Content Background
Zero Tolerance Policies
Ms. Ponder’s class Carter G. Woodson Elementary Source: Chicago Public Schools
Zero tolerance policies developed in the 1990’s, in response to school shootings and general fears about crime. In 1994, the federal government passed the Gun Free Schools Act which requires schools to expel any student who brings a gun to campus. It was during this time that the “broken windows” theory of law enforcement became popular. The concept was that cracking down on minor violations prevented serious crimes. Therefore, schools enforced disciplinary policies that went further than the federal law. The rules varied from school to school, but they commonly required suspending or expelling students for a wide range of conduct violations. This included anything that could be perceived as a threat or insubordination. Such as talking back to a teacher or swearing in the principal’s office, and any behavior considered disruptive, like playing with classmates in the bathroom. Data collected by the federal government shows that African American students were almost four times as likely to be suspended as white students. Additionally, students with disabilities were almost twice as likely to be treated unfairly based on these policies. Why do schools treat our students like criminals? School is a learning environment and students are expected to enhance their social emotional skills and learn from their mistakes. Therefore they should be given the opportunity to learn how to make choices that are productive to their overall wellbeing.
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