Zero Tolerance - Bloom is Off

Texas is finally taking a look at the "Zero Tolerance" policies that have swept through schools in the past decade.

It's about time.

The Texas Legislature is seeking parental feedback - and getting it:

Fred Hink of Katy Zero Tolerance, a group dedicated to protecting parents' rights in the discipline process, said these practices not only lack common sense, they do not appropriately address issues such as disability considerations, due process and the long-range effects of placing children in alternative education programs.

People in the educational-industrial complex respond "But discipline in schools is tough! We need to have consistent policies!" To which I respond:

1. You're elevating consistency above common sense.
2. Is discipline tough? Well, what are the variables that affect discipline? School size? Demographics? Tolerance Levels? Parental Involvement? Certainty of effective punishment?

   Changing which of those will have the mot effect on school discipline? Bear in mind that excessive punishments meted out due to a hidebound, process-manic system may make "sense" of a sort across a group (I actually doubt this, but for sake of argument let's run with it), but,as documented on Zero Intelligence day in and day out, do an awful lot of damage to individual children.

   Posted by Mitch at January 27, 2005 07:27 AM | TrackBack