D. Armenta
PlagmanZero Tolerance in Schools: Toddler Suspended for Bringing Plastic Knife to School to Cut Cookies
(Story from MSNBC; quotes are 100% ver batim)
The “zero tolerance” rules in America’s schools demand severe punishments for any and all weapon and drug offenses regardless of the circumstances. Although clearly intended to discourage minorities from bringing guns, knives, and/or drugs to school with them, the completely objective “zero-tolerance” rules may be getting out of hand.
In California, 5th-graders showing support for the troops this week decorated a mortarboard with toy soldiers; the school forced the boys to cut the miniature weapons off the toys. What the school didn’t realize was that they were voodoo toy soldiers, causing dozens of soldiers in Iraq to have their weapons cut off, as well.
In Rhode Island, a kindergartener was suspended for bringing a plastic knife to school so that he could cut cookies. As they sent him home, the five-year-old swore that he wasn’t going to stab anyone, especially not after having to spend the last 15 years in prison for bringing a spork to his pre-school class.
Lawmakers in several states are fighting back at the strict policies, claiming they “lack common sense,” as if they expected anything different from their own legislation. “A machete is not the same as a butter knife. A water gun is not the same as a gun loaded with bullets,” said Rhode Island State Senator Daniel Issa, who used to be a member of the school board and worried that no-tolerance rules are applied blindly and too rigidly.
A bill being sponsored by Issa would require school districts to decide punishments for alcohol, drug, and non-firearm weapons violations on a case-by-case basis after considering the circumstances. However, this bill may be flawed given that it paves the way for black and Hispanic students to claim their punishment for selling marijuana on campus or bringing a switchblade to history class was racially motivated. Nevertheless, the bill passed the Senate and House, and now heads to the governor.
Those who have been living among zero-tolerance have been aware for quite some time about how absurd the PC movement can get. For the last decade, the state of Mississippi has given local school districts the authority to reduce the one-year expulsions for violence, and weapon/drug offenses, which previously had been mandatory.
Other states are following the lead of Mississippi, making it the first time in history they’ve done something in the forward direction. For instance, Utah, which has zero-tolerance on drugs, altered its policy so that asthmatic students can carry inhalers after a federal study reported that minorities don’t abuse any of the drugs commonly found in inhalers.
As for organizations that should have a say in the matter but don’t, the American Bar Association recommends ending zero-tolerance policies altogether. The American Psychological Association (APA) just wants the most retarded policies removed, unlike the American Anarchists Association, or AAA, which wants all policies removed.
Said Kathy Christie, whose title is really long but involves education in Colorado, “it may be a bit of self-correction that you’re beginning to see where the pendulum is coming back.”
[Writer’s note: America, what is your problem?! When I don’t have to add anything to the quotes and the story is still this outrageous, something is seriously wrong. This is exactly what was bound to happen when all you PC freaks started whining. Thanks a lot; I hope your child gets expelled for bringing “drugs” to school because they had a sharpie]
The “zero tolerance” rules in America’s schools demand severe punishments for any and all weapon and drug offenses regardless of the circumstances. Although clearly intended to discourage minorities from bringing guns, knives, and/or drugs to school with them, the completely objective “zero-tolerance” rules may be getting out of hand.
In California, 5th-graders showing support for the troops this week decorated a mortarboard with toy soldiers; the school forced the boys to cut the miniature weapons off the toys. What the school didn’t realize was that they were voodoo toy soldiers, causing dozens of soldiers in Iraq to have their weapons cut off, as well.
In Rhode Island, a kindergartener was suspended for bringing a plastic knife to school so that he could cut cookies. As they sent him home, the five-year-old swore that he wasn’t going to stab anyone, especially not after having to spend the last 15 years in prison for bringing a spork to his pre-school class.
Lawmakers in several states are fighting back at the strict policies, claiming they “lack common sense,” as if they expected anything different from their own legislation. “A machete is not the same as a butter knife. A water gun is not the same as a gun loaded with bullets,” said Rhode Island State Senator Daniel Issa, who used to be a member of the school board and worried that no-tolerance rules are applied blindly and too rigidly.
A bill being sponsored by Issa would require school districts to decide punishments for alcohol, drug, and non-firearm weapons violations on a case-by-case basis after considering the circumstances. However, this bill may be flawed given that it paves the way for black and Hispanic students to claim their punishment for selling marijuana on campus or bringing a switchblade to history class was racially motivated. Nevertheless, the bill passed the Senate and House, and now heads to the governor.
Those who have been living among zero-tolerance have been aware for quite some time about how absurd the PC movement can get. For the last decade, the state of Mississippi has given local school districts the authority to reduce the one-year expulsions for violence, and weapon/drug offenses, which previously had been mandatory.
Other states are following the lead of Mississippi, making it the first time in history they’ve done something in the forward direction. For instance, Utah, which has zero-tolerance on drugs, altered its policy so that asthmatic students can carry inhalers after a federal study reported that minorities don’t abuse any of the drugs commonly found in inhalers.
As for organizations that should have a say in the matter but don’t, the American Bar Association recommends ending zero-tolerance policies altogether. The American Psychological Association (APA) just wants the most retarded policies removed, unlike the American Anarchists Association, or AAA, which wants all policies removed.
Said Kathy Christie, whose title is really long but involves education in Colorado, “it may be a bit of self-correction that you’re beginning to see where the pendulum is coming back.”
[Writer’s note: America, what is your problem?! When I don’t have to add anything to the quotes and the story is still this outrageous, something is seriously wrong. This is exactly what was bound to happen when all you PC freaks started whining. Thanks a lot; I hope your child gets expelled for bringing “drugs” to school because they had a sharpie]
It's about time certain people were banned from bringing their minds along to law-making, sessions. "Sorry, too dangeous. Home you go."
David ...
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Thanks David and James for not being part of the PC police!
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Two things Plagman:
Point one: Democracy is a messy, messy business and professional politicians will give idiots free reign anytime it benefits them; this is a product of that messiness and free reign.
I prefer a benevolent dictatorship, but then...that's just my desire to be dictator raising its little mushroom head.
BTW: Now that the topic of mushroom heads has popped up, answer this question. Since when is your system of government any less dubious or troubled than that of America's ya self righteous bitch weasel.
Point two: Are you trained in martial arts or any kind, (marital arts will probably work just as well) ? You can wound, blind or kill a person with these innocuous implements, and very easily. Care for a demo?
Not that I know anything about knee jerk reactions.
Raven
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Embracing this new ideology = intellectual and ethical suicide. So far, plenty of people have been willing to drink the Kool-Aid.
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Raven, Plagman is an American.
As another American myself, I have to agree with Plagman's assessment here. The PC police have just gotten way too out of hand..hopefully the pendulum of idiocy will start on the backswing soon.
In the meantime, you keep writing it like you do, P.--nothing better for doldrum sessions about our government than a bit of sharp-edged humor like yours.
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Over the top eh? OK, fine.
Lets compromise; He's still a bitch weasel, but I withdraw the demonstration offers.
P, is laying everything on the shoulders of, America, whats your problem! He's part of the America that he accuses of acting irresponsibly, why is he exempt from accountability.
I stand by my Democracy is messy, and professional politicians are jerk's comment.
I won't budge an inch on my desire to be the benevolent dictator for life.
PCness never hinders my efforts to be a knee jerk reactionary.
Raven
Infognito
And what about those pesky hanging chads...and Jed Bush changing the electoral act before the election so that anyone who had been arrested, even though released because of innocence, was then excluded from voting in his state...and guess what...nearly all those arrested in his state are black..who nearly all vote Democrat! I won't bore you with the military voters' details...
Remember that one Raven? And hell no, I think the Aust. Govt. is rediculous too! But at least it is closer to being a democracy than your current administration would seem to be, albeit a totally right wing one which I desperately hope is booted out in December this year!
Oh, and we all vote here too, by law, to avoid the situation America has where employers can make it impossible for low paid staff to vote anyway and the fact that it allows the highly motivated right wing to inflict their will upon the greater majority, which will get little benefit from a Republican Government.
Anyway, the idea of democracy has always been attractive, and oft held high as the ideal form of government....but the practise of such, of true democracy, is far more illusive...is it not?
Lets face it, we live in capitalistic societies that have an election choice between a party that cares more for big business than the poor, or a party that still cares for big business, but has more of a social conscience...end of story!
The rest is just window dressing!
Ok, claws are back inside now...all at peace again!
fog
Infognito
good post old top!
More on ludicrous over-reaction:
I remember here in Oz years ago, in Melbourne, a dude was standing out the front of Flinders Street Station (main one in city) and got arrested and charged for having a weapon.
he was dressed in space suit at the time, and was holding a bright purple water pistol...
Sadly, he was held in contempt of court when he refused to recognize Earth's durisdiction or some such, but the gun charge, at least, was dropped.
Lucky they didn't shoot him actually!
cheers
fog
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
aaaaaaargh, I didn't vote for that simpleton!!!
But I couldn't stuff the ballet box enough to get myself elected.
Done, politics is entertaining but really messy.
Odd, I don't recognize earth's jurisdiction over my water pistol either; I'll get my flack jacket out from storage...I may need it.
Raven