bill2 0 #1 February 9, 2002 I got this article off of the Washington Post Online. Hard to believe.By Marc FisherThursday, February 7, 2002; Page B01 RICHMONDBradley Marrs realized the folly of "zero tolerance" when a boy at his children's middle school was suspended after being caught with a plastic knife that his mother -- a teacher! -- had packed with the cake he brought to school to celebrate his birthday.Dwight Jones grew angry about zero tolerance when he saw children caught in possession of over-the-counter medications -- with their parents' permission -- "being treated as if they were carrying a gun."Marrs and Jones have the advantage of being able to do something about the blind, unthinking punishment of children who pull pranks, mistakenly bring a nail clipper to school or try to protect themselves when assaulted. Marrs and Jones, members of Virginia's House of Delegates, last week tried to persuade fellow lawmakers to add a smidgen of sense to zero tolerance laws.School systems "have basically outlawed everything," said Marrs, a Republican from Richmond. He told the House Education Committee of a high school boy -- an honor student -- who was suspended for five days for fighting off an attacker. "He did nothing wrong, and he got suspended," Marrs said.Marrs sought no revolution; he proposed only that exceptions to the zero tolerance rule be carved out for students who defend themselves, children caught possessing a plastic cafeteria utensil without threatening or attacking others and students who possess a nonprescription medication with a parent's permission. "On any given day, any number of teenage girls are walking around with a Midol in their pocketbook," Marrs said. A crime worthy of expulsion?But a procession of lobbyists representing principals and school boards defended zero tolerance as our last line of defense against terrible children eager to turn schools into war zones. A member of the Henrico County School Board, desperate to save a system that teaches children the opposite of discretion, even played the terrorism card, arguing to lawmakers that plastic utensils are a primo tool for budding hijackers. Marrs's bill died in a 13 to 8 vote.Jones, a Democrat from Richmond, was even more modest: His bill would merely spell out when a school board could use its discretion to back off from a zero tolerance punishment, permitting school officials to consider the seriousness of an infraction and the child's past behavior."Why do we have well-trained educational leaders and then take away their ability to use their training to make a decision?" Jones asks. "A conservative agenda leans toward black-and-white solutions, but all of us who've raised children know there's nothing that's black or white."Actually, the zero tolerance issue cuts across ideological lines. Arlington Democrat Karen Darner, as liberal as they come here, voted against Marrs's bill, as did Fairfax Republican Gary Reese, who's as far to the right as any Northern Virginia delegate.Jones's bill won't go anywhere either; the education establishment will do whatever it takes to cling to its total war arsenal against the children they view as dangerous enemies."Nobody will touch the zero tolerance policy," Jones has concluded.Which is more than a shame, because children like Benjamin Ratner are being treated with utter idiocy. When Ben was in eighth grade at Blue Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County in 1999, he was suspended for four months because he took a knife away from a schoolmate who told him she was considering suicide.The school board called Ben's action "noble" and "admirable." Then they threw him out of school. Zero tolerance, kid; you had the knife.Ben's family sued to reverse the insanity -- and lost. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that federal courts have no say on zero tolerance policies, but Judge Clyde H. Hamilton praised Ben's "common sense" and called him "the victim of good intentions run amuck.""The panic over school violence," Hamilton wrote, "has caused school officials to jettison the common sense idea that a person's punishment should fit his crime."Alas, the judge concluded he could not do anything about this; restoring sanity is the job of the legislature. God save us all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #2 February 9, 2002 LOOK ALL YOU DUMBASS ASS POLITICIANS.......FORGET THAT STUPID PLASTIC FORK YOUR ALL BITCHING ABOUT .......ALL i NEED IS A SHARP #2 PENCIL TO GAB IN YOUR F#CKING THICK HEADS AND THAT WOULD DO THE TRICK!!!!!! I mean come on people this is why our shcool systems are so fucked up because of these dumbass laws makers. I would be more afraid of someone coming at me with a sharp pencil than a plastic knife.....so now what,,, we all resort to finger paint ???? FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!!!jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #3 February 9, 2002 You know that this country is going to shit, right? Ok, just making sure. *rolles eyes*I am going to be entering this type of realm by being a teacher. Oh well, I hope that I dont have to use an eraser, because I could throw that at someone and give them brain injuries. *sigh*This country is going to hell. I'm moving to Europe.JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #4 February 9, 2002 QuoteThis country is going to hell. I'm moving to Europe.They already went to hell............Just move up to canada so you can start our brainwashing skeem and start the take over of there no gun having country!!!!!................jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallfreak 0 #5 February 9, 2002 QuoteThis country is going to hell. I'm moving to Europe.Tee-hee...TripleFBOOBIES, BOOBIES, BOOBIES, BOOBIES...(Whoops, I said it again...Tee-hee...) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #6 February 9, 2002 No man. I've been to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, and they are all awesome. Maybe I'll go to Sweden and stay with my buddy who lives 20 min from a DZ. Hmm.....JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallfreak 0 #7 February 9, 2002 bill2,1. bottle of alcohol.........$1.492. roll of paper towels.....$0.973. pack of cigarettes......$3.274. 1/2 oz. of(well, I'll forget this one)$ - never mind5. wood polish(wax for walls).............$2.976. hospital bill(wash bourbon out ofnose, eyes, ears)......$382.00Total........................$390.70TripleF BOOBIES, BOOBIES, BOOBIES, BOOBIES...(Whoops, I said it again...Tee-hee...) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #8 February 9, 2002 "I've been to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, and they are all awesome"A socialist huh....so move there and stop breathing my air!!! "I only have 125 jumps, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #9 February 9, 2002 Hey...If ran correctly,, Socailism is one of the best forms of goverment IF RAN CORRECLTY!!jason(dawing flame proof suit)!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #10 February 9, 2002 "Socailism is one of the best forms of goverment IF RAN CORRECLTY!!"and that is..........Where? BTW whats your full name address and social? "I only have 125 jumps, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #11 February 9, 2002 OH YEAH!!!!! I"M NOT SCARED OF YOU MY NAME ADRESS AND SOCAIL IS............................................................Hey....would you look at that...I got another hang nail...boy dont ya hate those!!!!!!!! ....Now what was I saying? jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawk 2 #12 February 9, 2002 yep id have to agreein theory, to bad humans are human lol good theorys never work out when you add ppl(o)(o) i got a iq of 189 so there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #13 February 9, 2002 Yup. Another reason why I'm so very glad my kid graduates from high school in June. God forbid he might be exposed to such things as Midol and plastic cutlery in his fellow student's backpacks.pull and flare,lisa--What would Scooby Doo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikefarmer 0 #14 February 9, 2002 QuoteHey...If ran correctly,, Socailism is one of the best forms of goverment IF RAN CORRECLTY!!Now, THAT is one of the sickest things I've heard in a while. I guess there's always welfare if I want to live off of the fruits of your labor.Missy the 225 lb. Meat Missile Sky World Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #15 February 9, 2002 Sure Socialism will work in the real world...Hey, I've got this *great* bridge I want to sell you...it's in New York, by Brooklyn...Socialism is a fun theory, yeah, well, hell according to Marx, we're no where near the state of evolution (economically/socially) to even consider becoming socialist, in the true sense. Looking back at history and the amount of time it took for each evolution to occur. Hell, look how long the Feudal system was around and THAT sucked!The beatings will continue until morale improves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #16 February 9, 2002 QuoteTHAT is one of the sickest things I've heard in a whileNo.......I'd have to say hearing about the DONKEY PUNCH was the sickest thing I've heard in a while!! jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #17 February 9, 2002 You know, when I was in high school (a really short time ago, actually) most of the guys had pocket knives. Hell I always carry a knife (like American Express, never leave home without it...) and carried one straight through high school. No one gave a flying shit. Most of the knives carried were Swiss Army knives or Buck knives. A few people (like myself) prefer tactical folders and that's what we had. Maybe it helped that I was in a smaller Texas school and not a HUGE school in a major city...The beatings will continue until morale improves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #18 February 9, 2002 Quotehearing about the DONKEY PUNCH was the sickest thing I've heard in a while!! Yeah, that's pretty bad...The beatings will continue until morale improves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #19 February 9, 2002 QuoteSure Socialism will work in the real world...Hey, I've got this *great* bridge I want to sell you...it's in New York, by Brooklyn...So I supose you don't drive on public roads? Complete socialism has never been tried, and never will be tried. Just like complete capitalism has never existed, and never will. Pure capitalism has never existed because there's always been market regulation, tax laws, etc. Pure capitalism only exists in a society lacking government. Pure socialism only exists in a society dominated by government.Public roads are a great example of a socialist policy. The public pays for something that establishes a greater good. Public education is the same - but that's pretty fucked up in the states right now. In pretty much every other country in the word, there's also public health.In every country the list of programs that are work well is different. In Canada, public health can be said to be in the same state as public education in the states - kinda fubar. Canadian public education is in excellent shape, by US standards.Americans often have a polar reaction to the word socialist, but most Americans are confusing socialism with communism. If you insist that socialism is UnAmerican, well - I hope you want private roads._Am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawk 2 #20 February 9, 2002 yer thats was my point in another topic we all live in a degree of socialism no matter how hard we deny it. No form of pure government will work purly because we are humans to many ppl expecting to many different things we all have differing views on different things(o)(o) i got a iq of 189 so there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusV 0 #21 February 9, 2002 Can please anyone explain to me what socialism has to do with Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, or other european countries?God be with ye ;-))Thanks Marcus--Perfect speed, my son, is being there. - Jonathan Livingston Seagull Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawk 2 #22 February 9, 2002 nothen though they do all have a form of governent :)(o)(o) i got a iq of 189 so there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #23 February 9, 2002 Good question, Marcus. I just said that those countries are awesome and I would love to live there. 'Nuff said. JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallfreak 0 #24 February 9, 2002 QuoteI just said that those countries are awesome and I would love to live there. 'Nuff said.Bwaaaahahaha!!!! What happened to the patriotism you talked so much about??? Lol....TripleF BOOBIES, BOOBIES, BOOBIES, BOOBIES...(Whoops, I said it again...Tee-hee...) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #25 February 9, 2002 A few months back I posted another story about this zero tolerance bullshit. The police were called in because a six-year old boy had folded a piece of paper into an L shape and was pointing it at other kids & pretending it was a gun. I swear I'm not making this up.It was also on the evening news, and they showed the fuckhead teacher defending the zero tolerance policy & saying that calling in the police was the right thing to do!Do we really want people who are this stupid teaching our kids??Speed Racer"Fill your hand, you son-of-a-bitch!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
