With roots in the "tough on crime" culture of the 1980s War on Drugs, zero-tolerance policies appealed to administrators because of their focus on personal responsibility and accountability. Unfortunately, an unintended consequence of such policies is that many districts have seen a massive increase in the number of student suspensions and expulsions. How can schools preserve order without pushing kids out the door?
In many places, zero-tolerance policies have become all-encompassing. What began as zero tolerance for guns in schools expanded to include zero tolerance for any weapons, and in some instances, zero tolerance for any type of bad student behavior.
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