When Zero Tolerance Fails: A New Way Forward for Our Schools

Our schools are in crisis.

Discipline numbers are climbing.
Students are disengaged, acting out, and struggling with mental health challenges.
Parents are frustrated, and teachers are overwhelmed.

It feels like everything is coming to a head.

The root causes?

• A rise in trauma and mental illness among our children.
• Social media amplifying feelings of isolation and anxiety.
• A zero-tolerance approach that punishes without addressing the why.

But here’s the truth: punitive discipline doesn’t solve the problem—it perpetuates it.

Restorative practices offer a different path.

Instead of focusing on punishment, they focus on repairing harm and rebuilding relationships. They center the humanity of every student, helping them understand the impact of their actions while giving them the tools to make better choices.

Here’s how schools can start:

1. Train staff in trauma-informed practices: Equip teachers to recognize and respond to students’ underlying needs.
2. Facilitate restorative circles: Create spaces for open dialogue where students, teachers, and parents can listen to and understand one another.
3. Focus on connection, not correction: Relationships are the foundation of trust and behavior change.

Our children are crying out for help. Restorative practices give us the tools to answer that call with empathy, understanding, and action.

Let’s work together to reimagine discipline as a tool for growth, not just control.