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'Zero tolerance' policy lacks common sense

Reporter Michael Kruse's article on the 11-year old girl at Fox Chapel Middle School arrested for having a butter knife in her backpack (Oct. 25 Times) and reporter Abhi Raghunathan's article about the Central High School instructor Michael Ellison being suspended for having a loaded gun in his truck (Nov. 15) were quite disturbing and very revealing of our so-called "democratic" society.

The young girl was handcuffed, arrested, taken to jail, and now has a felony charge facing her, for allegedly unknowingly having a plastic knife in her purse. The teacher is facing a recommended termination by superintendent Wendy Tellone after 25 years of apparently excellent teaching in our county. This "zero tolerance" philosophy and application not only lack common sense, but are dishonest of those who administer it.

This unfair law also provides teachers and people in authority a skirt to hide behind and an easy excuse to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing or responsibility. This is especially true if the child, or in these two cases, these "perpetrators," are unduly harmed emotionally, financially or mentally. Teachers, principals, school administrators and school superintendents no longer are called upon to use their judgment and common sense in such occurrences.

Instead of giving them salary increases, maybe we ought to reduce their pay due to their reduced responsibilities? Because of the existing "zero tolerance" laws, which politicians have enacted out of political expediency and self-interest, ordinary citizens have been severely penalized, potentially have their reputations slandered and ruined and have had their dignity and sense of self-worth taken away. These unfair labels have made them pariahs in their own communities and scar them for life.

Teachers and school administrators even use these "zero tolerance" events as excuses to "get rid of" children who may be difficult to deal with in the classroom, or against parents who may be too demanding of the school. Or, "zero tolerance" may be used to satisfy more fearful parents in the same school, especially in private schools, where money and parental pressure play a bigger role on teachers and administrators.

This intolerance, in the case of education, can even be used as a means of scapegoating to divert attention from other more serious educational problems, to shift blame for academic and teaching failures and to channel their own frustrations themselves in other controlled directions.

"Zero tolerance" in schools and elsewhere in our society surreptitiously masquerades as something else, challenging everything we stand for, and the very principles we have proudly practiced in the past. America is fast becoming no more that bastion of freedom and equal rights. We are becoming a democracy no more.

Have not we had enough of this? Where is the leadership and people of courage to speak up and to eliminate these unjust and undemocratic laws?

Teachers earn their keep

Re: Teachers must earn higher pay , Oct. 26 letter to the editor:

Vilmar Tavares writes that just because teachers in Hernando County are poorly paid compared to other counties is no reason to give us a raise; he wants us to "earn" it.

Where has he been lately? Despite the fact that our salaries rank seventh from the bottom of 67 counties in this state, our students' FCAT ranking is seventh from the top. We already stay after school to tutor students, constantly take courses to improve our teaching skills and techniques, read books and articles to remain current with education research, keep in touch with parents, stay up until midnight to plan lessons and grade papers and follow individualized plans for special education students. We work hard! The teachers in Hernando County have more than earned a substantial pay raise.

However, the fact that we've "earned" a raise isn't the only reason Hernando County should give us one. It's actually in the best interests of our students and taxpayers to increase teacher pay.

Research shows that the most significant factor in learning gains is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. Yet, every year our county hires 100 to 200 new teachers, spends money to train them, and at the end of the year watches them leave for higher-paying school districts. How much sense does that make? We're training teachers to be successful somewhere else.

An analysis of the School Board's budget has shown it has the money to substantially raise teachers' salaries and pay a longevity bonus to keep excellent teachers in our county. Refusing to do so is irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers' money.

Food is for eating, not throwing

Re : Who said turkeys can't fly? , Nov. 17 Times:

On the front page is a photo and three-column article of people throwing otherwise valuable food for fun. I searched the article for what organization this "game" may benefit to no avail. Buried deep within the paper are various other brief mentions of "Outreach announces food distribution at church," and Community Thanksgiving dinner, free of charge.

I don't get it. Since when is wasting food a commentary sport?

I see this article and event as nothing more than an insensitive marketing ploy, and certainly not worthy of front-page coverage.

I suppose turkeys don't know what side their bread is buttered on, either.

School is strong-arming families

My daughter is a fifth-grade student at J.D. Floyd's Environmental Science Center. Recently she was refused the opportunity to attend a field trip with the rest of her class because I would not agree to sign an "unbreakable contract" with J.D. Floyd's Environmental Center, committing my child to remain at that school through eighth grade (seventh and eighth are not built yet).

By answering honestly - that I will choose what is best for my child at any particular time - she was pulled out of class, returned her money for the trip and told she can no longer participate in the class' activities and will now (four months into year) be moved to a "regular" fifth-grade class, according to principal Marcia Austin.

Strong-arm tactics are being used by the faculty (principal and assistant principal) to force parents to sign the contract so that their child receives the same education others do, or the child will be denied or punished.

My child is being denied the education everyone in class receives because of my refusal to sign and obligate her to a school that isn't even built yet. What is the definition of blackmail? How does my school choice for next year affect the education my child receives this year?

And lastly, do parents of other J.D. Floyd Environmental students realize this could happen to their child if they are not "contracted" to J.D. Floyd through eighth grade?

Is the administration trying to falsify a roster of students willing to stay through eighth grade just to get the funding needed to construct those classrooms, and do parents know this is happening?

[Last modified November 21, 2005, 01:05:18]