Zero-tolerance policies of ANY kind. Kid punched you and you defended yourself? Too loving bad bitch, you're getting detention too.
My high school had a program that had uniors and seniors working with incoming freshman a few days over the summer. Give them advice and stuff.
The senior I worked with told our group basically "if someone starts a fight with you, beat them as much as you can because you'll get in the same amount of trouble either way"
Zero tolerance policies sound good on paper, but things like this show how bad they are in practice
There were also a few rules that weren't really enforced. In high school we were supposed to leave backpacks in our locker; we weren't supposed to bring them into classrooms. But few teachers cared, I only had one teacher care, and she only cared to the extent of making us leave them in the back of the room. I never used my locker all senior year.
I'm practically forced. I've stayed in my seat but only to be bitched at by my teachers.
Then do something about it
Tell him/her that forcing students to do it is illegal. chances are they simply don't know. Just be prepared to cite the exact case when they question you:
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
