Education for Toleration in an Era of Zero Tolerance School Policies: A Deweyan Analysis.

ZERO-tolerance school policies; STUDY & teaching of tolerance; DEWEY, John, 1859-1952; HABIT; PREVENTION of school violence; STUDENTS' conduct of life; STUDENT expulsion; SCHOOL discipline

The article discusses conflicts between zero tolerance policies in schools and efforts to promote racial, cultural and religious tolerance in educational environments as reflected by concepts of philosopher John Dewey. The author discusses how zero tolerance policies have been enacted to prevent school violence and promote school safety but can encompass a wide range of student conduct and lead to increases in school expulsions. He discusses how Dewey's views regarding habit suggest that tolerance should be developed as a habit in students and comments that tolerance can improve learning and reduce school violence.