2" tiny Lego gun almost causes suspension

[LisaR]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local...g_at_a_lack_of_common_sense_as_son_buste.html

I hate stories like this because I really want to side with the parents/student but they make it so hard.
I think zero tolerance is ridiculous. 2" plastic guns should not cause a ruckus anywhere. Common sense should prevail.

BUT........what the heck is with the mom? The principal overreacted but the mom doesn't realize she is doing the same thing? Now she might sue? WTH?? I may have brought it to the attention of the media to point out how ridiculous zero tolerance is but to sue? The mom talks about common sense. I think she needs to find some herself.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

The mother is PO'd...as she should be...and stated she might sue. Whether or not she does is another story.

These stories are so incredibly ridiculous, I almost think someone SHOULD sue, so that there will be a national re-thinking of exactly what "zero-tolerance" means, or SHOULD mean. "Suing" isn't all about getting compensated...it's about making changes as well.

It sounds like the poor kid was just about pounced on for his "crime", and he had to sign a statement??? What did the statement say, and why is this 9 year old being asked to sign a statement without a parent present?

Another stupid example of NO common sense. I'm with the parents 100% on this.

 

[cheermom1]

I hear ya that was so stupid!!! I saw one time were a little girl grabbed her mom coat b/c she liked it and found a nail file in the pocket..she was grabbed up and put through the ringer!! what are they thinking????

I agree I do think someone should sue at least once so that this can be re thought..where is the common sense going???

 

[Golf4food]

2" tiny administrator brain almost causes death of common sense.

 

[luvmy3]

2" tiny administrator brain almost causes death of common sense.

No kidding. I especially like the comment she (allegedly) said to the mom about how he had gone from straight A's to the NRA. My guess is she really misses Rosie on The View

 

[RitaZ.]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local...g_at_a_lack_of_common_sense_as_son_buste.html

I hate stories like this because I really want to side with the parents/student but they make it so hard.
I think zero tolerance is ridiculous. 2" plastic guns should not cause a ruckus anywhere. Common sense should prevail.

BUT........what the heck is with the mom? The principal overreacted but the mom doesn't realize she is doing the same thing? Now she might sue? WTH?? I may have brought it to the attention of the media to point out how ridiculous zero tolerance is but to sue? The mom talks about common sense. I think she needs to find some herself.

How are they making it "so hard"? I watched the video and they seemed like reasonable people. They were well spoken and calm. So, she said she might sue. Are the actions of the principal now forgotten because the mom said those words out of anger/frustration?

It was ridiculous for the principal to make such a huge deal out of the 2" Lego gun. Tell the kids that they aren't allowed to bring toys to school. Remove the toys from the kids if you want to enforce the rules. Suspending the boy over this? Come on!

 

[ontariomonkey]

I kind of don't get it because I don't know what the rules are for that school board. If the rules are 'no guns' then obviously the kid didn't do anything wrong because this was so clearly not a gun, but a toy. BUT if the rule is, no toy guns, then he definitely broke the rules. Now should the kid be suspended? I don't know. But if that's the policy, why should it matter that the toy was small? A toy gun is a toy gun and if they're not allowed then they should stay at home.

 

[LisaR]

How are they making "so hard"? I watched the video and they seemed like reasonable people. They were well spoken and calm. So, she said she might sue. Are the actions of the principal now forgotten because the mom said those words out of anger/frustration?

It was ridiculous for the principal to make such a huge deal out of the 2" Lego gun. Tell the kids that they aren't allowed to bring toys to school. Remove the toys from the kids if you want to enforce the rules. Suspending the boy over this? Come on!

Although I posted the story, I only read the article and did not watch the video.
Based on the article, it sounded to me like the mom wanted to sue the principal. While I think the principal is an idiot and should be reprimanded or fired for lacking common sense, suing is not the answer. If the mom wants to change the policy and stop this zero tolerance nonsense, I am 100% in favor of that. I know someone mentioned that a lawsuit isn't always about the money. Unfortunately, most of the time it is.

 

[okeydokey]

My 9 year old knows not to bring a toy gun to school no matter how big it is. The policy is crazy, but the kid bears some responsibility too.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Common sense gone AMUCK!

Few years back my ds wrote a story at school. It was not about killing people but was actually a dialogue of sorts of a soldier and he drew some pictures with tanks.
DO you know I got a call, that his "story was okay" but the tanks were not!
I was like, HUH!! Was then told that tanks represented "violence" well, my dh went nearly ballistic and called the school as they said that my ds would have to go to the principal. For a Picture of a Tank (that was clearly related to the story he wrote???) Its not like he was blowing up people...
Long story short, the dh called school, spoke to principal who agreed it was a bit "overkill" no pun intended, for the teacher to have contacted us in the first place. (thats a first!) Meanwhile, my ds went on to win an award later that year for "artistic writing skills for Patriotism, " A presentation and local newspaper reported on it...... You can't make this stuff up.....so crazy...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The mother is PO'd...as she should be...and stated she might sue. Whether or not she does is another story.

These stories are so incredibly ridiculous, I almost think someone SHOULD sue, so that there will be a national re-thinking of exactly what "zero-tolerance" means, or SHOULD mean. "Suing" isn't all about getting compensated...it's about making changes as well.

It sounds like the poor kid was just about pounced on for his "crime", and he had to sign a statement??? What did the statement say, and why is this 9 year old being asked to sign a statement without a parent present?

Another stupid example of NO common sense. I'm with the parents 100% on this.

Call me silly, but in a court of law, the signature of a 9 year old would be completely worthless.

I also agree with you. Sometimes, it takes a lawsuit for an entity to be legally told they are idiotic.

 

[Sonya]

I liked how the friend he was playing legos with had a tiny ax. But that was OK beacuse it wasn't threatning.

 

[shortbun]

Probably not a popular stance here but I guarantee you that ANY 9yo who doesn't know it's taboo to bring toy guns/any guns to school these days is
very out of touch for some reason -special needs.

I work for a school system and all the rules are clearly posted, read to the students, explained and upheld. I could understand a kindergartener for the first weeks of school doing it. After that-certainly a 4th grader would know the rules. What size WOULD be against the rules if 2" isn't an infraction? 4", 6"? Lots of principals have to be mean to make their schools peaceful learning environments. There is so much information missing in this story.
As a parent, I would hate my child to be treated like a criminal BUT little kids bring real weapons to school to show their friends and it just HAS to be against the rules to bring in weapons of any kind or size.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Probably not a popular stance here but I guarantee you that ANY 9yo who doesn't know it's taboo to bring toy guns/any guns to school these days is
very out of touch for some reason -special needs.

I work for a school system and all the rules are clearly posted, read to the students, explained and upheld. I could understand a kindergartener for the first weeks of school doing it. After that-certainly a 4th grader would know the rules. What size WOULD be against the rules if 2" isn't an infraction? 4", 6"? Lots of principals have to be mean to make their schools peaceful learning environments. There is so much information missing in this story.
As a parent, I would hate my child to be treated like a criminal BUT little kids bring real weapons to school to show their friends and it just HAS to be against the rules to bring in weapons of any kind or size.

So you've diagnosed this kid as special needs now???? Did this happen at your school?? Who knows how much the rules were read to and drilled into these kids. But honestly, unless they hold up something like a 2" gun as an example and say "including something like this", then I think a 9 yr old can certainly not understand that a little Lego toy is included. Ever see erasers in shapes? If there was one shaped like a 1" gun, and a kid wants to bring an eraser to school, is that suspension-worthy? There's got to be better judgment on the part of administrators. If they're so distraught about a 2" Lego gun, then they should use this opportunity to do exactly what I said above...review the rules, hold up the toy and say "including something like this", as well as other equally as ridiculous examples. AND let this kid off the hook.

a1tinkfans...unbelievable. (Congrats to your son!) Now what are they going to do...go through all the history books and cut out the war scenes?

 

[Wall-E1]

I had a similar incident with my son a few years ago- and it was all my fault. He was in elementary school at the time and his class was having a gift exchange. We purchased a target board toy. It had the round bullseye target board and used plastic, suction cup darts. I wasn't thinking when I purchased it. I sometimes forget the insane culture that we live in. The funny thing is that the teacher had them all exchange gifts, and she saw it and was fine with it. Well, apparently on the bus ride home, the boy opened up the toy. The bus driver immediately turned the bus around and took the boy back to the school to report him for having a weapon. I received a phone call that my son and the boy who received the gift were both being suspended because the suction cup darts were considered a weapon.

Of course, I headed straight to the school and explained that It was my fault. Before even talking about my son's suspension, I argued that the other boy shouldn't be suspended for three days because he only received the gift as part of the gift exchange. The principal tried to argue that both boys knew the school weapon policy, so they would both be suspended. I of course continued my argument that this whole incident was caused by my stupidity. After I pointed out that the their teacher had allowed the toy to be given out and that it wouldn't look real good if I took my complaints higher, the principal relented and reduced their punishment to one after school detention (so ridiculous).

 

[luvmy3]

Probably not a popular stance here but I guarantee you that ANY 9yo who doesn't know it's taboo to bring toy guns/any guns to school these days is
very out of touch for some reason -special needs.

I work for a school system and all the rules are clearly posted, read to the students, explained and upheld. I could understand a kindergartener for the first weeks of school doing it. After that-certainly a 4th grader would know the rules. What size WOULD be against the rules if 2" isn't an infraction? 4", 6"? Lots of principals have to be mean to make their schools peaceful learning environments. There is so much information missing in this story.
As a parent, I would hate my child to be treated like a criminal BUT little kids bring real weapons to school to show their friends and it just HAS to be against the rules to bring in weapons of any kind or size.

A 2" lego plastic toy is not a weapon and common sense would tell anyone that it can't be mistaken for a real one either.
The rule should apply to real weapons (obviously) and toys that resemble real weapons enough that they can be mistaken for the real thing.
My 9 year old, who does know that he can't bring any of his toy guns to school probably wouldn't think much of bringing one of his lego star wars mini figs with its blaster because he would most likely think that he isn't in school with a bunch of idiots who would mistake it for a real threat and traet him like he was a crazy gun toting NRA member

 

[luvmy3]

So you've diagnosed this kid as special needs now???? Did this happen at your school?? Who knows how much the rules were read to and drilled into these kids. But honestly, unless they hold up something like a 2" gun as an example and say "including something like this", then I think a 9 yr old can certainly not understand that a little Lego toy is included. Ever see erasers in shapes? If there was one shaped like a 1" gun, and a kid wants to bring an eraser to school, is that suspension-worthy? There's got to be better judgment on the part of administrators. If they're so distraught about a 2" Lego gun, then they should use this opportunity to do exactly what I said above...review the rules, hold up the toy and say "including something like this", as well as other equally as ridiculous examples. AND let this kid off the hook.

a1tinkfans...unbelievable. (Congrats to your son!) Now what are they going to do...go through all the history books and cut out the war scenes?

My ds wanted to buy an EyeWitness World War II book at the book fair when he was in K last year, and when he brought it up to the regsiter they told him he couldn't buy it because he was too young for that kind of book. I had given him money for it, we have several of those books on the different wars throughout history and we wanted to expand our collection, who are they to say he is too young for that. I took him to Barnes and Noble the next weekend and bought it for him

 

[cheermom1]

My ds wanted to buy an EyeWitness World War II book at the book fair when he was in K last year, and when he brought it up to the regsiter they told him he couldn't buy it because he was too young for that kind of book. I had given him money for it, we have several of those books on the different wars throughout history and we wanted to expand our collection, who are they to say he is too young for that. I took him to Barnes and Noble the next weekend and bought it for him

I know what makes anyone else think they have any right to tell someone elses kid they can;t have something??? sheesh...I don't get it??

this story opinion is that COMMON SENSE needs to come back into the schools!!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Probably not a popular stance here but I guarantee you that ANY 9yo who doesn't know it's taboo to bring toy guns/any guns to school these days is
very out of touch for some reason -special needs.

I work for a school system and all the rules are clearly posted, read to the students, explained and upheld. I could understand a kindergartener for the first weeks of school doing it. After that-certainly a 4th grader would know the rules. What size WOULD be against the rules if 2" isn't an infraction? 4", 6"? Lots of principals have to be mean to make their schools peaceful learning environments. There is so much information missing in this story.
As a parent, I would hate my child to be treated like a criminal BUT little kids bring real weapons to school to show their friends and it just HAS to be against the rules to bring in weapons of any kind or size.

I have to disagree with you...MOST 9 year old boys that I know are out of touch! They don't think of whether the little plastic toy (2"? C'mon..) they stuck in their pocket is considered by overzealous adults to be a weapon or not. If asked, they most likely would look at you like you had three heads. I can see one of my NON special needs boys popping a little lego guy in his pocket and forgetting about it.

I actually worry about this kind of thing happening. We go over it and over it, don't put anything in your pocket, don't draw any weapons in school, don't take any pictures you have drawn that could be remotely construed as "weapons", and I still hold my breath at times.

 

[DawnCt1]

The mother is PO'd...as she should be...and stated she might sue. Whether or not she does is another story.

These stories are so incredibly ridiculous, I almost think someone SHOULD sue, so that there will be a national re-thinking of exactly what "zero-tolerance" means, or SHOULD mean. "Suing" isn't all about getting compensated...it's about making changes as well.

It sounds like the poor kid was just about pounced on for his "crime", and he had to sign a statement??? What did the statement say, and why is this 9 year old being asked to sign a statement without a parent present?

Another stupid example of NO common sense. I'm with the parents 100% on this.

ITA! I agree with your entire post, but particularly the bolded part. I can remember our DSs taking little GI Joe guns to school and trading them at recess. Now they would be bounced out of school for trafficking in "arms". It has gotten beyond ridiculous.