Is this an over reaction?

[awpitt]

There was no profanity, no hate. Just the words, "I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 " scrawled on the classroom desk with a green marker.
Alexa Gonzalez, an outgoing 12-year-old who likes to dance and draw, expected a lecture or maybe detention for her doodles earlier this month. Instead, the principal of the Junior High School in Forest Hills, New York, called police, and the seventh-grader was taken across the street to the police precinct.

Girl's arrest for doodling raises concerns about zero tolerance - CNN.com








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[awpitt]

I can't help to think that a good paddling would've been a better choice. Too bad pricipals aren't allowed to do that anymore. Maybe make her folks should have to pay for the desk. Maybe the girl could mop floors at the school on Saturdays. It just seems that there were better options than having to call the police.

 

[mAlice]

Back in the day, we had to stay after school and sand desks. :shrug:

 

[kwillia]

Yes, it is over reaction. I am a fan of the graduated consequences method.

 

[kwillia]

Back in the day, we had to stay after school and sand desks. :shrug:

Yep! That could even be the consequence for the first offense... having to clean the desk(s).

 

[vraiblonde]

That is ridiculous. This moron:

the principal of the Junior High School in Forest Hills, New York

should be locked in a padded cell for his/her own safety and the safety of others. At the very least, this person should never be allowed to interact with kids ever again, and certainly not be in an authority position over them.

 

[muttdog]

Definatly over the top, that principal should be fired.

 

[kwillia]

Definatly over the top, that principal should be fired.

From what I gather it is not "the principal" or "the teacher" or etc. but rather a documented "zero tolerance" policy. School administrators have no choice if they are being held to policy that does not allow for discression. They community should be fighting to get the policy changed.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

From what I gather it is not "the principal" or "the teacher" or etc. but rather a documented "zero tolerance" policy. School administrators have no choice if they are being held to policy that does not allow for discression. They community should be fighting to get the policy changed.

St. Mary's County has a pretty ridiculous policy, too. Girl told me a student got in trouble for tossing a wrapped snack across the lunch table one time.

 

[kwillia]

St. Mary's County has a pretty ridiculous policy, too. Girl told me a student got in trouble for tossing a wrapped snack across the lunch table one time.

I see nothing wrong with a student getting in trouble for propelling a hoho, but the consequences should be graduated with each offense... aggressively graduated is okay, but a beat down and cuffs should be the third offense...not the first.

 

[mAlice]

From what I gather it is not "the principal" or "the teacher" or etc. but rather a documented "zero tolerance" policy. School administrators have no choice if they are being held to policy that does not allow for discression. They community should be fighting to get the policy changed.

Well how else are we supposed to turn our future leaders into little robots?

 

[Pete]

About what year was it when the police became the first line of discipline in schools?

It is a matter of school administrators and school boards tired of dealing with it?

You never saw cops in our school hauling away some felonious doodler. William H. Fort took care of it.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I see nothing wrong with a student getting in trouble for propelling a hoho, but the consequences should be graduated with each offense... aggressively graduated is okay, but a beat down and cuffs should be the third offense...not the first.

The student didn't "throw" the snack as to assault someone, it was more of a "Here, I don't want this, you can have it..." toss.

I'd agree with you if it was done to hurt someone, but it wasn't.

 

[kwillia]

The student didn't "throw" the snack as to assault someone, it was more of a "Here, I don't want this, you can have it..." toss.

I'd agree with you if it was done to hurt someone, but it wasn't.

Oh hell... I agree that's just nuts... I was thinking it was a hoho assault.

 

[Merlin99]

Kenneth Trump, a security expert who founded the National School Safety and Security Services consulting firm, said focusing on security is essential to the safety of other students. He said zero tolerance policies can work if "common sense is applied."

If common sense is applied, there wouldn't be a need or place for zero tolerance policies.

 

[kwillia]

If common sense is applied, there wouldn't be a need or place for zero tolerance policies.

It all boils down to litigation. A zero tolerance policy leaves no room for opinion thereby greatly reducing grounds for civil suit action on Judge Judy.

 

[Pete]

"Policy" is what you have to have when you can't find quality people who can reason, think, lack courage or you are afraid to invest authority in them. They have to have it to fall back on. "Policy" is faceless, it is easier to institute a "policy" than it is to face a helicopter parent of a cretin, tell them to STFU, get their spawn and leave. Once instituted "policy" knows no degrees.

 

[Merlin99]

It all boils down to litigation. A zero tolerance policy leaves no room for opinion thereby greatly reducing grounds for civil suit action on Judge Judy.

Is that a good reason for accepting the policy or for fixing the legal system?

 

[kwillia]

Is that a good reason for accepting the policy or for fixing the legal system?

Legal reform will never happen...

 

[Baja28]

it was a hoho assault.

Never assault 2 ho's at once. They may gang up and beat you.