<p>Seriously this is unbelievable. Are teachers really lacking that much common sense? And don’t forget the story earlier this month about the 1st grader who was suspended for making a “gun” with his hand and saying “pow.” And a similar case last week. It’s detrimental to the kids who truly don’t know why they’re being punished or what they even did. I remember bringing water guns to school in elementary school towards the end. Playing games like cops and robbers too was also fun and all my friends turned out fine enough. It’s neurotic and just plain hysteria what some school administrators and teachers are doing now.</p>
<p>Some of these people are so stupid. No common sense. A little one got in trouble for a plastic knife packed in with his lunch at a school. Another for having a plastic fire axe when dressed as a fireman for Halloween. And I don’t mean quiet, “let’s take this” trouble, but suspension from school. Some of those people deserve to be fired.</p>
<p>I agree. Common sense is becoming far too uncommon. I read a story of a 5 year old who was suspended for suggesting to a friend that they play with her bubble gun at an upcoming play date. Really? A bubble gun? Future tense bubble gun? Suspended? Have they all gone mad?!</p>
<p>It seems to be an over reaction. But let’s see if there’s a lawsuit. If so I suspect manipulation to create a civil rights lawsuit. (A test case if you will)</p>
<p>Grandfather gave the folded paper gun to the granddaughter, why? All of the reports are gleaned from an interview with FOX news. What is the history with this family and the school? Some of the answers to these questions will not be made public. The school district will investigate the teacher’s action. I would like to see zero tolerance policies reviewed, perhaps act on a case by case basis, taking intention, severity and threat level taken into consideration.</p>
<p>A few years back, there was a kindergartner who got suspended for biting his cheese sandwich into the shape of a gun and pointing it across the lunch table.</p>
<p>In any case, do school administrators really think suspension will be an effective punishment for the students? when it’s clear the parents oppose the punishment and most likely won’t further punish the student at home? Besides trying to set an example for the other students, that is unless that’s the sole purpose for suspending such students.</p>
<p>Zero tolerance makes it easier for administrators. They don’t have to define the gray areas because there are no gray areas. However, zero tolerance shouldn’t mean that all punishments should be the same.</p>
<p>I have a zero-tolerance policy in my classroom. No penalty, but when one kid mimes having a weapon and says something to another like " Ha, I’m gonna shoot your head off" I pull them aside and tell them that I find those words unacceptable. Even to your best friend as a joke, not in my classroom. I think they need to learn time and place distinctions for behavior, and right now - even for 10 year olds, no mock slayings at school.<br>
No bullying, either.</p>
<p>Most stated no tolerance policies have an associated penalty…usually a tough one. Zero tolerance policies like that are mindless lazy management.</p>