Richard L. Curwin and Allen N. Mendler

In the following viewpoint, Richard L. Curwin and Allen N. Mendler argue that zero tolerance policies are the wrong approach to reducing school violence because such policies require suspensions or expulsions even when not appropriate. They cite examples in which schools have ignored the extenuating circumstances when a student broke a zero tolerance policy, for example by bringing a gun to school. Curwin and Mendler contend that a better response to school violence is a “tough as necessary” policy, in which the consequences for misbehavior can range from mild to severe and where circumstances are taken into account. Curwin and Mendler are the coauthors of Discipline with Dignity and the founders of Discipline Associates, where they teach educators and administrators how to manage behavior...