Just like Keith mentioned, oh how times have changed. When I was in high school, worse thing that could happen would be a fight and you get hit in the head w/ a "Trapper Keeper". (happened once during a fight between two girls!).
These days it seems like there's a shooting in Chicago schools every other day and we all know what's happened a couple of times here in CO.
I understand some of the no tolerance stances, but it seems that common sense has been replaced w / uber political correctness. All this makes home schooling a very attractive alternative.