Happy Birthday Zero Intelligence
Zero Intelligence is one year old, and what a year it has been. In the past 365 days we have:
- profiled 281 stories of zero tolerance abuses and other gaffs of scholastic administrations
- had 2189 comments from readers
- been referenced by 180 other websites
- had over half a million visitors
- Update: have 309 people on the email notification list for new content
This is nothing short of phenomenal and I couldn’t be more proud of this site’s success. It shows me that it is worthwhile to get this information out, that there is a receptive and appreciative audience and that it is making a difference. I couldn’t ask for any more than that.
What changes will there be in year two? Well, there’s no sense in messing with a successful system but there is some room for improvement. Coming up soon will be a site redesign with easier and more intuitive navigation and a software upgrade which will help me to combat an ever increasing comment spam problem. Content will remain the same - I will still be profiling cases of zero tolerance abuses as well as other gaffs by scholastic administrations.
Speaking of stories, a fair percentage of the ones I post are discovered and forwarded to me by readers. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate these tips. If a story is not picked up by a national newswire there is a very good chance that it will escape my searches. Even the ones that do get picked up can be missed if they don’t use the specific search terms I look for. Both the quality and quantity of the posts on this site are a direct result of the participation of the readers. Thank you and please keep up the great work.
Congratulations, Jim, on your first year. You’ve been doing a remarkable job - I just wish it wasn’t necessary.
Thanks for bringing to light many of the abuses of school administrators. Every post reminds me of my old school, and I hear the problem is only getting worse there.
I always thought school should be a place of freedom, learning, and making friends, and an opportunity to get ahead in life. Not the prison-like regiment I was put through.
I think more and more people are finally starting to realize that many of the complaints of schools today are not just typical whining, but legitimate criticism of real abuses by school administrators and a general suffocation of any freedoms students still have at school.
To all readers: spread the word. Zero Tolerance = Zero Intelligence.
I have told so many people about your site, and some of them think I am exaggerating or joking, but it is clear there is a problem. One isolated incident now and then would not make me concerned, but on a daily basis, you show there is a new abuse of power or insanity somewhere.
Keep up the great work; I know so many people appreciate it.
Happy Birthday, indeed! I have a love-hate relationship with your site, since reading it is sure to raise my blood pressure. Congratulations on a great year, and I look forward to a great year 2.
Have you considered adding an RSS feed to your site? I am getting more and more of my web content delivered to me in this manner.
I would send you a cupcake w/ a candle….(too much liability),so a simple “ATTA BOY” will have to do.
Happy Birthday!
I’m looking forward to another year on this site.
Congratulations! Perhaps the tide is changing, at least in some places. Here are a couple of articles on today’s educationnews.org (first page):
http://educationnews.org/
Why don’t you offer T-shirts on your site?
“GO TO SCHOOL, BECOME A CRIMINAL.”
“DON’T ENTRUST YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE TO ZERO-TOLERANCE NAZIS.”
Congratulations on the concept and for the work in keeping up this interesting site.
Congratulations. For 2005 it would be great to see more instances, and corresponding credit given by you and readers when school officials revise policies / issue apologies / etc. for ZT blunders.
In honor of your first blogbirthday, I’m going to link you on my website.
I hate zero tolerance policies. It’s Stalinism masquerading as education.