Pubdate: Thu, 24 Oct 2002
Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2002 The Pensacola News Journal
Contact:  http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675
Author: David Williams
Note: David Williams is an assistant principal at Pine Forest High School 
and a resident of Pensacola.

SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ZERO-TOLERANCE DRUG POLICY WORKS

Having been a member of the Escambia County School District committee that 
recommended the expulsion of the two young ladies at Pensacola High School 
that "found" and "held" the pills, I find it interesting that the 
zero-tolerance policy has once again been attacked by the media and other 
concerned citizens.

In my mind, zero tolerance had little to do with this case. That is 
because, I believe, most citizens would agree that any student who brings a 
combination of pills to school that could be dangerous or even possibly 
lethal should be expelled.

Therefore, the issue turned to whether or not one believed their story of 
"finding" the pills, "giving" them to the best friend, and "holding" them 
until a plan for disposal could be decided on. Five committee members 
appointed by the district heard their story, as well as other evidence 
presented by the school, and not one of us even remotely believed the 
"finding," "giving" and "holding" explanation.

The issue of these young ladies being "outstanding students" also has been 
brought up by all the well-wishers. Fortunately for students who attend 
public schools in Escambia County, we do not have one set of rules for the 
"outstanding" students and another set of rules for the 
"not-so-outstanding" students, particularly in regard to drugs or weapons. 
And to suggest we give all 40,000 students "second chances" who bring drugs 
or weapons to school is ludicrous as well.

In the past three years, the expulsion rate in the Escambia County School 
District has dropped from approximately 300 to 180. I propose a major 
reason for this is that the zero-tolerance policy works. Students know we 
are serious about keeping drugs and weapons out of the schools. They have 
seen examples of their classmates being expelled, and they have heard 
repeatedly from their teachers and administrators about the severe 
consequences of their choices since the sixth grade.

In the few controversial cases that have come up in recent years regarding 
zero tolerance, the system worked. Committees heard evidence and made 
decisions, appeals were requested, and expulsions were, in some cases, 
overturned. In this case, attorneys rendered decisions that were the 
easiest and most popular and returned the girls to PHS.

The facts are the girls had the drugs and made a decision to keep them in 
their possession. Other evidence pointed to one or both girls knowing more 
than they were admitting. So to believe they were "too frightened" to turn 
them in or throw them away borders on extreme naivete at best.

Show me a system that will be more effective than the zero-tolerance policy 
in keeping drugs and weapons out of the schools, and I will be the first in 
line to endorse it.

Until then, I would hope that all the naysayers who think they know all 
about today's youth and about what goes on in the schools would take just a 
brief moment to think about what they are saying before they criticize 
something they know absolutely nothing about.
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MAP posted-by: Beth