Comments on: The Only Thing I Won’t Tolerate Is “Zero Tolerance”

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:16:37 +0000

@Thomas—It’s amazing, isn’t it, how reasonable people will speak absolutely only against absolutism, while absolute people speak absolutely only about reason.

By: Thomas Huynh

Thomas Huynh — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:19:23 +0000

Zero tolerance rules are made by people with zero backbone and intellect. Every situation is different but they don’t have the guts or brainpower to make better decisions.

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:15:03 +0000

@Ed—Amen.

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:14:53 +0000

@Penina—My issue with zero-tolerance is that inevitably, good people get ground up by them. Zero tolerance would work if you could draw a clear line between acceptable and unacceptable… but despite being able to clearly identify the extreme cases, those middle cases where the line would go get muddled, and good people tend to live in the middle. ZT policies are not only arbitrary and difficult to enforce in that middle ground, but they’re also polarizing: someone who gets nailed for what is universally regarded as a minor infraction still has to wear that scarlet letter. I grew up being taught “it would be better to set 100 criminals free than to knowingly incarcerate 1 innocent person.” To be successful, we need to accept a certain level of badness to ensure good people have the space to take risks and push boundaries… and we can’t do that in a ZT world.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:33:28 +0000

“Zero tolerance” is translated as either “always” (as in “we’ll always punish this behavior”) or “never” (as in “never do this”).

Two words in the English language that should automatically trip the alarms are “always” and “never.”

You’ve also introduced another element with this posting. Many of the claims by businesses and schools of being innovative, creative, encouraging, supportive, etc., are undermined by the reality of a punitive environment. “If you don’t do X, these will be the consequences.” In an innovating, creative, supportive environment, you should hear “If you don’t do X, we’ll take a look at another way to attack the problem.” It’s part of the reason that people don’t really fear failure; they fear blame.

How many decisions — in the classroom, in the office, in the home — are made to avoid blame?

By: Penina Sachs

Penina Sachs — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:32:01 +0000

I agree with you with regard to how these issues are being handled with children. They are still in the learning mode and these types of experiences could scar them for life. This is an over-reaction. We are losing good teaching and coaching moments that will guide them into becoming responsible adults.

However, I am strong believer in zero tolerance in the “adult” world — for harassment, for violence, etc.

Hope Elle recovers quickly.