http://abcnews.go.com/news/t/blogEntry?id=18264827 The above link was actually something I heard about on the free beer and hot wings radio show, and I had to check it out to believe it. I understand schools are under tension about security and teachers want to be proactive. Some are arming themselves if they feel comfortable with guns (some do, some don't) and/or schools are employing more school resource officers - which I think is a great idea anytime you have a mass amount of people in one area...but there comes a time to use common sense. No doubt, a vigilant teacher heard some "chatter" about shooting and took action which prevented the "shooting"....sounds great right? The problem is the shooting was about a hello kitty bubble gun, and the child in question was a 5 year old girl who asked another schoolmate about shooting her hello kitty bubble gun at each other. Regardless, she was cited by the school for making a "terrorist threat", and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation during the little 5 year olds suspension. Obviously, any normal child at 5 years old is incapable of adult reasoning and political sensitivities and was deemed not a threat to anyone in any way. Regardless, the school has implemented a permanent mark against this girl while the parents (obviously pissed at the schools lack of reasoning/common sense) is unable to transfer the girl to another school because of the mark against the child. Look nothing against the progressive teachers out there, but use some damn reasoning and common sense. Sure, "check things out", but if there is nothing there...let it go...this is a complete embarrassment for the decision makers involved!
I agree a clear case of a teacher overacting and a ham handed way of enforcing a zero tolerance policy.
Zero tolerance policies are absolutely horrible. They are a good way to ruin a kid's life unjustly. I had a friend sent to an alternative school for 6 weeks for having some unopened beer in the trunk of his dad's car that he happen to drive to school that day (he didn't know about the beer). Applying to college became infinitely harder for him. 0 tolerance policies need to go away now.
This! What is so cumbersome about handling things on a case by case basis sprinkled with reasoning and good old fashioned common sense???.. I'm not a big believer in litigation, but I sure as hell hope it applies against the school administers with this ignorant and misplaced response. There is way too much of this going on in this world.
The only issues is selective enforcement is the alternative "I like this kid . . .so I won't enforce the rules on him ooo . .. I hate that kid . . .so I will throw the book at him" Rocket River
That happens anyways. A justice system that doesn't involve fact-finding, intent and rationality is a poor idea.
