Is the Zero Tolerance policy in Schools working?

 

http://www.defendernetwork.com/zero-tolerance-discipline-policies/
It is true that some of the nations public schools have become violent and dangerous for both students and teachers. In the inner cities there has been issues with school shootings and stabbings.drug use and the like. In rural schools there are reported incidents with bullying and drug use and the like. Teachers are not exempt from the violence that students face. They are threatened, harrassed and beaten by students also. So what was a school to do. There is now a Zero Tolerance policy that is suppose to place harsh punishment to students that violate the security and safety of the school, students and teachers. The policy is in place in all schools. It has pros and cons. The pros say that this policy deals with the violator expeditiously and makes students and faculty safe in a learning environment. The cons argue that the policy is racially bias that some student populations are being targeted at a greater rate. African Americans and Hispanics are being suspended, expelled and even having criminal charges brought against them at alarming rates. According to and article read a teacher spoke of incidents in which children were disciplined for non criminal offenses. All these  students were of color. One incident was a student who was expelled for a week for poking another student with a pen during an exam. Another incident was a student was suspended for months for sharpening his pencil without permission and giving a threatening look at the teacher when asked to sit down. These are bogus incidents but the reality is that many students of color being targeted with this Zero Tolerance policy. There needs to be reform. There needs to be more investigations into schools or cities that are having a large percentage of expulsions and suspensions. The statistics show that students that are expelled usually end up dropouts. This should not be allowed to happen to such kids the need to be educated as much as they need food and water to live. Lets make this policy fair or lets revamp it and try something else that works for everyone.