A few dozen school-age students joined a union-backed coalition in a protest at the Statehouse yesterday against "zero tolerance" policies that result in kids being kicked out of school.Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
"Hey hey, ho ho, zero tolerance has got to go
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The group which included some students whod been suspended or expelled from elementary school, held up signs reading give kids second chances and more help less punishment. Molly Shack with the Ohio Student Association says the worst stories shes heard involve suspensions at schools she says are underfunded and under-resourced.
These are not what the policies were intended for for serious fights or for weapons or for drugs. These are for kids being disruptive or being late. We have kids that get suspended for truancy, actually.
The group is supporting a bill that would overturn the 16 year old state law requiring schools to adopt zero tolerance policies, but it would still require mandatory year-long expulsions of students who bring guns to school.