IS IT 'ZERO TOLERANCE' OR 'ZERO COMMON SENSE'?

There was a recent news story out of the Houston area that I feel has
implications here as it relates to school districts' "zero tolerance" policies.

Last month a Houston high school student had an asthma attack. She had
forgotten her inhaler and was in danger of having a major attack, possibly
putting her life at risk. Her boyfriend, who used the same type of asthma
medicine, offered his inhaler to her. However, the school nurse reported
the boyfriend as providing a "dangerous drug" under the school's "zero
tolerance" regulations. The boy was charged with a crime and suspended from
school for three days.

As it turns out, the criminal charges have been dropped, but he has been
expelled from school until Christmas. This is an outrage! These "zero
tolerance" policies are a joke if one cannot use some common sense.

Here was a well-meaning kid, trying to help his girlfriend in danger for
her life and he gets expelled.

How can we expect kids to grow up and make responsible decisions as adults
when we take away their right to make responsible decisions in school? The
War on Drugs is a failure and is hurting those who had no intention of
being on the battlefield.

Greg Knight

Denver