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If a student attacks a teacher should we dialogue? If a student yells F... You to a teacher should we say don’t do that again.

No. I’m not advocating that at all. If a student physically attacks a teacher then they should be dealt with appropriately. If a student uses foul language and yells at a teacher then of course appropriate action should be taken.

But what if a teacher physically attacks a student and the student acts in self defense? I actually witnessed this in my junior high. My homeroom teacher was having some sort of nervous breakdown in the class room and without any provocation, suddenly got up and started smacking around one of the boys and he defended himself and fought back. So I guess under “zero tolerance” rules the boy was actually guilty of hitting a teacher and should have been suspended and prosecuted even under the circumstances?

So now do you want teachers to have to engage in detailed surveillance? Then enforcement ends up in asst. principal-student- parent squabbling- “was only 10 seconds,” “but that’s his girlfriend,” “but other kids are hugging longer,” then the parent’s rationalizing all sorts of behaviors.

I see your point but that’s where common sense rules over arbitrary rules and zero tolerance enforcement.

Finally, I would urge every parent to seriously consider homeschooling. God designed the family to raise children not the public school system.

I don’t know what God wants as far as public education but if God gave us a brain then I would assume He intended us to use it.

I see your point but that’s where common sense rules over arbitrary rules and zero tolerance enforcement.

I don’t know how much you have dealt with juvenile delinquents and parents of delinquents but usually common sense is not one of their long suits.

In my 15+ years in education many parents complain vehemently about school discipline- until it is THEIR kid (especially teacher’s kids) then they scream - give the kid a break, arbitrary enforcement, dumb rules, the system is at fault, ...

I agree we should have common sense rules, clear expectations, and enforceable rules. Unfortunately some zero tolerance rules are needed as many of these things wind up in court.