Reply #12: First I very strongly believe in strong enforcement of anti-bullying policies. But

[rhett o rick]

I am against all 'zero-tolerance' policies. Zero-tolerance means that you remove the subjectivity out of the enforcement leading to the stupid situations mentioned below. We hire and pay administrators very well and they know the desire to keep bullies out of school. Let them us their intelligence to make a subjective decision. Or have a panel, or a hearing process. Zero-tolerance always turns a serious policy into something that is a joke.

For example, a 4th grade student brought a miniature (about 1 inch) gun to school. The officials said he had to be expelled because their hands were tied by the zero-tolerance policy. Another case where a girl brought tylenol to school, bingo expulsion. We need to be firm but not stupid. Neither of these students should have done what they did, but the punishment should reflect the crime. Zero-tolerance gets the administrator off the hook.

That's my zero-tolerance rant. I submit it free of cost and guarantee it worth every cent. No money back tho.