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All this is basically going to teach the child is that he can't depend on grown-ups to use common sense and that you can't respect an idiot. Seriously, one of the main reason that kids grow up with a lack of respect for the authority figures in their lives is because kids have a very strong sense of "fair play" and are outraged when they know that what is being done to them is unfair and they can't do anything about it because the person doing it has the authority over them.
As a society, we are losing all elements of COMMON SENSE! He is a 9 year old. 9 year olds play with toy soldiers and toy guns!
Tell that to the family of Kayla Rolland - a girl who was shot in the face by a fellow first-grader. Which, if you don't know the case, the boy who shot her was 6.
Or this story (http://wcbstv.com/local/gun.nj.school.2.597476.html - broken link), of a 9-year old who brought a real loaded gun to school.
I had toy soldiers with toy guns when I was 9. Did I bring them to school? No.
People can say "Zero tolerance means zero common sense" until they are blue in the face. But with every new story of a school "over reacting" about things like butter knives, 2-inch guns, etc - there's stories you don't hear where the "over reaction" was completely warranted. ((I can describe three that happened in just my senior year of high school that never made it to the news))
I will agree that the boy with the toy ax should be requested to not bring that in, either.
The age makes no difference. I could pull up article after article of children 9 years of age and younger who are criminals. Not to mention, if you need a link to the story of the 6-year old who shot and killed a student, I'll provide it. Plus, I already posted an article about a 2-inch deadly gun.
So, regardless of the age or size of the toy, where did the school over-react? What specific action(s) were crossing the line?
No need for emotional outbursts attacking the school and calling them stupid. Besides, the only side we're recieving in this story is the upset mommy's. Can't exactly make a true judgment on the matter until I hear the other side.
((And hey, the mom could even use this opportunity to change the rules by appealing to the school bard. Imagine that.))
EDIT TO ADD:
I found another link to the story that has a bit of the school's position on the matter.
The DOE's discipline code says that all imitation weapons are prohibited, but, before considering suspension, it is up to a principal to decide whether a fake gun looks realistic, by evaluating the color, size, shape, appearance and weight.
A message left for Principal Evelyn Matroianni was not returned. However, Margie Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the DOE, said there is a no-tolerance policy when it comes to fake guns because they are considered harmful to the school community.
"Toy guns are not allowed in schools," she said, adding that a conference was held among the principal, the parents and the student about the topic.
So, the boy with the ax should have had a parent-student-principal meeting too. But, again, it shows that the school followed protocol.
Man, the world is a changed place. When I was 16 I brought a real (semi auto) AK-47 to school as part of my Vietnam War project in history class, with OKs from the administration. The teacher was honestly thrilled about it (he served in Vietnam) and I got an A.
Kids today are really missing out on a lot. We're doing them a disservice by keeping them so sheltered and trapped under stupid, fanatically enforced rules. They aren't any safer for it either.
Tell that to the family of Kayla Rolland - a girl who was shot in the face by a fellow first-grader. Which, if you don't know the case, the boy who shot her was 6.
I can provide YOU with stories of a 7 or 8 year old picking up a rock and killing another kid - do we now prohibit rocks at school? Or, how about Boots - Western boots? Yep, another weapon.
I'm sorry - we are sheltering our children to a dangerous level IMO
As a society - we can do NOTHING to eliminate every danger out there. We can make people FEARFUL of everything though -
Educate our kids about what they can and cannot bring to school. WE NEED THE PARENTS involvement - and in the cases you cited - there was little of this. The problem is at home Rita.
Frankly - I want the shooting classes back in schools as we had them - it taught people RESPECT for a firearm.
Take a 6 / 7 (and older) to a morgue - let them see dead people - make them watch an autopsy. Don't hide this from kids!
Take kids that have gotten into trouble to a high security prison - turn them over to the inmates for a while - it works Rita!
Wouldn't surprise me if the Principal thought it was a real working gun. I often think that upper-Administration in schools are from another planet.
Absolutely assinine.
If you know the rules, and you knowingly break the rules, you pay the consequences.
Pretty simple, isn't it.
Got a gripe? Take it up with the school board.
Until then, you follow the rules.
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