Parents Demand School Districts Slacken Zero Tolerance Policies

Parents around the country are demanding school districts slacken zero-tolerance policies meant to reduce violence. USA Today reports the outcry follows a high profile case in which a boy scout was suspended for bringing a tool to school.

Last year in a Hilton Head School, a 10-year-old boy was suspended after his pencil sharpener broke and he didn't immediately throw away the blade. News Channel 7 wanted to know how local school districts feel about zero-tolerance policies.

Greenville mom Hope Guerra has two children who will soon attend school. She says, “I think a zero tolerance policy is taking it a little too far." After hearing a kindergartner was suspended in Newark, Delaware for bringing a camping utensil with a knife to school recently, she thinks schools need to evaluate on a case by case basis. “That is certainly a situation in which they should have made an exception," Guerra told News Channel 7.

Spartanburg District 7 Superintendent Dr. Thomas white defends the zero-tolerance policy, because he says it's misunderstood. He says, “There are critics of zero tolerance that claim it is too rigid... Zero tolerance in Spartanburg County means that administrators will not ignore inappropriate or criminal behavior and will deal with it forthrightly." White says the County and State give districts the flexibility to use judgment when special circumstances are involved.

Spartanburg District 5 Superintendent Dr. Scott turner agrees, but wouldn't define District 5’s policy as zero tolerance. HE says age and intent are taken into consideration. "Normally what we ask, or what I ask our principal to do, is ask that student, have you shown this to anyone else, do any students know you have this on school grounds, and then we interview other students."

Greenville County School District Spokesman Oby Lyles says it's common misbelief the district has a zero-tolerance policy. Lyles says, "What you want to ensure sure is that you don't lock yourself into to say if it happens we take this course of action, because a may happen again in a little different form."

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We asked Upstate School Districts if they have zero-tolerance polices. The following are responses we received at the time of posting this article:

Laurens School District 55, Lisa Wilson: "In accordance with law and board policy, any student possessing a firearm is recommended for expulsion for one calendar year. Law enforcement is notified and the firearm is turned over to them. We abide by all state and federal statutes."

Cherokee County School District, Dr. Bill James, Superintendent: We have zero tolerance for some infractions. Drugs and weapons are the major issues. Drug cases are recommendation for expulsion and are reported to law enforcement. As you probably know, legally expulsion is for a calendar year when a student has a gun. Knives (with a blade over 2 inches) are recommendation for expulsion and are reported to law enforcement. Our discipline code is written and is included in each student/parent handbook. The information is reviewed with our students and parents are asked to sign a form indicating that the handbook was read. Our hearing officer hears each recommendation for expulsion. The parent may request a hearing before the board after the hearing officer rules.

Spartanburg District 5: see video story

Greenville School District: see video story

Spartanburg District 7, Dr. Thomas White Superintendent:

Zero Tolerance Misunderstood, Necessary: The first priority of school administrators is to provide schools that are safe and orderly, both in reality and perception. Without it, learning cannot occur. There is no place for bullying or intimidation. There is certainly no place for criminal behavior, and it will not be tolerated. Zero tolerance in Spartanburg County means that administrators will not ignore inappropriate or criminal behavior and will deal with it forthrightly. These days, school districts cannot take lightly any written or verbal threats, which years ago may have been ignored. This application of zero tolerance has made our schools the safest place for children during the day.

There are critics of zero tolerance that claim it is too rigid. However, if your loved one is a victim of criminal behavior such as violence or if your child/grandchild is in a school where this occurs, your attitude about zero tolerance is entirely different. As a principal, I often stated that those who criticize administrators for applying consequences for inappropriate behavior should be required to have their children sit in class directly in front of those who are misbehaving.

Much of the criticism of zero tolerance for violence, threats of violence, drugs and other offenses is based on a misunderstanding, and occasional misapplication of the laws and policies deemed a "one-size-fits-all" punishment. Examples of misapplication are very well publicized by the media. Those are the exception; not the norm. In our County and State the flexibility and provision for use of judgment in the law are broad enough for administrators to consider mitigating factors in students' behaviors when warranted. These provisions result in thousands of proper consequences that receive no publicity.

Some organizations believe that misapplication of zero-tolerance is rampant. Moreover, they believe that this misapplication is responsible for high drop-out rates, low graduation rates, perpetuation of racism and other forms of discrimination, as well as a "school-to-prison" culture. It is true that behaviors addressed by zero-tolerance policies significantly contribute to these problems. However, these behaviors, real or perceived, are disruptive to the individual and school collectively.

The student code of conduct and consequences are well-known. Parents must sign each year that they have received and understand the code. The goal of a code of conduct is to assist students in accepting responsibility for their actions and guide them toward success-making behaviors.

Local school boards and school systems in general go to great lengths to assist students who have behavioral and learning challenges. No one wins if a student does not stay in school and graduate. For the vast majority of students removal from school is temporary. Most are assigned or permitted to utilize alternative educational opportunities while they "earn" their way back into the regular school setting.

Critics also point to the use of School Resource Officers leading to a school "pipeline-to-prison" culture. Not so. South Carolina law requires administrators to contact law enforcement authorities when criminal conduct occurs. The checks and balances of due process, especially for students with disabilities, ensure that only truly criminal behavior is handled by law enforcement without discrimination. The rights of students who misbehave are quite detailed, and due process is followed rigorously regardless of the background or characteristics of the student. We should be just as concerned about the rights of countless other students who are behaving appropriately.

Finally, most organizations support prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation efforts. Like many across South Carolina, programs to assist parents and children in Spartanburg County School Districts include the following:

• Therapeutic Behavioral Services for 3-year-old children.
• Pre-school services for 4-year-olds. Through Child Find and for those who register, 4-year-olds are screened and those with the greatest need are served with available resources. Also, districts collaborate with Piedmont Community Action's Head Start, a federally funded program serving economically disadvantaged pre-school children.
• Countdown to Kindergarten. In the summer, teachers visit the homes of many children going into kindergarten.
• Family Connections. This program provides day care and parenting education for adults attending GED or other Adult Education programs.
• Tutoring programs. Offered in most elementary and middle/junior high schools both before-school and after-school, these are partnerships with Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation, Boys & Girls Clubs, 21st Century Grant programs or in-house programs such as Warrior Academy and Beyond the Bell.
• Recovery and advancement programs for middle and high school students. Programs such as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Viking Academy, Fresh Start, Gateway to College, Linking Institute for Navigating Knowledge (LINK), Scholars Academy, credit recovery and more assist students to recover from poor decisions and to advance their education.
• Psychosocial rehabilitative services. Districts provide these services, as well as access to mental health counselors and social workers, to students ages 6 - 21.
• Alternative programs. For students whose behaviors warrant removal from the regular school setting, districts offer these programs both during and after the normal school day. Spartanburg County Alternative School and the Temporary Intervention Program (TIP) are examples.
• Character education programs in all schools.
• Mentoring services. All schools have partnerships with community and faith-based organizations to provide mentoring. Citizen Scholars is an excellent example.

I urge you to have zero tolerance for complacency. Mobilize your faith-based, civic and/or other organizations to help keep schools safe and to address the needs of our most challenging students."

Thomas D. White, Jr., Ph.D.
Superintendent, Spartanburg School District Seven
Immediate Past President of the Superintendents' Division of The South Carolina Association of School Administrators