Can you believe this story? All because a school system created a zero-tolerance policy that allowed no room for 
any subjective reasoning.
I remember my first exposure to zero-tolerance thinking. We can argue about the merits but remember when IU Coach Bob Knight was placed on a zero-tolerance policy in 2000? First time he had an issue (lets admit, there was no way he was not going to get caught up in some controversy-after all he is Bob Knight!) Indiana University had no choice but to dismiss him. I suspect that ten years later, most people would consider this moment of lack of subjectivity to be the start of a long period of difficulties and loss of prestige for a basketball program and its reflection on the University. There was no choice but to fire him when the zero-tolerance policy was created and then violated.
Now we have schools that create policies out of the fear activist parents will challenge and sue the school, its administration, and staff if they are forced to use subjective judgement in the management of thousands of children/teens. Sure, the zero-tolerance approach provides consistency and a backbone to policy. Yet, just like the long term effects of the zero tolerance policy that Indiana University used in 2000, many such policies when enforced (as they have to be) create damage far beyond the original intent.
We seem to have come to a point in time where every decision requires a manual and procedure. People in academia and business are no longer encouraged to utilize their own good judgement to make decisions based on all the circumstances. In my opinion this way of thinking takes the zest of life and squashes it. The ability to problem solve and be creative now requires a policy or procedure.
I think history shows society’s greatest achievements came when the rule book was tossed aside and somebody was willing to look at a problem in a unique, curious, reasoned way. Then they created a solution to match the problem. If there was a policy, it was ignored.
Are you willing to ignore policy and do what is right to make sure your career or life is not stamped with the label of following a policy and procedure that puts a 12 year old Boy Scout in jail for 2 days due to zero tolerance enforcement? Are you the reasonable person who believes the world still needs subjective, creative, problem solving? If not, what would it take for you to become the kind of leader we need today?
