1. ZERO TOLERANCE Rosiland Jackson & Shaniekiwa Lester

2. Background Zero Tolerance was birth in 1982 in a New Jersey school by a principal named Joe Clark. Mr. Clark suspended a massive number of students for fighting, being disrespectful, and vulgar behavior. He became nationally known when he was portrayed in the movie “Lean on Me” starring Morgan Freeman.

3. Reasons for Zero Tolerance  University of Iowa shooting – November 1, 1991 University of Iowa shootingNovember 11991  Concordia University massacre – August 24, 1992 Concordia University massacreAugust 241992  Simon’s Rock College of Bard shooting – December 14, 1992 Simon’s Rock College of Bard shootingDecember 141992  Richland High School shooting – 1995.Richland High School shooting1995  Frontier Junior High shooting – February 2, 1996Frontier Junior High shootingFebruary 21996  1997 Pearl High School shooting, October 1, 19971997Pearl High School shootingOctober 11997  Heath High School shooting, December 1, 1997 Jonesboro massacre – March 24, 1998Heath High School shootingDecember 11997Jonesboro massacreMarch 241998  Thurston High School shooting – May 21, 1998 Thurston High School shootingMay 211998  Columbine High School massacre – 1999 W. R. Myers High School shooting – April 28, 1999Columbine High School massacre1999W. R. Myers High School shootingApril 281999  Heritage High School shooting – May 20, 1999Heritage High School shootingMay 201999

4. PROS of Zero Tolerance  Provide a Safe Environment  Everyone receives the same punishment  Federal grant money given to schools that have a Zero Tolerance Policy  Removes disruptive students from the classroom  Shifts responsibility of discipline on the parents and not on the school  Students confide in teachers, administrators about a students’ behavior

5. PROS of Zero Tolerance  Deters bullying  Deters bad behavior before it becomes habitual  Federal education funding  Students can focus on learning

6. CONS of Zero Tolerance  Does not address the real reason for students behavior  Denies students “Due Process”  Policy is ineffective because of the severe punishment  Increases school drop out rate  Gives the student more opportunity to commit other offense and or crime  Increased the level of violence  Unfairly applied (Black, Latino, and students with Disabilities

7. CONS of Zero Tolerance Punishment is too severe The policy increased the level of violence in schools Students are not learning because they are not in school School are not addressing the underlining issues of why the student is misbehaving Mental stability of the student is over looked

8. Questions  Do you think that Zero Tolerance Policy is effective in the age of Social Media?  If you had the opportunity to revised the Zero Tolerance Policy, what revision would you make?

9. References  Shah, N, & McNeil, M 2013, 'Discipline Policies Squeezed As Views on What Works', Education Week, 32, 16, pp. 4- 11, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Web 9 April. 2013  Greg, T, @gtoppo, & USA, T n.d., 'Doctors oppose automatic school suspensions', USA Today, n.d., Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Web. 9 April. 2013  "Zero Tolerance Policy Cartoon." Teens at Risk. Ed. Stephen P. Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.