Another zero tolerance failure

[mad1]

Quote:

The upstate New York school superintendent who suspended an Eagle Scout for 20 days for keeping a 2-inch utility knife locked in his car is unwilling to speak to the teen's family or bend in his ruling.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Whalen, a senior at Lansingburgh High School in Troy, N.Y., says he got in trouble over a survival kit he keeps in his car that includes a sleeping bag, water, a ready-to-eat meal and the small pocketknife, which was given to him by his grandfather, a police chief in a nearby town.

Whalen was initially suspended for five days by his assistant principal — but then had another 15 tacked on by Goodwin following a hearing to decide his fate. Though Goodwin was not present at the hearing, he told Fox News he listened to a tape of the proceedings, and decided to extend the suspension.

School Chief Sticks By 'Zero Tolerance' Ruling for Eagle Scout - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

While reading this I tried to think of something positive to be learned from this, I came up with a blank. What I did come up with is that he should not have told the truth. This must be the message the school is trying to push. Is this superintendent capable of reasonable decisions on his own?

[Pexster]

Apparently not. I have reached the conclusion that a lack of any common sense is a plus for aspiring school administrators.

[Gomer]

Five day suspension was fine. Twenty was too much. I wonder what happened in the meeting that caused the extension.

What kind of Eagle Scout needs to carry a knife anyway... don't they just make these things when they need them? =)

[MTAtech]

I'm more interested in how knowledge of the knife came to the Supt's attention.

From a legal perspective, the rule, "Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from school" for engaging in violent conduct, which includes merely "possessing a weapon," sounds unconstitutionally vague. I define "possession" as having it on one's person, not locked in a car.

[Epidemic]

again people who want to do harm with weapons aka Dillon and clebold (or what ever their names were) will do it even defying school rules.


god forbid you have a survival kit with a knife in upstate new york.

why cant they make these rules first time you get yelled at and second time you get diciplined unless of course you actually threaten or do harm.

[SiliconJon]

What a crock of shit, given what it appears to be.

Too many people scared shitless of their own shadows.

Too many people incapable of coherent decision making.

[tony_j15]

Quote:

Five day suspension was fine.

I think your statement is stupid, because of this statement:

Quote:

I define "possession" as having it on one's person

[Creatures]

i want to see his psychological profile, maybe he is already a troulbed kid and known for that (yes i haven't read the article i'm sorry if this is stated in it... just my 5 useless cent ;P)

Creatures

[cyphen]

nope, creatures... from everything i've seen, the kid's a model citizen, a good student, and an eagle scout.

tony, nobody would "brag" about having a pocket knife in a survival kit locked in their trunk. My guess is that some kid that didn't like him found out about it, and turned him in.

This kid said "sure" and showed them because he figured - it's just a stupid pocketknife that's in a survival kit in my trunk, and they probably think i have a machete, so i'll show them it's just a little pocketknife.

Total fail on the principal's reasoning. Epic fail on the school board's reasoning. The kid did nothing wrong, and there was no - absolutely zero - reason for a suspension of any kind. I hope the family sues.

[pickel]

Hopefully, the Trick or Treaters will take care of these idiots.
I donate two dozen rotten eggs