Pubdate: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
Source: News & Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2001 The News and Observer Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.news-observer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304
Author: MaryBe McMillan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

MISGUIDED POLICY...

The public should have zero tolerance for the Wake County Public 
Schools' zero tolerance discipline policy (news story, Nov. 2). By 
imposing yearlong suspensions on students for minor alcohol and drug 
offenses, the school system is greatly increasing the chances that 
these students will continue to get into trouble and eventually drop 
out of school altogether. Barred from attending an alternative 
school, suspended students are now isolated from their peers with 
months of idle time on their hands -- all conditions ripe for 
substance abuse and delinquency. The chances that many of these 
students will return to school the following academic year are slim.

In this era of holding schools accountable for educating students, we 
should not allow schools to push "problem" students out and leave 
them with little structure or social support. Accountability demands 
that schools educate all students, even those with behavioral 
problems.

MaryBe McMillan

Raleigh
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MAP posted-by: Josh