DATE: Friday, November 28, 1997             TAG: 9711270051

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY WENDY BESSENT, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   81 lines

ROAD RULES: ZERO TOLERANCE REGULATES EVERY TWIST AND TURN IN THINGS YOU CAN BRING TO SCHOOL

COULD ``ZERO TOLERANCE'' - the attitude that penalties for breaking school rules will be strictly adhered to - help a troubled school like Woodrow Wilson High in Portsmouth?

``We have to have zero tolerance,'' says William Gibson, the former Wilson principal who recently was assigned to a position in school administration. ``Fighting, disrespect and opposition to authority cannot be tolerated. We must ensure that every student understands the consequences.''

Woodrow Wilson has been the focus of attention after unrest there last month erupted into a melee that sent 22 kids to the school nurse and three pregnant teens to the hospital for checkups. Some parents and teachers blamed the incident on lax leadership.

But zero tolerance means more than suspending students for fighting. Nationally, students have been tossed from school for everything from bringing aspirin to carrying beepers or cellular telephones.

Wilson High's drama teacher, Pamela Thompson, said she cannot use paper weapons in school plays, such as swords which are popular props in many famous plays. State law requires that schools expel students for a year if they are caught with a weapon (toys and lookalike included) while on school grounds.

Rebecca L. Drewyor, a former student at Wilson, was suspended last school year for going to her car in the student parking lot during lunch time to retrieve her lunch. She was given a three-day suspension for leaving school grounds.

``I think it was totally unfair,'' says Debbie Drewyor, Rebecca's mother. ``It's unfortunate that the good students get punished.''

Theresa Downs, parent of Western Branch freshman Shannon, says, ``Each case should be judged individually, and allowances made for extenuating circumstances. A senior student going to the parking lot to retrieve her lunch should not get the same three-day suspension as a student involved in a fight.''

``There is no reason why a senior should be suspended for going to her car to get her lunch,'' said Susan Bechtol, assistant principal at Wilson High. ``Every student is entitled to due process, but I am in favor of the disciplinary action the school board is taking. There should be some place to send repeat offenders, not necessarily alternative schools, but definitely some place.''

Jaclyn Walker, 16, an I.C. Norcom junior, says that, ``zero tolerance seems silly. Each < student should be judged individually and exceptions should be made.''

The zero tolerance rule allows for no exceptions to the school policies, and disciplinarians are hesitant to give in to the increasing number of outraged parents and students who are punished for innocent actions.

But school boards must ensure the safety of all students. If they back down on a rule, then what happens if a student is harmed? Who is to blame? Depending on the intent of the offender, most anything can be used as a weapon. Even such things as ink pens or combination locks can injure a student. That is a major reason zero tolerance is favored by so many school boards. No one wants to see a child harmed.

Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, a member of the Portsmouth School Board, said the school system's tough policies can help schools like Wilson.

``Most students don't bring weapons to school,'' she said. ``The students who do bring weapons plan to use them, so obviously the rule protects other students.''

Daniels said she objects to the term zero tolerance. ``Zero tolerance needs to be defined clearly so that students will understand it.''

Few students seem to want to abolish zero tolerance completely. In fact, many feel that if the flaws are ironed out, then zero tolerance could be really beneficial.

John Leszczynski, 15, a sophomore at Wilson, says, ``If a student has permission, then they should not get into trouble, but if a student abuses privileges or does not have permission to begin with, then zero tolerance should be put into effect.'' Ray Williams, 17, a senior at Wilson, agrees, ``Zero tolerance should be a little more lenient when a student makes an innocent mistake.''

Ricky Shedrick, 18, a senior at Wilson, suggests that students bring a note to excuse medication, markers, scissors, and the like. MEMO: Wendy Bessent is a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School in

Portsmouth. ILLUSTRATION: Color drawing by JOHN CORBITT

BRIAN RAINEY cartoon

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