#9: Zero Tolerance
Zero-tolerance policies started being adopted by American public schools in the 1990s. Zero-tolerance is the strict enforcement of rules and regulations on students that can result in suspension and expulsion for minor infractions. A lot of people outside and within the United States are critical of this disciplinary approach because it doesn’t allow for accidents, misunderstandings, or special circumstances.
Also, studies have shown that zero-tolerance school policies don’t actually reform student behavior. Plus, there are some cases where the punishment outweighs the perceived offense, resulting in a kid’s life being altered in a huge way that sets them up for failure in the future. This person points out that zero-tolerance policies can prevent kids from coming forward about bullying because they’re afraid of the harsh consequences.