# Have schools ended the "no tolerance" excesses? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-schools-ended-the-no-tolerance-excesses/726145 "2015-07-25T11:32:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-schools-ended-the-no-tolerance-excesses/726145/1 "2015-07-25T11:32:39Z")
For years we heard stories about kids getting kicked out for having a nail file or an aspirin or even looking like they are high but from what I’ve heard they have become more reasonable on this to where they use more discretion before suspending a student. Here is an article on the subject: [LINK](http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/schools_start_to_rethink_zero_tolerance_policies/) What have you all seen? ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-schools-ended-the-no-tolerance-excesses/726145/2 "2015-07-26T01:45:00Z")
I have no scientific answer as to whether zero-tolerance follies are increasing or decreasing. But when I read headlines such as: [Student, 13, Shares Lunch, Gets Detention](http://www.freerangekids.com/student-13-shares-lunch-gets-detention/) [No Sunscreen Allowed at School: “Kids Could Drink It”](http://www.freerangekids.com/no-sunscreen-allowed-at-school-kids-could-drink-it/) [Two Suffolk second graders have been suspended for making shooting noises while pointing pencils at each other.](http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/05/07/2-va-boys-suspended-for-using-pencils-as-guns/) [9-Year-Old Boy Suspended for Using _Lord of the Rings_ Magic on Fellow Student](http://reason.com/blog/2015/02/02/9-year-old-boy-suspended-for-using-lord#.xxtrwg:tSy6) [Police, lawyer release statements on student’s alleged dinosaur killing](http://www.nbc12.com/story/26319685/cops-summerville-high-school-student-arrested-after-writing-threatening-message-on-assignment#.U_TP-L15fAN.twitter) I have to conclude that idiocy is alive and well in our schools. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-schools-ended-the-no-tolerance-excesses/726145/3 "2015-07-26T05:10:24Z")
Yes, it seems like the idiots are still in control in some schools. However I think most schools have backed off this. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-schools-ended-the-no-tolerance-excesses/726145/4 "2015-07-26T06:33:55Z")
Has any school child gotten in trouble for Force Choking or using the \*Avada Kedavra \*on a classmate? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-schools-ended-the-no-tolerance-excesses/726145/5 "2015-07-28T02:06:29Z")
Just last week the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed an expulsion of an honor student who was found to have a knife in her locker that she had used during the weekend doing farm chores, and had left in a purse. The court said her expulsion was inappropriate because she didn’t willfully violate the policy. [Duluth News-Tribune Link](http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3801472-court-reverses-minnesota-students-expulsion-having-knife-her-purse) The [Rochester Post Bulletin Link](http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/wells-explusion-ruling-not-likely-to-affect-local-schools/article_fe9199ce-d22c-564f-8ca4-1e248463c548.html) goes into more detail about how policies are changing to case-by-case reviews, instead of one-size-fits-all.