Would support for unfettered discipline in schools and genuine zero tolerance policing reduce crime...?

Preacher

No. You are asking for perfection from a social group that does not understand perfection. Where you have zero tolerance you do not have love. Love by far does more to establish discipline than does intolerance. People will rarely revolt against love, but they will readily revolt against tyranny. Zero tolerance is tyranny---it is puting Nazism in the schools.

regerugged

No. If you allow teachers to smack kids around, they will. They may not be aware of it, but there is the problem of teachers taking out their anger an revenge on children. I went to grade school in the 1950's and high school until 1962. I got hit many times when it was not deserved. I still resent it.

Zero tolerance does not make sense to me. Thought, wisdom and reason should go into any decision about crime and the criminal.

I am in favor of video monitors in the classrooms and in schools. You know the old saying: "One picture is worth a thousand words." Show a mother how her child misbehaves and she has no defense.

bringmesunshine is back!!!

No.

st.abbs

No there are still teachers who "pick" on certain children.

joeanonymous

My parents were never hit as kids, they are wonderful people
I was never hit as a child, I turned out ok
I don't hit my child and he is a well mannered, thoughtful, compassionate little boy who listens and behaves well because he wants to please his parents and teachers.
I don't believe in using fear to control adults or children.

Zero tolerance does not work, we live in a grey world. Black an white policies lead to injustice.

Nazeeh

That should start within, teachers are teachers NOT baby sisters for your kids, just like you go to work the kids go to school and are expected to have manners and respect to teachers and all supporting staff. just like if you get write ups and you are constantly late at work you get fired, same thing at school should happen, I hate to say it, the educational system here (US) is the worest that I ever seen.

docie555@yahoo.com

If you don't teach your child right from wrong, let me tell you. You are in for a ride!

I'm Sparticus

Yes, but with a degree of caution and compassion. But unless young people are made to accept that social behaviour applies to them, we will have an army of mindless idiots running amok and causing misery to the majority. The police bit isn't so simple. After all not all laws are good laws and there is an ever present danger of the police simply enforcing government's will.

I*am*me

Yes it would. People would think twice if they knew there would be serious consequences!

trucker

the problem with zero tolerance is that we are not justified in having it.reason being is that the wild and recless youth have been created by a corrupt leadership where lies and deciete are tolorated to the full, drugs are, ponograghy is, and violence in the film media is there to gloryfie everything thats wrong, if you tolerate the teachers how can you punish the student. get rid of the multi million pound corruption industry who are the teachers.they must go first, then you are justified in retraining the pupils.

tallerfella

No. The problem is in the HOME. Children are not taught respect. Not for themselves or others. By the time they reach school age, it is usually too late..............

foxfire

I've felt for a long time that we have taken discipline out of our schools and it needs desperately to come back. I believe that the teacher who has the discipline problem needs to call in another teacher, assistant principal or principal to met out the punishment. That way, no anger is going into the paddling - strictly punishment for bad behavior. Say what you want, but in the catholic and lutheran schools they have less vandalism, less assaults on the teachers, less violence and problems. Why? BECAUSE THEY DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE. They don't just beat kids, they train them that there are consequences for bad behavior. They are taught to say "please and thank-you, sir or ma'm and to raise their hands when they have a question." The rooms are orderly because it is EXPECTED and REQUIRED. The kids don't come into school with drug, gang, beer, cigarette and other inappropriate school clothing. They have to tuck in their shirts and wear a belt to hold up their pants. EVERYONE is under the same rules and discipline is metted out on a case by case basis with another teacher doing any paddling. Result: The kids are more respectful and parents know what to expect and demand from their kids. In our public schools the parents come in yelling and demanding and threatening lawsuits. They use worse language than the children and show no respect for any authority. Correct this, and we can have better schools.

Zero tolerance is a way SOME of the time, but not always. If you take discretion away from the Police completely, then our jails would be filled to capacity in one day. It can't work, however, there have been times in my community where I have instructed the Officers to have zero tolerance to make a point. It usually works, but then after the point is made, discretion comes back. In this way, I let the community (especially when there is a teenage problem)decide what they need to do. If a few kids cause a problem that forces me to close the one and only park in the area, it isn't long before they realize, bad behavior reaps loosing privilidges. The kids put their own pressure on each other to behave so that the park stays open. That is just one example where zero tolerance can work.

We start kids out early in our community teaching them right and wrong. We also have a law called "parental responsibility". If a juvenile gets into trouble, we advise the parents and warn them that if it is repeated not only will the child face possible criminal charges, the parents will be cited and have to go to court themselves. That way, they understand (or most of them do) that we are serious about taking control of our streets and community so that people can walk the streets without fear of being bothered. Kids can play and not worry about being harassed or intimidated by others. It works most of the time and when it doesn't, then we enforce zero tolerance until it does.

It's called fairness and everyone being treated with the same respect. It's not utopia, but it does work! Even our local politicians know that if they break the law, they will be cited. Even I got a ticket for parking incorrectly and had to pay a fine, just like everyone else (which is as it should be). But when we have a society that tolerates improper behavior, treats some with "special favors" and others with an iron fist, then you are bound to have problems.

robdunf

Nope, the current policing of crime is adequate, zero tolerance would only put greater dangers on the police. If the police have guns, criminals getter bigger guns etc... Its the actual punishments that are a joke.

If I commit a crime against society I would not expect to then be protected by it, If I have committed an act that is deemed inhumane then why should I be protected by humanity and be given free bed and board, sky TV, use of a gym etc paid for by those I have commited a crime against.

As for the school thing, this again is down to law. If I didn't do my homework then I would expect detention, if I punched a student in the face and a teacher saw me then I would expect to be punished, I see nothing wrong with a cane across the back of the legs or palm of the hand you DON'T write with, but this is considered assault, and not punishment.

There is no such thing as beating the devil in, its all b*ll*cks. Children have the devil in them from when they are born, it is the upbringing that stops the bad behaviour and physical punishment is remembered by the brain much more than being told to go home for a week and "think about what you have done".

askthepizzaguy

Yes. But that will give the government more control over us.

What people need is self-discipline, not a nanny state.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: