Stand back! Get the principal on the line! Call the cops! The kid’s got a broken pencil sharpener! (Hilton Head, S.C. Island Packet, Sept. 11) (more, principal’s letter, police report in PDF — via Never Yet Melted).
Stand back! Get the principal on the line! Call the cops! The kid’s got a broken pencil sharpener! (Hilton Head, S.C. Island Packet, Sept. 11) (more, principal’s letter, police report in PDF — via Never Yet Melted).
34 Comments
Remove the word “sharpener” from this story and you could still have the same outcome. Google the terms pencil and injury and you will find plenty of incidents. This kind of stuff needs to be kept quiet by the administrators. Shame on them for letting it get this public.
Jackasses!
That is quite impossible, as they have already been completely and utterly unreasonable. Psychotic is a better description.
The police report says that it was obvious (from his crying) that the suspect (sic) understood the magnitude of his crime.
I wonder if being grilled by a heavily armed (I assume SWAT gear) soldier had anything to do with his crying?
Personally, it sounds like the boy got off easy. The same people whining about how this boy was brutalized for an honest inconsequential mistake would be the same people carping about banning all defective pencil sharpeners after some disaffected youth stabbed 20 classmates.
I had to read it all again. They must have deleted the part about the kid also having pipe bombs, sawed-off shotguns, grenades, and a video-taped manifesto. Thankfully, a vigilantly attentive teacher noticed the threat and took the necessary steps the neutralize it thereby earning a medal and preventing a massacre – or at least multiple lawsuits.
Can’t tell who nailed it better, VMS or Deoxy. The appropriate reaction would have been to tell the boy that trying to use the broken pencil sharpener might have resulted in his own injury and it should be thrown away, then throw it away. A good lesson that may have resulted in benefits down the road. Instead, they chose to prove themselves to be either insane or jackasses.
After re-reading the statements from the school board, etc. I must correct my previous post. It is clear the authorities are not insane. They are jackasses.
1) You’ve basically got that backwards, as can easily eb determined by people’s responses to Columbine, etc. The people complaining about treatement are generally the ones who OPPOSE banning all that stuff, for the simple reason that someone who is willing to stab people (which is already against the rules) isn’t going to be deterred by a rule not to bring the weapon.
2) If he could stab 20 classmates with such a tiny thing (easily comparable, as mentioned, to a pencil in terms of dangerousness), there are much MUCH larger issues involved.
I think it is time to get back to crayons. Yes, even up through high school, and crayons should be required as the only writing instruments that are terror-proof, especially for all government employees and lawyers.
I don’t know what kind of sick kids we are bringing up (how could you think normally after watching such stupidity in that school in SC and others?), but the only answer is home schooling and some major changes in the law to stem this infestation of lawyers in this country.
Deoxy,
You sound like a typical soft on crime liberal. Children are like wild animals. It is only through carefully crafted draconian rules applied with wrote mechanical precision that the tide of anarchy can be controlled.
I hope that last sentence clued you in the in that I’m just goofing around. It’s sad world we live in when my first post seems plausible that a rational human would write it.
-Shtetl G
On every elementary school supply list is ….
drumroll….
scissors!
generally 4 to 6 inch scissors, with pointy tips.
And these idiots thought that a piece of metal ½ to ¾ of an inch long and maybe ¼ of an inch wide could be considered a weapon.
Ladies & Gents:
Let me assure you that this story though based on a police report, was not correct. I really wish that everyone would quit assuming that everything they read is true. I applaud this district and administration for their decision and I think if you really think about it you should too.
Ask yourself: What would have happened if this boy decided to bully someone with that blade? An entirely different story, truth-be-told, but we hold teachers and school administrators responsible for students safety and then when they do their best to make sure they are safe, we throw them to the dogs? Seriously? Can we really afford to do that in a post 9/11, post Columbine, post VT world?
The teacher and the assistant principal involved in this situation did not ask for their entire week to be ruined because of this boys bad choice. Let me remind you that all of this HOPLA is over a 10 year old boys bad choice. He dismantled a pencil sharpener (AT home) then brought the blade to school (not the other pieces) then decided to play with it during instruction. The teacher then had to stop instruction to deal with the situation. No this boy is not innocent, he isn’t exactly what I would call a “good student” either.
I wish adults AND PARENTS would stop defending children for their bad choices, and actually PUNISH THEM for them for their mistakes. Maybe then we wont have the need for Safe school Acts or zero tolerance policies.
Thank you for your time.
Although I rail against the over-use of attorneys, I hope the school district gets sued over this. Their reaction was not “reasonable”, not by a long shot. These “zero tolerance” polices are what is wrong with this country.
David, the zero tolerance policies are caused by the presence of lawyers in the first place. It takes a man with guts to use common sense, because a lawsuit could come anytime, anyday. You’ve got it backwards. What this country needs is some type of spray that would eradicate 90% of the lawyers. Then, the remaining 10% could be round up and shot, and the body parts can be used in lobster traps.
No offense to our host, of course.
As to the comment on the scissors, well, I wouldn’t know, but I’d reckon they are long gone. Want to cut a piece of paper or do some oragami? Call 911.
One does have to wonder if the general malaise of public education and this kind of incredible stupidity perhaps both flow from the type of personality that selects education as a career.
Not all teachers and administrators, of course, but there seem to be a lot of the type that infest government bureaucracy….happiest in an environment bounded by rigid rules, and limited accountability for results.
We may be getting just what we are selecting for.
Bill, aside from those who appreciate a highly structured environment and its benefits, I think you’re wrong – respectfully. This has nothing to do with teachers and school administrators’ and everything to do with avoiding being sued. Let’s hypothesize for just a moment, and I will keep it generous. Let’s say this young man with the altered pencil sharpener forgets to take his ADHD meds that day, or gets bullied, or some other event takes place that sends this kid in to a rage. OR, let’s say none of that happens, and the kid hands his sharpener to another kid who thinks it’s cool how the blade is protruding and to test it, slides it across his finger and makes a small, but semi-deep cut in to his finger. Regardless of the preface, someones little snowflake gets a laceration and in this off incident, the cut gets infected or maybe the mom of this injured kid has anxiety and is totally freaked out; regardless, the family decides to call the toll free number on the screen about “you or a loved one being injured…lawyers are standing by…you may be due compensation.” Now the school receives a demand to turn over every email, note, letter, etc…regarding the policy discussions that preceded the actual policy. There on someones note tablet, on page fifty eight, is a “note to self” which suggests that at least one person thought, however briefly, that something like this may one day happen, and nothing was done to prevent it. So, to prevent spending thousands of dollars of money on litigation defense, the school is forced to write up a policy which encompasses all kinds of zero tolerance policies. If they ever deviate from it, even once, and something happens, guess who foots the bill? Hence this story.
Todd,
I think that Bill B. has a point. While I will grant that fear of lawsuits is a factor, it doesn’t seem to be the only one. Zero-tolerance policies for drugs, for example, is a political slogan, not a result of fear of litigation. School administration does seem to attract people who are not terribly bright but like rules, structure, and simple answers. You can see this in their behavior in all sorts of situations that don’t plausibly involve the fear of litigation.
I could certainly be wrong since I have not reviewed the history of it, but zero-tolerance seems an obvious outgrowth the the courts decision to requiere schools to provide a nebulously defined ‘due-process’.
Since no amount of process is ever enough when a lawsuit is an option, the only recourse was to have NO process. By simply not allowing any of a particular activity and imposing punishment in every case, there can be not claims of favoritism or selective enforcement. You no longer need to keep records of every little misdeed to justify punishing Sally more severely than Sue.
By making all blades ‘weapons’, you are not forced into court for suspending the guy with the switchblade but not the Swiss army knife. It avoids millions in legal and payroll expenses.
This particular school district does not have a “zero tolerance” policy.
Who said it did? Why is this relevant?
This particular school district does not have a “zero tolerance” policy.
Actually that makes their decision to suspend the child even worse. They can’t hide behind the statement that they are required to suspend anyone who brings a “weapon” to school. Thus this is a conscious decision on their part to be foolish. They were not “forced” to act like they have zero intelligence by their rules.
Who said it did? Why is this relevant?
See comments 13 – 18.
They were not “forced” to act like they have zero intelligence by their rules.
Who said the kid was suspended for bringing a “weapon” to school?
Who said the kid was suspended for bringing a “weapon” to school?
The newspaper article.
Gitarcarver, do you have a point that you are trying to make, or do you just like to be cryptic?
The newspaper article.
Really? Where is the word “weapon” in the newspaper article?
I think Gitarcarver is just trying to provoke a response, but I’ll bite. Question: If they weren’t concerned about it’s cutting ability or possible use as a weapon, then just what do you think they were so freaked out about? It’s narcotic effects? The pornographic aspect? I’m curious what creative other use you would attribute to it.
fed up from SC –
“What if he decided to bully”? Nowhere in the story does it say that he did decide to. It seems that you favour the idea of punishing people even for the wrong they don’t decide to do. If you want to be Big Brother go live in North Korea.
“What if he decided to bully?” etc, etc
Then he could have used a pencil. Or any of a dozen other common things in the school environment, most of which would make a BETTER weapon than a tiny bit of metal which one would have difficulty brandishing without cutting one’s self.
And if they didn’t have a “zero tolerance” policy (while acting as stupidly as if they did), then it’s actually even worse (didn’t think that was possible).
Of course, this still isn’t as bad as the kid who received similar treatment for having some nails in his backpack… not that I take any comfort in that.
Bill Poser.
It takes an awful lot of balls as an educator to insist that teachers are “not bright”. I guess not everyone can be an MIT grad, but there are an awful lot of bright people who go in to education for a variety of reasons, including an altruistic desire to help society. Sadly the system in place punishes teachers for inaction when anyone remotely poses a minor threat, so they must overreact.
I think you owe an apology to educators everywhere for the ignorance of your statement.
“What would have happened if this boy decided to bully someone with that blade?”
The “victim” would laugh in his face?
Statistically speaking, teachers are the among “least bright” of people attending college – it is the “fall back” position for many, and it has the easiest requirements (in many cases).
That is not to say that any individual teacher is less intelligent, or that teachers are unimportant.
Indeed, it could easily be read as an indictment against the college/university system, that teaching degrees often have easier courses. I certainly consider it a flaw of the “higher education” system in this country (one flaw among many, sadly).
Those who can, do…However, I go no further. My brother is a headmaster with credentials from Johns Hopkins. He’s pretty bright – very bright IMO. One of my best friends is a high school teacher and vice principal (and huge stoner). He’s bright but also foolish. I once dated a girl who is also a teacher/school administrator – she’s as smart as a box of hammers – but doesn’t smoke dope. Point: you get all kinds.
Tracy,
I don’t think that I owe anyone an apology. There are certainly many teachers who are bright and altruistic. Some of them are even well educated. Many of them, however, are not. As Deoxy says, statistically, schools of education have lower requirements for admission than others. Education majors have lower averages in courses shared with others and are frequently offered special, easier courses since they do so poorly in the regular courses in the same subject. I have personally experienced this as an instructor and discussed it with others.
Secondly, regardless of their inherent ability, the curricula that teachers are required to take are mind-numbing. The BS level is very high and the exposure to important concepts limited. I have personal knowledge of the kind of education that teachers receive about linguistics and reading, for example, and it is generally pathetic.
In any case, I was talking specifically about administrators. Again, there are exceptions, but my experience is that those who go into administration tend not to be the best teachers and tend not to be the brightest and best in other respects.
Bill
Weekly round up…
South Carolina, USA: In Hilton Head, a fourth-grade student is suspended for having the blade from a broken pencil sharpener in school, followed by a storm of outraged calls and emails to the school. In response, the principal wrote a letter of expla…..