Yes, Schools Have an Alternative to Zero Tolerance - Democracy and Education - Education Week

Yes, Schools Have an Alternative to Zero Tolerance - Democracy and Education - Education Week:




We Welcome Derek Slaughter, a high school student from Baltimore.  He calls on a timely issue that is blocking many students’ opportunity to learn. -- Greg

Justice for All
By Derek Slaughter
Throughout my educational career, I have heard my peers say that things aren’t fair or that they have been unjustly punished in schools. Administration being overzealous to implement extreme disciplinary action is a common theme in schools throughout the country, which I have observed in my travels. For this reason the National Student Bill of Rights movement believes in installing restorative justice systems in communities and schools.

The principles of restorative justice require people to look at the root cause of the offender’s actions before the implementation of an arbitrary “punishment.” Through the restorative justice process, there is no need to enact zero tolerance: participants can see that there is a much better alternative. It is important to emphasize that students must be actively involved and engaged in restorative justice systems in order to keep these systems from returning to a regular authoritarian discipline structure.