John Whitehead and John Mitchell, debaters ; Margot Adler, moderator.

Compact disc.

Six years ago, in an effort to convey a sense of urgency to the problem of guns and violence in schools, Congress passed the Gun Free Schools Act. The law called for a national crackdown on kids with guns but it quickly became a much broader effort in schools to deal with discipline problems, vandalism, assaults, drugs, sexual harassment, even cheating. School boards call it zero tolerance. Critics call it a deeply flawed policy. In the wake of the Columbine High School shooting, school administrators are enforcing zero tolerance policies that often result in school suspensions or expulsions for minor infractions of the rules. What rights do students have in these circumstances? Should school districts be required to provide alternative educational opportunities for unruly kids? What safeguards are necessary to ensure that the punishment actually meets the crime?

In : Pew Charitable Trusts records.