Desoto schools suspended/expelled over 3,000 students for nonviolent acts in the 2007-2008 school year. Of the 7,347 discipline incidences recorded, the majority were for minor infractions:
- Minor violations of the code of conduct policy - 5,312 (72%).
- Drugs/Alcohol - 49 (1%).
- Tobacco - 11 (less than 1%).
- Assault - 28 (less than 1%).
- Fighting - 248 (3%).
- Serious/Repeat Misconduct - 632 (9%).
Zero Tolerance policies have led to a system in which schools do not differentiate between unruly students who need to be severely punished and good students who just make mistakes. As a result, many good students are often treated as repeat offenders because they receive the maximum punishment for minor transgressions.
With the recent passage of House Bill 171, "administrators now must consider mitigating factors such as intent and self-defense when doling out punishment." The revision allows for school administrators to use "common sense". Desoto ISD should revise their Zero Tolerance policy as other Districts have done. Zero Tolerance policies should return to the nature originally intended - keeping our schools safe.
Sources:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=262
http://www.texaszerotolerance.com/index.html
Desoto schools suspended/expelled over 3,000 students for nonviolent acts in the 2007-2008 school year. Of the 7,347 discipline incidences recorded, the majority were for minor infractions:
- Minor violations of the code of conduct policy - 5,312 (72%).
- Drugs/Alcohol - 49 (1%).
- Tobacco - 11 (less than 1%).
- Assault - 28 (less than 1%).
- Fighting - 248 (3%).
- Serious/Repeat Misconduct - 632 (9%).
Zero Tolerance policies have led to a system in which schools do not differentiate between unruly students who need to be severely punished and good students who just make mistakes. As a result, many good students are often treated as repeat offenders because they receive the maximum punishment for minor transgressions.
With the recent passage of House Bill 171, "administrators now must consider mitigating factors such as intent and self-defense when doling out punishment." The revision allows for school administrators to use "common sense". Desoto ISD should revise their Zero Tolerance policy as other Districts have done. Zero Tolerance policies should return to the nature originally intended - keeping our schools safe.
