Question

Thomas Paine "Common Sense" Discussion
In the text below, I want you to write a paragraph, for you to think of 2 major laws (whether in education or in society) that are completely unfair/unhinged/out-dated and explain why we would be better if we removed them or amend them.

This discussion needs to be in at least 6 sentences and you will need to respond to one other students response in 4-5 sentences explaining why it would be a good idea to remove/amend said law.

Answer 1

Thomas Paine wrote against laws and institutions that preserved privilege and punished people arbitrarily, and today we still have statutes that feel equally unjust and out of step with common sense. One example is mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent drug offenses: these laws remove judicial discretion, produce overcrowded prisons, and disproportionately harm communities of color without demonstrable benefits to public safety; repealing or substantially amending them to allow judges to consider context, rehabilitation potential, and alternatives to incarceration would reduce costs, lower recidivism, and restore proportionality to punishment. A second example is rigid "zero-tolerance" discipline policies in schools that automatically suspend or expel students for a wide range of misbehavior; those policies often push vulnerable children into the school-to-prison pipeline, worsen educational outcomes, and do little to address underlying problems. Replacing zero-tolerance with evidence-based approaches like restorative justice, targeted behavioral interventions, and teacher training would keep students in class, address root causes of misconduct, and make schools safer and more equitable. Both changes would move policy away from punishment for its own sake and toward rehabilitation, fairness, and stronger communities — goals Paine would likely have endorsed. Removing or amending these laws is not about being soft on wrongdoing; it is about being smarter, fairer, and more effective in promoting public good.

Reply to a classmate who argued that zero-tolerance policies are necessary to maintain order: I understand the concern that strict rules can seem to deter bad behavior, but zero-tolerance policies often strip teachers and administrators of the discretion needed to handle situations proportionally and constructively. Research shows that restorative practices and targeted supports reduce repeat misbehavior and suspensions while improving school climate, so amending zero-tolerance to allow alternative responses would likely make schools both safer and more supportive. Moreover, removing automatic exclusionary punishments would reduce racial disparities in discipline and keep more students on track academically. For these reasons, reforming zero-tolerance is a better way to maintain order than relying on blanket expulsions and suspensions.