Hi Susan,

I might agree with you if there were a history of violence on the part of the young lady who sang the song. I believe it was unfortunate over-reaction because the elements of the behavior were not considered. Remember "Sticks and stones may break my bones?.."

I disagree that we don't need to know all the facts in this case. A zero-tolerance policy is suspect in that it is arbitrary by not taking into consideration its contradictory aspects.

The problem here is that the human element is cast aside in favor of a rigid arbitrary policy which may not even solve the problem. If the song was done in jest it was certainly inappropriate but if the young woman is punished through expulsion, she might be justifiably bitter about the experience. After all, it was just a song and not a gun. It in fact was not an actual threat.

The legal right in maintaining a rigid policy that does not allow for a discussion and a dismissal of the feelings of the violator particularly when she is a young person seems counter-productive to me. This authoritarian view of the law is one that can have a double-edged sword. We know what was instituted in the name of "law" that impacted on our history going back to women's suffrage and slavery.


The school officials are mirroring the hysteria of the times. the notion of girls being girls and boys being boys is somewhat suspect anyhow. These stereotypes have not helped to ease the injustice to which they were applied.

Susan, there has to be another way for a minor infraction other than a heavy-handed authoriarian solution to the problem. It's not as if she was bringing dope into class or threatening violence physically or with a weapon. Let the punishment fit the crime.

My view anyway. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to express it and open a dialogue on this issue.

Frank Hamilton




If you are saying that a zero-tolerance policy is not to your liking, I would refer you to teachers in your school district for further discussion of your school's policies and perhaps an opportunity to hear how school officials actually deal with threats in today's school environment.

Our society has taken things past the point when boys would be boys and girls would be girls. This is true not only in "tough" neighborhoods but in bucolic rural America, and pretty much everywhere in between. Schools have far more to deal with today than most people know.

~Susan