Maryland Bill Seeks to End Senseless School Punishments

A Maryland state lawmaker has introduced a bill to stop schools from following zero-tolerance rules to punish children for harmless acts.

“We really need to reevaluate how kids are punished,” State Senator J.B. Jennings told the Star Democrat last week.

Jennings’ action was prompted by several high-profile incidents where young children were suspended from schools for actions such as pointing a finger like a gun. One student was removed from a school in Baltimore for supposedly chewing a pastry into the shape of a gun.

Jennings, told the Easton, Md., newspaper that the bill would prevent minor incidents from being made part of a student’s permanent record.

“These kids can’t comprehend what they are doing or the ramifications of their actions,” Jennings said. “These suspensions are going on their permanent records and could have lasting effects on their educations.”