Does zero tolerance work in schools?

Parentline Plus has been highlighting the problem of violence in schools and how it is being dealt with. We hear a lot these days about schools having a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards violence. I would offer a word of caution against this. I feel zero tolerance is becoming an easy way of dealing with aggression between children rather than a method of protecting them.

Whatever the cause, it seems that when one student physically attacks another, as part of its zero tolerance policy, the school will often take the position that the person being aggressive is automatically the one at fault. In my view this can be an over-simplification that could cause more problems than it solves, particularly when there has been bullying.

We say to adults that it’s acceptable to fight back – the law specifically permits adults to exert ‘reasonable force’ to protect themselves – yet we say to children that taking such action is not allowed.

I can entirely appreciate the dilemma in which schools find themselves. Society does not like children to be violent to each other and when violent incidents occur, we expect schools to take action. But it’s important to be sure of the underlying causes of such violence as well as being strong in opposing it.

I know of a number of cases where bullied children have reached the end of their tether and been unable to take any more cruel treatment. They have lashed out at those who are bullying them, yet they have been punished because of the school’s zero tolerance of violence. In these circumstances, the bullied child is in a precarious mental state and can be further damaged by this treatment.

In my opinion, schools need to be sure of the underlying causes of any violence and provide support where necessary, rather than resorting to the knee-jerk reaction of “fighting is wrong in any circumstances and will be punished accordingly”.

*The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Parentline Plus