Opinion of zero tolerance policies in schools

[Cassius]

Heavily misused. Whilst I have no problem with heavy punishments for serious misdemeanours (and I'm talking about things like threatening other students and teachers with violence, hardcore physical violence, selling drugs and extreme use of bad language) it is clear that zero-tolerance policies have been misused quite a bit. Nonetheless, I can understand and sympathise with the reasons behind the introduction of 'zero-tolerance' policies (desiring to make schools safer, more hospitable environments).