Want to know the downside to zero-tolerance policies in schools? Here’s everything you need to know.
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All institutions have zero-tolerance policies. Workplaces and schools have had them for decades. But do they help victims or hurt them?
In this post, you will learn all about zero-tolerance policies and how they fail victims, so that you’ll know the truth about them.
Once you learn all about these harsh realities, you will be better able to plan your strategy if a bully comes for you.
This post is all about zero-tolerance policies, so that you’ll know both the pros and cons. Also, you’ll know not to rely too much on them when a bully attacks you.
Zero-Tolerance Policies
These policies may look good on paper. But, in practice, they’re damaging to victims of bullying. Here’s how.
1. They don’t consider The context.
For example, a girl comes up and pushes you on the playground. You push her back to make her stop. Under zero-tolerance policies, you are not allowed to shove the girl. It doesn’t matter if she pushed you first.
Therefore, you get in trouble just like she does. These kinds of policies don’t harm bullies. Why? Because most bullies don’t care whether they get into trouble.
However, they hurt victims because they’re often the good kids who normally follow the rules. All these children want is to learn in peace.
Zero-Tolerance Policies:
2. They Punish Victims of Bullying for Self-Defense.
Self-defense isn’t only necessary, it’s your right. However, zero-tolerance policies deny you that right.
Moreover, they discourage you from defending yourself because you know that you’ll get the blame for it. You may get suspended or expelled from school when you finally defend yourself from a bully. It happens all the time.
After months or years of being mercilessly bullied, you grow tired of all the BS.
You’ve tried handling it through nonviolent means. However, bullies only take you for being a wuss. As a result, they only beat you more.
Finally, you can’t take any more. So, you get fed up and beat the living crap out of them.
Now, everyone’s surprised and outraged! Not at the bully who attacked you, but at you! But where was their outrage when the shoe was on the other foot?
Where was their outrage when you were the one getting pounded? Where was their humanity when you cried out for help?
These are the exact questions you should ask when others get angry with you for defending yourself. You have just as much right to be safe as anyone else does.
And you have the right to defend yourself anytime some creep tries to kick your butt.
3. They Punish Victims of Bullying too harshly.
When classmates are bullying you, you don’t need to be punished. You need help. But instead of getting help from a caring teacher. They suspend you and send you home.
This means that you get zeros for every day you’re out of school. Your grades take a big hit. All because you get blamed for a situation you didn’t ask for.
Zer0-Tolerance Policies:
4. Bullied kids become too afraid to tell adults.
If you know that telling on your bully will only get you in trouble, you’ll stay silent. So, why report bullying if it isn’t going to do any good?
When you tell a teacher, you already put yourself at risk. Your bully may bully you worse for “snitching.” However, when you risk getting into trouble with the school, too, then why bother?
You’re better off keeping your mouth shut.
5. They don’t consider the root cause.
Zero-tolerance is just that, zero tolerance. It doesn’t care who started it. It has no concern with whether you’re just trying to protect yourself from getting hurt. No. The only thing that matters is that you hit the bully, too.
It takes two to tango, yes. But it only takes one to lead the dance.
6. They make bullies sneakier.
Under zero-tolerance policies, bullies learn quickly that they must bully covertly. Instead of physical attacks, bullies may use malicious gossip to get under your skin.
Or, they may deliberately provoke you to react so that you’ll be the one getting blamed. Most bullies are smart. They can figure out ways to use these strict rules against you.
They fool teachers and principals with their deceptive charm. And they tell lies so believable that it’s hard for the staff not to take them at face value.
And if the bully does well academically or is good at sports, all the worse! Therefore, it’s you who gets the shaft.
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7. It breeds LAZIER staff.
With these kinds of rules, teachers and principals don’t have to try to find out who started the fight. They don’t have to consider whether you were defending yourself.
Therefore, they can throw the book at you without guilt.
How to Protect Yourself Against Bullies and Zero-Tolerance Policies
There are ways you can protect yourself from both bullying and zero-tolerance rules. Here’s a list of tactics below.
1. Put YOUR hand up and walk away.
If you see the bully coming and you know he’s going to punch you, put your hand up and walk away. It’s the best way to keep from being caught in that trap.
But what if the bully follows you? What if they chase you down? And what if they catch up with you and tackle you?
If this happens, all bets are off. Do what you have to do to defend yourself. If you have to hit, kick, and claw, do it! You tried to do the right thing. You tried to walk away, and the bully wouldn’t let you.
Therefore, screw their policies! Beat the living shit out of the bully. It’s the only way you’ll make them stop anyway. Fighting is a last resort, and this is it.
And, if you get into trouble, so be it. Your parents or guardians will back you up if they’re worth their salt.
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2. Raise Your Voice and say, “Stop!” or “No!”
You can also say, “Don’t you do it!” or “Don’t you touch me!” But be sure and say it loud. Yell it if you have to.
The reason you want to do this is so that a teacher will hear you. Also, you want bystanders to hear you. If you alert them, they may be more inclined to help you when you need it.
3. immediately Walk toward a teacher or a friend.
When you do this, bullies will scram. Most bullies won’t do anything that might get them into trouble. Therefore, you protect yourself from an attack, even if only for that moment.
However, be aware. In these cases, bullies usually come back later. And they will usually catch you when you’re alone. So, continue to watch your back.
4. Make friends with other victims.
The last thing you need is to be isolated. Therefore, find others your bullies have attacked and make friends with them.
If your bullies have given them a hard time, they’ll likely back you up. Especially if you all form a group. Remember that bullies run in packs. And they like to catch you alone.
This is how they use their numbers to scare you. So, shouldn’t you do it too? Bullies are cowards. They won’t mess with you if you have a group of friends standing with you.
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5. Use your friends as witnesses.
If your bullies attack you anyway, your friends will be great eyewitnesses. They can tell the principal what they saw so that you don’t take the blame.
This is another reason you should make friends with other victims.
6. document the bullying.
Keep a bullying journal and write down every incident in detail. You do this by using the 5W Rule. In other words, write down what happened. Also, jot down the bullies’ names and any nearby bystanders’ and teachers’ names.
Record the date and exact time of the bullying attack. Also include where it happened and why. Why? Because when you keep a journal, you soon record a pattern of bullying.
Moreover, teachers and school staff will likely believe you when you show them your journal. Even better, it’s admissible if you have to take it to court.
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7. Tell a “Safe Adult” in private.
If you have a teacher you like and who likes you, get them in private. Then, tell them what’s going on before a fight happens.
And be sure and let them know that you’re trying to avoid fighting. Tell them that you’re trying to follow school rules, but you need help.
When you do it this way, the school will know you are trying to avoid a fight. And they’ll be more likely to help you. They’ll be less likely to punish you if the bully backs you into a corner.
Here’s a script you can use.
“Hi, (teacher’s name). Do you have a minute or two? Someone has been repeatedly bullying me, and it’s making it hard for me to focus on my schoolwork. I’m trying to be the bigger person and walk away, but they won’t let me. I’m afraid the bullying is only going to get worse. Can you help me figure out how to handle it so I don’t get in trouble?”
8. Save any online texts, messages, or posts.
If your bullies are bullying you online. Save everything they send you. Then show it to a school official.
In conclusion
Zero-tolerance policies hurt victims more than they help. Let’s do a recap of how.
- They don’t consider the context.
- They punish victims of bullying for self-defense.
- Also, they punish victims too harshly.
- Bullied kids become too afraid to tell adults.
- They don’t consider the root cause.
- They make bullies sneakier.
- It breeds lazier staff.
Here’s how to protect yourself against bullying and zero-tolerance policies.
- Put your hand up and walk away.
- Raise your voice and say, “Stop!” or “No!”
- Immediately walk toward a teacher or friend.
- Make friends with other victims.
- Use your friends as witnesses.
- Document the bullying.
- Tell a “safe adult” in private.
- Save any online texts, messages, or posts.
You deserve to learn in peace. Therefore, know these facts, and you’ll protect yourself successfully.
This post was all about zero-tolerance policies and how they hurt more than help. It also gave you tips to protect yourself from bullying without getting into trouble so that you can have a smooth school experience.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. Punished for Defending Yourself: What You Can Do
2. How to Document Bullying: 5 Things to Record in Your Journal
3. Bullying Journal: 8 Reasons You Should Keep One
4. How to Stop Being Bullied: 14 Tips to Make Yourself Less a Target