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Zero tolerance = zero sense

During a lock down search of Savannah Georgia school on Nov. 1995.

A teacher, Ms Hearn, who was 1994 teacher of the year, told someone she was upset because She said "Because I teach the constitution" and was concerned about civil rights. A police officer herd the remark and reported her to the principle. The officer said MS Hearn had an attitude problem and might have to be restrained during future searches. This wasn't the end of it. During a February lock down search Hearn's son was the only student out of 1500 to be searched. The searched allegedly found a small piece of a joint in the Hearn's car which had it's windows rolled down, and the door where unlocked. Even though the search violated school board policy, MS Hearn was ordered to have a urine test within two hours of the search Ms Hearn refused, but the urine test she took next day came up negative. Even though urine test can detect marijuana up to 30 days after ingestion of cannabis she was still suspended. Then Hearn's was fired, despite the objection of teachers and students. Thus remove as the police wanted in the first place(5 ).

The movie "lean on me" paints a picture of completely out of control youths and the tough love that brought them around. Movie goers and constituents love this kind of stuff, even if it doesn't work. Here is peak into the mean streets of our children lives. the reality on these streets is the punishment doesn't always fit the "crime".

"Drug" related zero tolerance

On June 3, 1987, a mother in Los Angeles "just snapped." She picked up a "butcher knife" and stabbed her teenage daughter to death. Why? Because the mother thought the daughter was using cocaine. The mother was found cradling her daughter body, the knife still sticking in her chest. " I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I love you. Don't die," sobbed the mother as she rocked the dead child back and forth (6 ).

Jennifer Budak, what she did was worse than theft, fighting (1 to 3 days suspension) or attempting to burn down the school (10 days suspension ) she attended because the punishment given was worse than all those offenses. The freshman at River Valley High School who regularly attends Baptist church bible study, and was described by the River Valley board vice president as a "Good girl from a good family." She Had a habit of collecting pens. One of them was a "Pot pen". The pen contained sterile pot seeds that are legal to possess by state law. In January, she brought the Pot Pen to school, and loaned it to a friend, the friend was caught with it in gym class. The result was a 45 suspension without make up privileges. This was due to the schools zero tolerance policy (7 ).

13 year old Katie stretch said the roasted hemp seeds she brought to school as a snack were just like sunflower seeds. But, Hanshew middle school officials suspended her for 10 days, under a tough anti drug policy. Katie who had never been suspended or served detention before said "I was nervous and I was scared because they called the police down. I really didn't understand it." Katie mother said "I want the School district to do their job. But I am real concerned about why parents aren't called first before they bring in the police and start talking about a ten day suspension"(8 ).