As a new principal at Howard L. Jones High School, I have many challenges facing me on my first day. Jones High School uses the zero tolerance policy when it comes to discipline, and that policy can create a lot of tension among stakeholders. My school is diverse, and that in itself is new to this school. The first problem I am facing is our district’s drug policy and the young lady that was sent to the office because of a mysterious pill that was found in her possession that supposedly is for allergies. My second challenge is our district’s policy on weapons and the young man that is in the office with a sharpened file. Lastly, my third issue is the policy of disciplining students with a disability, in the same manner as nondisabled students.
…show more content…
Zero tolerance lacks the human element and common sense. For example, my issue at school is a young man was found to have a sharpened file in his possession. According to the rules set forth by the district, the nail file which is five inches long is considered a weapon, and it does have a sharp point like a knife. As a leader, you have to take in the human element and common sense. It is important to consider the student and their record and behavior at school. I would sit down with the young man and talk to him about why he had the file and why it was sharpened. Furthermore, this particular student has ADHD, and that raises a red flag in my opinion that needs to be addressed. Students with ADHD are at risk for different problems such as depression, lack self-confidence or self-esteem, unpopular with peers, and find it hard to make friends (Friend & Bursuck, 2009). The zero tolerance, one size fits all discipline policy, does not fit in this situation. The fact that the nail file was sharpened does concern me, and I would meet with parents and the SRO, and then I would suggest the proper …show more content…
In the city of Chicago, African American’s make up 41.2% of the city’s public school students, and they account for 71% of expelled students and nationally, according to a report by the Department of Education, African-American students are more than three times as likely to be suspended or expelled (Ward, 2014). My goal as a new principal would be to meet with other administrators around the district and get their opinions and perspectives on zero tolerance. I would point out other statistics to my colleagues such as Apex High School in North Carolina. The student body at Apex High School is approximately 74% white, yet according to the Department of Education’s Civil Rights data collection, the percentage of black students receiving in-school suspensions is ten times the percentage of white students (Ward, 2014). As principal of Howard L. Jones High School, I want a positive culture and do right by the students and zero tolerance is not the answer. A change in our district discipline needs to
Zero tolerance lacks the human element and common sense. For example, my issue at school is a young man was found to have a sharpened file in his possession. According to the rules set forth by the district, the nail file which is five inches long is considered a weapon, and it does have a sharp point like a knife. As a leader, you have to take in the human element and common sense. It is important to consider the student and their record and behavior at school. I would sit down with the young man and talk to him about why he had the file and why it was sharpened. Furthermore, this particular student has ADHD, and that raises a red flag in my opinion that needs to be addressed. Students with ADHD are at risk for different problems such as depression, lack self-confidence or self-esteem, unpopular with peers, and find it hard to make friends (Friend & Bursuck, 2009). The zero tolerance, one size fits all discipline policy, does not fit in this situation. The fact that the nail file was sharpened does concern me, and I would meet with parents and the SRO, and then I would suggest the proper …show more content…
In the city of Chicago, African American’s make up 41.2% of the city’s public school students, and they account for 71% of expelled students and nationally, according to a report by the Department of Education, African-American students are more than three times as likely to be suspended or expelled (Ward, 2014). My goal as a new principal would be to meet with other administrators around the district and get their opinions and perspectives on zero tolerance. I would point out other statistics to my colleagues such as Apex High School in North Carolina. The student body at Apex High School is approximately 74% white, yet according to the Department of Education’s Civil Rights data collection, the percentage of black students receiving in-school suspensions is ten times the percentage of white students (Ward, 2014). As principal of Howard L. Jones High School, I want a positive culture and do right by the students and zero tolerance is not the answer. A change in our district discipline needs to