking to another girl and me about them and she put one in my hand and I was like, ‘I don’t want this,’ so I put it back in the bag and I went to gym class,” said Rachael.
Good girl. Her parents are proud of her.
The pills were the prescription ADHD drug, Adderall. Patty Greer, Rachael’s mother, said she and her husband are proud of their daughter for turning down drugs, just like she’s been taught for years by DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructors at school.
“I’m proud her conscience kicked in and she said, ‘No, I’m not taking this. Here you can have it back,’” Patty Greer said.
But just saying no didn’t end the trouble for Rachael. During the next period, an assistant principal came and took Rachael out of class. It turned out the girl who originally had the pills and a few other students got caught. That’s when the assistant principal gave Rachael a decision.
“We’re suspending you for five days because it was in your hand,” said Rachael.
Really? If a person walks up to another person and hands them something, human nature is to take it. She did, but when she realized what it was, she said no and gave it back. Good girl. I think any parent would be proud of her actions.
After hearing the news, Patty Greer went to school officials.
“He said she wrote it down on a witness statement and she had told the truth, he said she was very, very honest and he said he was sorry he had to do it but it was school policy,” said Patty Greer.
See? Blindly following a zero tolerance policy allows administrators to hide behind it, put their fingers in their ears, close their eyes and loudly say “La la la, It’s policy, It’s policy La la la”, and sit behind their desk in their office and feel good about their inaction.
According to Greater Clark County Schools district policy, even a touch equals drug possession and a one week suspension.
“The fact of the matter is, there were drugs on school campus and it was handled, so there was a violation of our policy,” said Martin Bell, COO of Greater Clark County Schools.
The fact of the matter is, you had a student with guts enough to defy peer pressure and say no and give it back. What happened to the students who saw this? Under this zero tolerance policy, maybe they should be suspended as well because they saw illegal drugs, effectively affecting their thought patterns.
We wanted to know what would have happened if Rachael had told a teacher right away. Bell said the punishment would not have been any different. District officials say if they’re not strict about drug policies no one will take them seriously.
Really? It is difficult to take seriously something so asinine.
Again, I am very much in favor of keeping drugs and violence out of our schools. It needs to happen and tough policies are needed – for the truly guilty. Policies need to be enforced equally and fairly by punishing the offenders and praising the students who have the courage to stand up for what is right.
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