Zero Tolerance Policies: The no tolerance policies

[Bearu]

http://www.wbtv.com/story/34109723/revised-mo-statute-increases-punishment-on-grade-school-fights

Revised MO statute increases punishment on grade school fights
Written by Derrion Henderson, Reporter
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(Source: KFVS) (Source: KFVS)
SIKESTON, MO (KFVS) -

If you have a child heading back to grade school after the holiday break, the rules on fighting are getting stricter.

There's a new statute going into effect starting January 1, 2017 that ups the punishment when students get into a fight.

The change means that if your student is caught fighting once they return back to school, they will get jail time.

Right now, if a student gets into a fight and hurts another person, they're charged with a misdemeanor and then released to their parents.

However, with the new law going into effect on January 1, that student will now head to a juvenile detention center and be charged with a Class E felony.

That means they could spend up to four years in jail.

Sikeston DPS Sergeant Jon Broom said he hopes this new rule will make students think twice before getting into a fight.

“A felony down the road is something that will definitely hamper you down the road for sure," Broom said.

Broom also said he hopes this new rule alerts students think twice before getting into alternation.

“I would definitely speak with them and talk with them and let them know just a fist fight anymore could definitely mean a felony," he said. "Something that could follow you on down the road and could make life difficult for you.”

If you have a younger child, they are not exempt from this change.

This new rule effects all students no matter the grade level or age.

I do not support the application of physical violence in the educational system, but the people, in my opinion, should have a strict stance against the no-tolerance policies because the policies remain a tool for the defacto discrimination against a number of groups. The no tolerance policies further promote a disproportionate punishment for the activities in a number of cases while the minor cases confront a severe punishment in the prison system. What do you think about the zero-tolerance policies in schools?

[Elok]

Felony sentencing is obviously going to cause a significant burden on the kids' futures--if nothing else, they can't vote--and teenagers, especially boys, are not known to act rationally when their blood is up.  A heavier punishment is unlikely to create a sufficiently heavy disincentive to overwhelm the many reasons fifteen-year-old boys get into punching matches.  So, yes, this is daft.

[Elok]

For reference, back in my subbing days I heard of two high school kids getting in trouble for one giving the other oral sex under the table in the cafeteria DURING LUNCH.  With hundreds of potential witnesses around.  Sometimes these kids are just morons, and there's no helping it.

[Rusty Edge]

I can understand zero tolerance when it comes to adult employees interacting with students.

But zero tolerance for kids?  They're there to learn, and that includes learning from their mistakes. Zero tolerance ties the hands of administration, and it tends to put teachers and other employees in the position of " look the other way" OR "Send them to jail and probably ruin their life".   

Zero tolerance for minors is well intentioned nonsense. Whether it's about fighting, drugs, or whatever.

[E_T]

When the parents are not involved with their child's education and relegate upbringing to letting them watch TV all day (while they are constantly on Facebook) and think that they don't need to punish them properly and they practically get away with murder, then this kind of thing is a response to try to keep a bunch of hooligans from taking over completely...  Lord of the Flies time... Maybe...

[gwillybj]

For reference, back in my subbing days I heard of two high school kids getting in trouble for one giving the other oral sex under the table in the cafeteria DURING LUNCH.  With hundreds of potential witnesses around.  Sometimes these kids are just morons, and there's no helping it.

Now I know I went to the wrong high school.

Joking aside, I agree with Rusty Edge:

Zero tolerance for minors is well intentioned nonsense. Whether it's about fighting, drugs, or whatever.