TRI In The News

The Life-Altering Effects of Zero-Tolerance Policies

From One News Now

Original article available here

One attorney says the problem with public schools' zero-tolerance policies is best epitomized in the plight of a Spotsylvania junior high student, whose life has been dramatically altered because of spit wads.

The Rutherford Institute is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case of 14-year-old Andrew Mikel, who was kicked out of a Pennsylvania school in 2010 and branded as a criminal for using a peashooter to shoot small, hollow plastic balls in the hallway (see earlier story).

"When it says 'zero tolerance,' that's what it means," notes The Rutherford Institute's president, John Whitehead. "If you make a mistake, you're out. In this case, this young man, who was an honor student, junior ROTC, was given a half year out of school. And by the way, he wanted to attend the Naval Academy; he can't now. He has a criminal record. He was also charged with criminal assault."

He says zero-tolerance policies and the punishment for childish behavior can bring about life-altering changes.

"We're asking for his record to be expunged. This should not follow him the rest of his life," Whitehead contends. "With electronic records now, if kids make a mistake in school, it does follow them the rest of their life. So I don't think a lot of public school officials are taking into account what they're doing to these kids."

For the spit wad incident, Mikel was expelled for the remainder of the school year and had to undergo substance abuse and anger management counseling.