Out Of Control "Zero Tolerance" at Schools

In a previous post called War On Rights I noted how the government could be allowed to bypass normal human and civil rights by declaring "war" on something. I also noted how schools do the same thing by declaring "zero tolerance":

"Another phrase that's used a lot now in the schools and legal systems to implant in the minds of the people that there's such an emergency that normal rules or fair procedures don't apply is 'zero tolerance.' That's how we get things like some high school kid expelled from school for bringing a friggin key chain."

Today cnn.com shows us once again a perfect example of how "zero tolerance" is a misguided approach, an easy and ineffective policy to a complex problem. A beautiful, innocent 12-year old girl was put in handcuffs in front of her friends, and brought to tears by the police for doodling on her desktop with a green marker.

I don't know what it was in her doodle that caused such a reaction. Maybe it was three words that don't represent any threat, unless the reader associates them with the Shawshank Redemption.

I don't know.

Here's what she wrote on her desk:

"I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 :)"

...a menace to society?

To administrators and school officials: Stop "zero tolerance" and figure out ways to creatively and effectively address the real problems without violating the rights of all the innocent children.

-Forsyth