First Grader May be Sentenced to Reform School for Bringing His Own Silverware to School
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A first grader at a Delaware School has been thrown out of School and Faces 45 days in Reform School for bringing a Camping Utensil to School. The Child wanted to use this neat three in one silverware utensil to eat his lunch and was “Found” to be carrying a weapon.
A first grader in Delaware may be spending 45 days in reform school for carrying a weapon into his elementary classroom. While none of us want weapons being brought into our schools, where our children may be endangered I think this particular school has gone overboard.
The child, whose name is not mentioned brought a camping tool into school to eat his lunch with. The utensil was a combined knife, fork, and spoon, which to many young children would appear to be a pretty neat apparatus, one most kids would want to show off to his friends.
Before, deciding that this child was in violation of a no weapon policy and expelling him and seeking to send him to a reform school one would have thought the school would have sought to answer a few vital questions in this matter.
First, did this child who is probably no older than 6 even think of this item as a weapon of any kind? It’s purpose is to eat with was he thinking beyond that immediate purpose? Did it even occur to him that the knife part of this implement could be used as a weapon?
Second, had this child ever showed any sign of violence, or even a mild disciplinary problem? Had he ever threatened a classmate in anyway? Had he even had an argument with any of his classmates?
None of these questions were answered in the news article, and I suspect none of these questions were even asked by the school authorities before deciding that this child had broken a policy that he may not have known existed, at least in regards to his choice of luncheon silverware.
This case reminds me of a case I read about many years ago where a school wanted a five year old kindergartner removed from their school for what they deemed as sexual harassment. In that a case, a little girl had brought her Paddington Bear to school and had come dressed just like the bear. When she told a friend, a little boy that she and Paddington were dressed alike, the little boy unsnapped one strap of her bibs, and threw it over her shoulder, so she would look exactly like the bear.
The school decided that this was sexual harassment.
If I recall the case properly, the parents of both students, and many other parents as well protested this assessment of the little boy’s character as well. The little boy remained in school, and never did understand why he had gotten in such trouble.
Right now, I am sure this first grader, is as confused as any child can be about what he did wrong and why everyone at the school is so upset with him. It seems to me, that the school and safety would have been better served, had the school simply confiscated the utensil, explained to the little boy that he could not bring his own silverware to school and had the parents pick up the implement.
As it stands it seems like even should the parents win their appeal with the school board, the child will feel some fear returning to school as he will have no clear idea of what he did wrong, or why he was thrown out of school in the first place.
I would be willing to bet, if he returns to the classroom, he will not want to bring anything to show and tell for a long time to come.
9 Comments
Yes, carried too far. I agree with your well shared piece.
Much food for thought here. The world has forever changed as far as schools are concerned. It’s sad but true. Well done!
I’m surprised a child of that age can be sent to reform school. I believe here in Britain a child has to be at least ten before he can be held responsible for a crime. An interesting read.
Christine
That is our freaking country for you.
Wow we were just talking about this case at dinner. 45 days in a reform school for a 1st grader for bringing a jackknife to eat his lunch? That’s just plain stupid!
It is crying shame that this young boy is out of school BUT his parents knew the rules of the school! What this little boy brought to school contained a knife! His parents are the ones who should be punished!
OMG, this is a bit too extreme. Reform school for a 6 year old? As you stated, he probably had no idea what it is that he has done wrong and this will just make things harder for him in the long run as these kinds of things always have long-term repercussions that no-one seems to think about.
The school should have used it as an opportunity to educate him (in a gentle manner so as not to scare him) that it is against the rules for him to bring his own cuterly to school. Instead, they have singled him out and have made an example out of him – and not a good one at that.
Only in America!
Great article, btw =)
It’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of. These incidents should be looked at one at a time. there is a big differnece in a young child taking his scout utinsels to school and a highschool child bring a knife. they should use some common sense.
It was carried way to far in my opinion.