Handbooks, policy books, and district board policies, are all made for one reason, to protect the students, staff, and all and everything involved in a school setting. These books and rules are put in place because at some point they were needed, at some point someone needed that particular guidance to either keep being a leader, or keep from something bad happening again. For example, in this case, where there is a zero tolerance for any truancies, weapons, physical assault or sexual harassment. All of these rules are put in place for a reason.
In the case of Rancho Elementary school, that is one thing that we need to remember, that they have adapted a zero tolerance rule. That means, no matter what, the safety of the students are being put first. That no matter what, the students are being cared for. The staff is being cared for, and so in anyone else that works at the school. This shows that the school really cares about their safeguard of values, because it is valuing the school. This also shows that the school is taking all the students, no matter what demographic or diverse group the students are from, they are being treated the same, and that is zero tolerance for any of the actions.
Rancho Elementary school is a school that has adapted this policy, along with adapting the welcoming of all students. Making the school a trust worthy place. Along with this, is the high expectations that the students are going to be students that are held accountable? In this case, students going beyond, like the student in the class did which is where the problem comes in. You have a student who has gone above and beyond a school project, bringing in an example of something that has to do with a project; unfortunately, that something is a weapon.
As a school principal, you could sit here and consider things. For example, was it technically a weapon? Why was it brought to school and what was it used for? What actions were taken by the teacher and why? Does the student know that this was not allowed? Do the parents know the student took the weapon? Many different questions need to be answered for a case like this. However, with the new policies that are in place, the fact that it was a weapon, the fact that a student could have used it against somebody else, but most importantly, we always go back to the no tolerance policy, and as the school principal, there is no choice but to follow that policy.
This is a hard case because as a principal, you may believe that the child was just bringing a piece of history into the classroom, but you have to think of all the things that could have gone wrong. Another reason is the fact that as a principal, your hands are really tied to do what the policy states. Let us say a parent found out, or an administrator found out that you did not follow the policy and guidelines, not only can your job be in jeopardy but so can your license. It is ultimately better to follow the policies, because as a leader, you want to do just that, lead.