http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33289924/ns/today-today_people/

Boy suspended over utensil gets reprieve
First-grader faced reform school for carrying Cub Scout tool into school

"The policy did not allow teachers or administrators to take into account intentions or the character of the student; if a student has a knife, suspension and subsequent assignment to the district’s “alternative placement school” — aka reform school — is mandatory."

 

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On one hand, I think that having a uniform punishment for a crime makes sense: Bring a weapon to school and you get suspended. That way no one can say they were treated differently because of their race, religion, background, etc.

On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to send a boy to reform school for making a decision to bring a cub scout tool to school. He's young, he didn't understand the danger aspect and he's certainly different from an older child who is bringing it to school to show off, or worse, hurt someone.

But it seems that a "zero tolerance policy" isn't a zero tolerance policy if they are able to "pardon" people. KWIM? It has to be all or nothing, by definition, to be a zero tolerance policy.

 

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