Absurdity 101

The government educational system leaves much to be desired, in terms of results. This is unarguable, and even the greatest supporters of government education realize this. However, it not only fails with test scores, but concerning the way the system handles students, specifically young students.

"Zero tolerance" is a policy that always clashes with young people. You simply cannot treat all children the same for all problems. Coupled with a lack of communication and thinking, the result is disastrous.

TRENDING: Capitol authorities on high alert Thursday over 'real inauguration' threat

For your reading pleasure, here are more examples of the government's inept stab at teaching American school students.

In Grand Junction, Colo., a sixth-grader was playing a recess game when a student-referee called his ball out of bounds. So, the 12-year-old promptly shot back, saying his call was "gay."

The boy thought at the time that the word meant "dumb," but he learned otherwise when he was suspended for two days by the junior high's principal. According to the Associated Press, "Principal Jody Mimmack said the school uses a national curriculum called 'Bullyproofing Your Schools,' and that students have learned they cannot say things that might be hurtful. She said students are warned about such behaviors before they are suspended."

This is yet another example that proves that a "no tolerance" policy really means "no common sense" policy. Treating young girls and boys without any uniqueness, but rather a broad restrictive policy, is simply unrealistic.

Early this month, in Inverness, Fla., a middle-school student was handcuffed and taken to a local police station holding room. His crime? The boy had the audacity to jump in puddles in the rain, despite numerous calls by teachers to stop. A police officer on duty at the school saw the situation and quickly took him into custody, charging him with the crime of disrupting an educational institution, which is a misdemeanor.

The sixth-grade schoolboy was held in a cell, with access to other inmates, for over two hours. Unfortunately, it seems this is another pathetic result of the bloated bureaucracy in the educational system.

In El Paso, Texas, 12-year-old Sal Santana II, was suspended for three days. As reported by the El Paso Times, "[H]e stuck his tongue out at a girl who declined his invitation to be his girlfriend. School district administrators viewed the incident as sexual harassment, suspended him ... and are considering placing him in an alternative school."

The boy's mother was reported as saying, "This is crazy. It's a shame that a guy trying to be cute with a girl can get himself into this much trouble. I don't think he even knows what sexual harassment is."

Don't blame the school, however, because they were simply following the student handbook with the appropriate punishment, according to the school-district spokesman.

It's amazing that the most innocent actions of America's children can be twisted to bring on insane reactions. How about the kindergarteners who were arrested at their New Jersey school in 2000 for playing cops and robbers? They were charged with making terroristic threats – this is wonderful zero-tolerance at work.

Understanding and enforcing discipline in schooling is one thing, but calling on the police for a boy jumping in puddles? Please. Sexual harassment for sticking a tongue out? The kid just wanted a girlfriend. Suspending a kid for calling another boy "gay"? You better plan on suspending a large portion of grade-school kids.

The government system of education will always fall short of success in teaching until swift and radical changes come about. Until then, we will continue to hear of students being arrested on campus for minor "offenses" and the lack of broad academic success in high school and college.