Melony's Zero Tolerance Nightmare

Below Melony describes the zero tolerance expulsion nightmare that her son has endured at a high school in Florida. Several unfortunate realities are exemplified in her story. Zero Tolerance School Boards treat low powered unloaded BB guns in a school parking lots the same as a loaded TEC-9 in the school cafeteria. Its good politics and its simple minded who could ask for more!

There is no evidence that I have seen that suggests that expelling kids like Melony's son does anything at all to avert disasters like Columbine. However, there is plenty of evidence that Zero Tolerance Policies are very effective at hurting relatively innocent students who make a mistake. But again, Zero Tolerance is simple minded and it is good politics so its perfect for Zero Intelligence School Boards.

The other sad reality is that while some school districts have developed "alternative schooling options" for all the kids they are expelling, if your expelled son (or daughter) is a bright student taking advanced placement courses etc. they can't help you! The fact is in many states (perhaps most) they are required to provide a continuing education option. They may not volunteer information in this regard because it might cost them some money. But look into what your state law requires before you let them off the hook.

Melony did not want to name the school or its personnel because she still hopes her son may graduate next year and she is still hoping they will work out something that will enable her son to continue his studies. I hope for Melony and her son's sake they take some steps to mitigate the damage they have done.

Melony's Story:

My zero tolerance story is a bit different than what I have read here on your site but it is just as frustrating. My son is 16 years old. He has been an honor student since first grade. He has been praised by teachers and staff for his motivation, intelligence, respect and kindness to others. His report cards substantiate his high standing in both academics and school citizenship. He has never been in trouble since birth. He juggles school, football and work. He has managed them all, maintaining a 3.7 GPA.

The whole thing happened on a day that the coach told him that he didn't have enough time in the workout room to make the football team. My son was in disbelief. My son was upset but finally resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to be able to play football. My son was very depressed as he walked out to the parking lot and noticed his girl friend. He got into his car and drove over to where she is standing. On the way some kids where yelling out things which my son interpreted as threats. There have been a number of students attacked in this school parking lot. The most recent case involved my son's best friend. A kid jumped him and beat him (in the head) with a tire iron.

At any rate, my son kept on going to where his girl friend was. Perhaps in an attempt to appear unafraid in front of his girl friend, he shouted to the three kids; "You want a piece of me?" When he shouted this, the kids got up and started towards him. My son then realized he was out numbered 3 to 1. He started searching in his car for something to protect himself.

The second unfortunate thing happened ... a month earlier a friend of his had visited. When my son went to take him home, half way there, the friend pulled out a BB gun that he had taken from my son's room. We had purchased this gun when I worked in the Ocala National Forest. Other parents bought their kids 22 rifles. There was no way I would allow my son to have a 22 rifle so instead he got a BB gun (a very low powered BB gun).

When my son took the BB gun away from his friend, he stuck it between the seat and the console. He then forgot it was there. The day of this incident (a month later) the BB gun was still in the car. That is what my son grabbed. He barely took hold of it and started to let the other kids see it when he stopped and thought better of it. He immediately knew it was a mistake but in the pressure of the moment he didn't think, he simply reacted.

He then left the school parking lot and came home. He started telling me what he had done when we got a call from his girlfriend telling him that a retired policeman had seen the gun and reported the incident to the police. 30 minutes later two policemen came to my door. Because I still had not heard the full story, I didn't know what to think. My son knows that having even a water gun on school property is against the rules. I asked him why he didn't get back into the car and leave? His answer was, "I just didn't think. I didn't want to leave my girlfriend there alone, I didn't want to appear afraid, and I just didn't think."

Now I understand how this could happen because I know my son. I am proud of the way he generally handles himself, in a mature and calm fashion. BUT even I, his mother, knew what he did was wrong. Even adults are guilty of doing things without thinking. But adults also typically get a second chance....

My son would have never hurt anyone including those kids BUT he was at the wrong place at the wrong time and that one instance of stupidity has proven a substantial threat to my son's future.

With zero tolerance ... no matter what sort of gun ... whether loaded or unloaded.. whether intent to harm or not ... you are expelled! The destructive potential of this BB gun does not compare to the common but allowable tire iron. You could poke someone's eye out quicker with a pencil. I have personally shot my toe and it stung but didn't break the skin. The point of this is that I agree that what my son did was wrong no matter what the intention was. I agree that there must be an appropriate punishment for this action. What I am concerned about and what I don't agree with is the form or severity of punishment. Because of this action my son is expelled from school for 1 full school year. Now for most kids this just means you don't go to school, you go to teleschool. Teleschool is a way to still continue education after expulsion. That is, it is a way to continue your education for most any child in our county except my son!

Because my son got into trouble and happen to be above average in intelligence and in honors classes he does not get the opportunity to continue his education. The last 6 weeks of school was a nightmare. They told me that there were no classes offered in this teleschool that my son could obtain credits for. He has already taken them all. I then called the school and pleaded with them to help me get him through the last grading period. This turned into a potpourri of problems from what to do about tests, how do you learn Spanish without a teacher, and how complete a Chemistry course that requires lab work! It was completely impossible!

I went before the school board. They allowed me to come while they passed the sentencing on my son. I was allowed 5 minutes to say something. I tried to relay this problem that my son would not be able to finish his schooling because there are no provisions for smart expelled students. I tried to reason with them, asking why if they know that a child did not intend to hurt anyone would the punishment be to take away his right to learn. Why such a destructive punishment? Why would they not make the child do community service such as cleaning floors, rest rooms, mow lawns or any other task that would punish constructively rather than take away a child's education? Their feeble answer was that they do make provisions for kids who are expelled but my son just did not fit into those provisions. I was devastated.

I then got on the phone to try and enroll him in a private school. NO ONE will accept him because he was expelled from a public school. In fact, one school principle told me " he isn't going to take the risk" I cannot get help from the school system. I can't pay for a private school, what if I send him to his relatives in a different county? Guess what? They uphold the punishment that was given as well! I even tried out of state, same story! This is so crazy that I can't begin to put words to the way I feel. No one bothered to consider the situation, no one bothered to find out what the story was or look at my son's previous behavior and accomplishments. Absolutely no one cares.

They tell me it is right here in the book ... "any type of gun on school property means expulsion." Just because your kid doesn't fit into our program the law is still the law. I have no where to turn. I have to fight for my son's right to learn. Article 26, pertaining to public education, states, "everyone has the right to education." Even criminals that are convicted and are in prison have the right to education ... AND my tax dollars pay for their education! But, I can't get education for my son. Something is wrong with this picture! He is just a teenager that made one teenager mistake!

I don't know if I fall into this zero tolerance website but I have to try something. I love my son and his whole life is falling around him at the tender age of 16. He walks around the house telling me he needs to be taken to the vet and put to sleep. He tells me that for one instance in his life he just didn't think and for that one 30 second mistake he is going to pay dearly for the rest of his life.

To make mistakes is a part of life and you learn from them ... but to make a mistake and have it affect your entire life because of a statute that provides no flexibility or compromise is criminal. To error is human. I have not found a human yet who has not made mistakes. Sometimes we are caught and sometimes not but we all make mistakes. When does the mistake become a mistake in the past and not something that follows you for the rest of your life?

Thanks for listening.

Melony