Now the principal doesn't like Zero Tolerance.

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Cecilia Beaman, principal at Pacific Middle School in the Highline Public School District, found out just what zero tolerance is like when her bread knife was found by Transportation Security Agents during a pre-flight security screening. <snip> On the trip home, screeners with the Transportation Security Administration at Los Angeles International Airport found it deep in the outside pocket of a carry-on cooler. Beaman apologized and told them it was a mistake. "You've committed a felony," Beaman says a security screener announced. "And you're considered a terrorist." Beaman will be fined $500 for the felony infraction as well as being placed on a TSA security list. Her statements ring a bell with anybody who has read the reactions of students who have been hit with the zero tolerance bat.

Jerry's correspondent continues:

...continued in full post...

Let's see if I can word the proper ZT responses to her objections: 1) The rules are necessary to keep order. Of course you don't think it is right when it happens to you. The only people who object to zero tolerance are the ones affected by it. 2) It does not matter what your intent was. You knew about the rule and you broke it. 3) You do not get all of your rights here. In order to do our jobs and maintain a safe environment we have custodial powers over you. 4) You brought it on yourself. You had plenty of opportunity to avoid the situation and were advised about the rules several times. Don't forget that everything that happened is your fault for breaking the rules. If she had been a student at her own school and been found to have that bread knife she would have faced serious consequences according to the school policy : 1. The principal/designee shall place the student on emergency expulsion. 2. The principal/designee shall notify the parents/guardians and request an immediate conference. 3. The principal/designee may impose long-term suspension of ninety days unless expulsion or a lesser number of days is warranted. 4. The principal/designee shall notify appropriate law enforcement personnel through the district security office. That's just for a first offense. If it happens a second time the student is automatically expelled.

The vocabulary word at Pacific Middle School this week is "schadenfreude".