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Zero tolerance has to stop!

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

Today a story in the news has finally got me to blow my top! And if you are wondering why I homeschool my kids, this is just one of a many reasons. The public school system,  has many great teachers, including my parents and brother. but the administrators have gone off the deep end.

A six year old girl was suspended Thursday for hugging a friend who was crying and the school suspended her for a public display of affection. Last year, a student was suspended for bringing a gun to school. What violent gun was this? It was the plastic laser gun connected to his Luke Skywalker action figure. Another student was suspended for accidentally bringing aspirin to school that she didn't take the day before when she had a headache.

So this goes out to the zero tolerance morons in the public school systems. I'm sorry you were ugly and didn't get a date in high school and have to punish the pretty people who want to be hugged by their friends when they are sad. I'm sorry your parents wouldn't buy you the cool toys and bought you silly putty instead of the GI Joe you wanted. I'm sorry that your parents couldn't afford aspirin that would have been nice when you had a headache as a child, but DAMN IT, cut this out.


It is stupid and makes you look like a complete idiot in the public's eye.
You want to know why your bond measures for school funds don't pass? I'll tell you! The public doesn't like to see you waste tax payer's money on lawyers to defend yourself against your stupidity. The tax payers want to see the money get to the classroom where a teacher that has taught for the past 25 years knows a hell of a lot more about teaching than someone who has never been in front of a student and is more worried about public opinion than a child's education.

So get some common sense, move out of your mom's basement, and get a life! Bring common sense back to education and I promise our education system and our future leaders will be a lot better off for it! If a kid hits another student, suspend them don't have a mediation. If a kid brings a toy gun to school, have the teacher take it away and put it in their bottom drawer of their desk until the end of the day, like they used to.

Sorry for the rant people, but I am just so sick and tired of this and it just has to stop! We have to take control back! Just because 1 person doesn't like something, it doesn't mean that we keep the other 999 from doing it! I don't like tomatoes, but you don't see me trying to get Burger King to ban tomatoes from their restaurants.

OK, I think I'm done!

Comments (41)

Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker
Todd - That is pretty irritating. It is a tough subject though. It is really tough to decide where to draw the line.
Nov 20, 2007 08:29 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon
Ryan - I think we just need to have common sense! The world isn't black and white and that is what they are trying to make it!
Nov 21, 2007 04:51 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes
Hey...This is the world of Nancy P. , Hillary C. , Chuck S... and all the rest who will probably not only be taking away our plastic guns... but the real ones too.  Get used  to it or tell all your friends to start speaking out loud and clear like yourself.
Nov 22, 2007 12:41 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Michael - You mother is in the same boat as my parents and I can hear in your comments that she just can't stand it eiter. My parents didn't like the idea of us homeschooling at first, but they have seen the difference that it makes and are now behind it. Happy Thanksgiving to you to my friend. (No smoking of turkey's, we don't want any fires - lol)

Trey - It is crazy that we are trying to revert back to what England had back in the 60's and they had to find out the hard way that it didn't work there and we have to find out the hard way also. I do find it funny that politicians find it safe enough for us to not have to carry a gun, yet they walk around with 15 armed guards around them at all times.

Nov 22, 2007 04:44 AM
Joddie Roberts
Mountain Real Estate and Property Management - Spokane, WA
Your Spokane Realtor - Spokane, WA

Todd, it's sad, really....my opinion is that school districts are forced into "zero tolerance" because of all that has happened in the past several years.  I don't agree with everything but I understand it more, simply because no one really knows for sure if bringing a toy gun to school is a pre-cursor to bringing the real thing...and it does happen. 

We've had kids in grade school, jr. high & sr. high bring guns to school in the past year.  One student was arrested a couple days ago for having a 357 magnum in his pocket.  So many kids are "lost", have terrible living situations, bad relationship with parents, etc.  We have t.v. and movies full of abuse, violence and murder and little kids are watching this stuff and live in an environment where all of that is "normal." 

Yes, it can seem extreme, what school districts have to do, but we've become an extreme society.  As a parent, who has homeschooled, I have a responsibility to educate and inform my children.  Teach them acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior.  I have 5 boys; they like to hunt, play "army", shoot guns, etc. but I have to help them understand the boundaries as well.

Again, I don't agree with everything, but I understand.  I understand the fear of waking up one morning just to find out the kid you took the play gun away from decided to get a real one instead.

Nov 23, 2007 05:00 AM
Chad Baird
Re/Max Spirit - Dayton, OH

MY sons preschool asked us to talk to our son about his inappropriate behavior at school.  In likes to give all the females a hug at the end of the day.  In school its more socially acceptable for kids to hit and pull hair than give hugs???  

 My nephew and his "gang" of kindergarters got in trouble for building an arsonal of guns out of Legos and playing war. 

Nov 23, 2007 05:11 AM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
Todd- WOW, another homeschooling agent! I was reading Jason's family ties review about your post. I homeschooled 5kids and now our youngest who is 5. I could not stand the crap back in the 80's and it has become worse. In case people don't know, this is the beginning of the communist agenda. It always starts with consensus of release of liberties in a guise of helping the ones offended. But no doubt, there is an ulterior motive. I won't have any part of it! It disgust me. I just wrote a post about how now states are forcing drugs on children in spite of parents objections! Katerina
Nov 23, 2007 06:38 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

I was thinking that same thing this morning Katerina, but wasn't sure exactly how to put it in to words...

I suppose just saying it would have been the right thing :-) Thank you!

Nov 23, 2007 03:36 PM
#30
Michael La Fay
Meadow Lakes Supply Co. - Wasilla, AK

I did comment a few moments ago, but I was not logged in :->

That is EXACTLY the thought I had earlier this morning Katerina! Thank you for typing it out loud :-)

Nov 23, 2007 03:47 PM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer

Congratulations on the 'round-up' my Todd! You SOOO deserve it!!

And i couldn't agree more! We are slaves to political correctness and the whiners of the world!! But not you or I - as you well know!!! We don't drink THAT Kool-Aid!! ;-) 

Nov 23, 2007 04:05 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Joddie - I don't think playing with a toy gun is a pre-cursor to bringing a real gun to school. I played cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians all the time as a kid, but I never wanted to actually kill anyone! People want to take kids' imaginations away and they know don't know where reality and imagination line begin.

I watched a lot of violent things as a kid and so did my friends, but you know what, never did I want to drop an anvil on a friends head. Never after watching Die Hard did I want to shoot up bad guys in real life, I knew where the line was.

My friends brought guns to school almost everyday! Yes you read that correctly, my friends brought guns to school almost everyday, but when they got out of school they went hunting, never did anyone think of using them for anything else. Parents just need to talk to kids and let them play! What I think is happening is that we are telling kids they can't show any emotion or play or even fight! They bottle things up and then they release the anger on the world in ways that are un-imaginable to us.

Our freedoms as humans are being taken away and that included playing or showing emotion. I think we are starting to see the results. Let kids be kids and they will turn out fine, it has worked for the past 200 years and the change has happened in the last 15 years as we have been taking away kids rights one by one!

Chad - See that is just stupid! Let the kids be kids, we turned out fine and so will our kids if we just let them play! I crashed Hot Wheels into each other and you don't see me going out on the freeway trying to hit other cars head on do you? Let the kids play!

 

 

Nov 24, 2007 02:31 AM
Jeanean Gendron
The Address Realty - Redding, CA
Specializing in Selling Unique Properties
Todd, where will it stop. My husband can't see this post or he will flip. I agree that the rant is the only venue for things of this nature. I guess more and more we will see that home schooling is our only choice. Thanks for the post and I feel like a rant myself!
Nov 26, 2007 12:09 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public

Todd `  Wow, I sure have a new found respect for you and your family!  I have my children in public school to be the salt and light.  If it comes to the point where I am compromising them for someone else, though, I will pull them in a heartbeat and home school them, too.

We can afford the private schools, but I would still opt for home schooling.  Additionally, when inappropriate comments and topics come up, I will hold my child out of the classroom.  Thank you for your stnad and your integrity.  I will be cheering you on from out here in the "real" Oregon City!  :0 

Nov 26, 2007 04:27 PM
GA-agent.com Georgia Real Estate Directory
GA-agent.com - Canton, GA

Obviously a very engaging topic Todd...I've bookmarked the post because I wish to share it and the AR member comments with my wife...thanks?

Nov 26, 2007 04:47 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
It is stories like this that help explain why so many parents are homeschooling or working a second job to get their child in private school.
Nov 26, 2007 05:10 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Katrina & Jason - Maybe we should start a Homeschooling Agents group - lol

Sara - Schools are very frustrating! You just can't be black and white!

Jeanean - Let him flip out, we need more of it!

Sarah - It is getting crazy here in this state isn't it?

James - Feel free and I would love to see what your wife has to say! This was just making me mad and when I typed it out, I actually had to shorten it!

Randy - That is why I am in real estate! My family needed something better and I knew the only way to do that was to get involved!

Nov 27, 2007 11:16 AM
Dinah Lee Griffey
Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA
Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

Todd- There is not enough room for my rants. My daughter had a knife pulled on her, the same student wrote a death list with kids and staff names, he drew pictures that disturbed the staff. He told my daughter he knew how to kill her and get away with it. He was emergency expelled April 25th. The story made the national news. What the news did not report, and I do not know why the share all kinds of stuff- was that he went to school the first day, September 5th as though nothing happened. Anyone hear of Columbine? The school would not enforce my daughters restraining order. They refused to tell her teachers that she had one and when I forced the issue they told them but would not say who it was concerning!

I was told quote" That young gentleman has a right to an education."Well so do my kids in spite of them all.And if they knew the definition of Gentleman they would not have used it in this instance. I wish we had better options. We should have better options. My husband and I have decided to take this one on ourselves at this point. We have to educate our children because it is not happening in the schools.

Where is the balance? Kids expelled for hugs and asprin but not for actual violence! I refuse to pay another counselor because of how the schools choices have effected my kids.

Sorry about the anger. I am not close to over this.

Mar 30, 2009 10:30 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Dinah - Why don't you tell us how you really feel. (LOL) Schools have gotten so out of hand and they don't even realize it! NO THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION! If they are violent, then let their parents figure it out, not me because I have the smart kid who is well behaved.

Mar 30, 2009 11:00 AM
Corey & Erika Kahler
The Cascade Team - Kirkland, WA

Great post Todd!  Talk about missing the forest for the trees!

Mar 30, 2009 04:52 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Erika - Here in Oregon instead of spending money on educating our children the schools are spending their money trying to get the government to come in to every home school house for an interview to make sure our house is "Good Enough" for our children learning. Can you say "BIG BROTHER" I would test home school kids against public school kids any day of the week!

Notice how these are this is the same group that is fighting pay based on results.

 

Mar 30, 2009 05:56 PM