Zero Tolerance Reform

Third student dies from Ohio school shooting

Dr. Brian Schoonover — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:14:22 +0000

A third student died today from injuries suffered in a shooting rampage Monday at an Ohio high school, the Associated Press reports.

Update at 1:03 p.m. ET: CNN reported the latest victim as Demetrius Hewlin, 16.

The victims were among five students injured in the shootings at Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio.

The announcement of a third death came only hours after Russell King Jr., 17, was pronounced brain dead at MetroHealth Medical Center. The hospital notified the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office of the death at 12:42 a.m. today, The Plain Dealer reports.

“The cause and manner of death of this case are under on-going investigation and will be released upon completion,” office administrator Hugh Shannon said in a statement, the Associated Press reports.

King was among five students shot when a teenage gunman opened fire in the school’s cafeteria Monday morning.

A lawyer for the family of the teenage suspect in the shooting has identified him as TJ Lane and issued a statement saying the Lane family offers “their most heartfelt and sincere condolences” to the families of the victims.

In a statement to WKYC-TV in Cleveland Monday night, lawyer Robert Farinacci says the teen’s family is trying to understand how the tragedy happened.

Farinacci says the boy “pretty much sticks to himself but does have some friends and has never been in trouble over anything that we know about.”

Fifteen-year-old Danny Komertz, who witnessed the shooting, said Lane was known as an outcast who had apparently been bullied. But others disputed that, the Associated Press reports.

“Even though he was quiet, he still had friends,” said Tyler Lillash, 16. “He was not bullied.”

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/02/2nd-student-dies-from-ohio-school-shooting/1?csp=ip

Student Suspended for Breaking School’s Zero-Tolerance No-Hugging Policy

Dr. Brian Schoonover — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:32:28 +0000

PALM BAY, Fla. – A 14-year-old Florida student who hugged his friend was suspended as a result of his middle school’s zero-tolerance no-hugging policy, myFOXorlando.com reported.

Nick Martinez said he gave a quick hug to his best friend, a female student, between classes.

The public display of affection was spotted by the principal of Palm Bay’s Southwest Middle School, 74 miles southeast of Orlando. While the principal said he believed the hug was innocent, he brought the two students to the school’s dean, who penalized them with in-school suspensions.

According to the Southwest Middle School’s student handbook, students can receive a one-day out-of-school suspension for kissing, while students caught hugging or hand-holding are penalized with a dean’s detention or suspension.

School administrators said a committee of parents approved the “no hugging” policy years ago, and there aren’t plans to change it any time soon.

The school’s strict policy stipulates that there is no difference between an unwanted hug, or sexual harassment, and a hug between friends.

Christine Davis, spokesman for Brevard County School said the school’s “focus is on learning; therefore, we cannot discriminate or make an opinion on what is an appropriate hug, what’s not an appropriate hug,” said Davis. “What you may think is appropriate, another person may view as inappropriate.”

“A lot of friends are hugging. I just happened to be the one caught doing it,” Nick said. “Honestly, I didn’t know because I didn’t think hugging was a bad thing. I didn’t know you could get suspended for it.”

Nick’s mother, Nancy Crecente, said she plans to ask the school board to change the policy.

California High School Student Brings Gun to Class

Dr. Brian Schoonover — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:57:17 +0000

One of the biggest battles that school administrators face is keeping guns out of schools. The accidental shooting of two students in a California High School is just one example of students who bring guns to school on a regular basis, some with the intent of hurting others at school, but others who bring the guns to school because they believe they need the protection at school and in their communities.

The complete article can be found at http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/18/students-shot-california-high-school/

Harvard Civil Rights Project

Dr. Brian Schoonover — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:57:04 +0000

This is a well-researched study on Zero Tolerance Policies:

Harvard Civil Rights Project

15 Year Old Kills Himself

Dr. Brian Schoonover — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:30:34 +0000

I came across this incredible story and the conclusions they draw are so backwards I just had to speak up and tell you. Here’s the backstory…

The gunman, identified as Marinette High School sophomore Sam Hengel, was prounced dead by the county coroner this morning, Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik said.

My thoughts on this are that there were signs of his frustrations with school prior to this incident. As a school administrator, I see many students who are frustrated with school and it is my job to provide them with an avenue of expressing themselves in a healthy and safe manner.

And here’s another quote

His family described Sam as someone who was “active in the Boy Scouts, tae kwan do, loved his iTouch and was an avid outdoorsman.” He loved hunting and fishing, and “anything that included his family and the outdoors,” topics his classmates used when talking to Sam while he held them hostage.

Full article at ABC News