School board 'has a pattern of getting it wrong' on discipline

Editor:

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Re Jerry Peloquin's May 3, "'Zero tolerance' policies don't allow for disciplinary discretion":

The Columbia County School Board has a pattern of getting it wrong. You have to hand it to them, though: They're consistent; they always stay on the safe side of the decision, never using any more judgment than necessary, opting rather to quote rules and regulations regardless of circumstances, intent or common sense.

Far be it for them to step out of their sterile world and be forced to justify a position based upon what is good for our children. That's far too dangerous.

Kids make mistakes. It is a scientifically proven fact that human beings in their teenage years cannot fully comprehend the consequences of their actions. The lessons we teach them about consequences at that age can stick with them for the rest of their lives.

My favorite example of this is the young man that came forward to let the school know he forgot his hunting rifle in his car. He turned himself in and was sent to alternative school. The several other kids who knowingly had their rifles with them kept quiet and got away with it.

Is the school board so behind the times that they don't understand the lesson this boy learned? It is sad that our school board feels compelled to use the cookie-cutter approach in resolving issues with our children without a focus on intent or the harm their approach can cause.

I don't think they do this with a malicious intent, it must be one of two other reasons: they don't know what to do, or they lack the intestinal fortitude to do it. Anyway, election time comes sooner than you think.

John Thomann

Martinez