Eric
Posts : 9738 Join date : 2012-07-30 Age : 73 Location : Pensacola
| Subject: A step in the right direction? Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:13 am | |
| I haven't seen the text of this bill, but it looks to me like it might put some common sense back into our school policies. Having been a substitute teacher (briefly), I can sympathize with teacher's frustration with some students, but too many examples of heavy-handedness make me think that "Zero Tolerance" has got to go...
From NorthEscambia.com - Quote :
Lawmakers Look To Revamp School ‘Zero Tolerance’ February 26, 2014 While including an exception for threats to school safety, an Orlando Democrat on Tuesday filed a bill that would seek to change the state’s “zero tolerance” laws to prevent students from being expelled for disciplinary issues.
The bill, filed by Sen. Geraldine Thompson, would require school districts to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law-enforcement agencies, except in circumstances such as when students bring firearms to school. Rep. Clovis Watson, D-Alachua, filed the House version of the proposal last week.
Meanwhile, another zero-tolerance bill has started moving through the House that would prevent children from being disciplined for simulating guns while playing or wearing clothes that depict firearms. The Senate version of that National Rifle Association-backed proposal is scheduled to be heard Monday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
by The News Service of Florida | |
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nochain
Posts : 2888 Join date : 2013-04-24
| Subject: Re: A step in the right direction? Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:20 pm | |
| The problem with Z/T is it removes alternatives from available decision making by administrators. One size fits all policies rarely work. | |
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mediawatcher
Posts : 3139 Join date : 2013-08-07
| Subject: Re: A step in the right direction? Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:54 am | |
| - nochain wrote:
- The problem with Z/T is it removes alternatives from available decision making by administrators. One size fits all policies rarely work.
Believe it or not the Escambia School District is ahead of the curve on this matter...for example not so many years ago if a student brought a knife to school under any circumstances and it was discovered it fell under the zero tolerance rule...this was changed [for the better] and students were instructed that should they discover that they had left a knife in their backpack they should immmediately tell a school official and they would not be punished...now if another student reports that the student had displayed the knife...messed around with the knife...or threatened someone then that would or could involve the school district as well as law enforcement...with just a little common sense added this allowed an honest mistake from being blown out of proportion...As 'nochain' referred about the one size fits all policy not working this is an area that local school officials...parents...and law enforcement worked together to remedy the problem... | |
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Eric
Posts : 9738 Join date : 2012-07-30 Age : 73 Location : Pensacola
| Subject: Re: A step in the right direction? Thu Feb 27, 2014 8:10 am | |
| Well, it looks like Escambia schools have some folks with common sense. Whodathunkit?
Kudos to them. | |
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| Subject: Re: A step in the right direction? | |
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