"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a
little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor
safety." — Benjamin Franklin
Today America faces many frightening realities. Reports flood our televisions and newspapers discussing the most recent school shooting, instance of a teenager arrested for doing drugs, or breaking developments on the shadowy presence of international terrorism. But in our pursuit to establish and maintain safety, many of our governments and institutions go too far. Indeed, the policies of these institutions and agencies often infringe on our constitutional rights and liberties. We must never fail to balance today’s dangers in schools, malls, and other public places with the timeless and essential ideals written and preserved in our Bill of Rights. By refusing to consider each individual's personal history and the intentions that inspired their actions, zero tolerance policies deny the unique worth and dignity of every person.
The Rutherford Institute is devoted to the ideal of freedom and common sense. We have handled many cases defending the constitutional rights of school-aged children unnecessarily punished for violating unreasonable zero tolerance rules in schools. We have also assisted teachers and employees who have been unfairly punished under these sweeping policies.
