Zero tolerance for logic

It's always worth paying attention when initiatives which are supposed to be "tough on crime" end up being just the opposite. With that in mind, kudos to Howard Hampton for pointing out the absurd results of Ontario's Safe Schools Act:

The law, introduced four years ago by the previous Conservative government, imposes automatic suspensions and expulsions for offences such as assault, drug trafficking or selling or carrying weapons or alcohol...

Hampton called the statistics "startling," noting the number of suspensions in Ontario shot up 40 per cent to 24,238 in the 2001-02 school year, the first year the law was in force.

The numbers have stayed that high ever since, even in the two years since Premier Dalton McGuinty was elected, said Hampton, who accused the governing Liberals of doing nothing to provide alternative programs for students who were suspended or expelled...

"Criminal justice has moved towards making sure only the most dangerous kids are dragged into the court system, and most other things we try to deal with in the community," McKinnon said.

"Schools are taking the opposite tack by throwing people out of their community for the most minor things."

Many of the suspensions are for offences such as swearing, she added, noting that the law leaves boards no choice but to kick students out instead of dealing with the problem within the school.

Not much to add...other than that it would be a plus if the governments implementing such an obviously-flawed policy were judged anywhere near as harshly for their actions as the children now forced out of school by the legislation.