Copyright 2000 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.
St.
Louis Post-Dispatch
June 15, 2000, Thursday, FIVE STAR LIFT
EDITION
SECTION: EDITORIAL, Pg. B6
LENGTH: 524 words
HEADLINE:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: ZERO TOLERANCE OR A MIDDLE GROUND?
BODY:
This is in response to the June 2
guest editorial by Sara Kraner and the June 8 letter from Robert Levitt about
the Georgia student who was suspended for having an ax, a pocketknife and
cellular phone in his car. I would like to pose a view that is more impartial,
from neither a student nor a parent.
There is a point at which we, as a
society, go too far in being reactive rather than proactive. First, what is
wrong with carrying a cell phone in your car? When did personal protection and
safety become a danger to others? I have used my phone on several occasions to
call for help, not only for myself but for other motorists as well. A phone in
the car in no way interrupts the school or the other students and should not
threaten anyone.
With the knife and the ax, Levitt and the school have a
valid point. There is no need for those items to be present on school grounds.
However, they were in the student's car. He was not carrying them around school,
showing them off and threatening others. Is suspension really the answer here?
Is it necessary to go to such extremes over this offense?
Immediate and
unconditional suspension is not the answer. There is no black and white in
situations like these. There has to be some other form of corrective action,
such as a warning, after-school community service or counseling that would be
better suited for the infraction.
The knee-jerk reaction exhibited by
the school may breed compliance, but it is bred out of fear, not understanding.
It breeds loathing, not acceptance.
There needs to be a middle ground.
Teach the children why their actions were not appropriate; don't just send them
to their rooms without dinner.
Jason Mickey
Clayton
I'm writing to respond to the June 7 commentary by Cynthia
R. Keele, who was critical of proposed changes to the federal Elementary
and Secondary Education Act that would give local school officials
greater authority over school discipline.
It is critical that local
school officials have the authority to discipline all students in a fair and
consistent manner. Schools must be able to remove dangerous or disruptive
students from the classroom so that other students can function in a safe
learning environment.
The proposed amendment is being sponsored by Sen.
John Ashcroft and has the backing of all major education groups in Missouri. It
would allow school officials to appropriately discipline any student in cases
involving weapons possession, threats of weapons, drug possession and assault
against school personnel. Current federal law prevents school officials from
taking appropriate action against special-needs students in those cases.
Local school officials are committed to serving all students, including
those with special needs. However, the current dual discipline system threatens
the safety of students and teachers in the classroom. If we are to maintain a
safe learning environment, our schools must have the ability to deal with
serious misconduct so that violent acts can be prevented.
Carter
D. Ward
Executive Director
Missouri School Boards
Association
Columbia
LOAD-DATE: June 15,
2000 
