News Of The Weird

'ZERO TOLERANCE' OFTEN ZERO COMMON SENSE

Americans continue to be divided over the wisdom of "zero tolerance" laws
that require heavy punishment even for slight, technical violations,
especially as applied to public school students.

In December, for example, the Bossier Parish, La., school board voted to
uphold the yearlong expulsion of a 10th-grade girl for "drug" possession,
specifically an Advil tablet. And in January, a Rio Rancho, N.M., middle
school student was drug-suspended for five days for possession of a Gas-X
tablet. National media attention eventually caused both school districts to
lessen the penalties.