When I traveled to China with about 100 other students my freshman year of high school I packed a knife in my checked luggage which was discovered by x-ray and confiscated by one of my teachers. This resulted in me being told I was probably going to be suspended upon our return. That was until we arrived in China and shortly after most, if not all, of the other students started to purchase lighters, knives, swords, fireworks, cigarettes, alcohol and the like. I immediately asked our district superintendent who was with us on the trip and was the one who told me about my upcoming discipline if the others would also be treated in this fashion. Realizing this would result in the suspension and possible expulsion of 75-100 students, most on the honor roll and heavily involved in school activities, she decided that maybe zero tolerance wasn't the answer. I also got the knife back, but a little over three years later when I was handed my diploma as she had kept it the entire time.