First-grader suspended for scouting utensil in school: Zero tolerance or just plain dumb?
By Star-Ledger Guest Columnist/For The Star...
October 13, 2009, 1:48PM
Zachary Christie, 6, of Newark, Delaware, is facing reform school for bringing a camping utensil to school. Have zero tolerance policies gone too far?
By Corine Ingrassia
It's a scary world when a six-year-old Cub Scout is sentenced to reform school for bringing a camping utensil to school.
That's what happened to Zachary Christie, a first-grader in the Christina School District in Newark, Delaware, according to a story in yesterday's New York Times.
Zachary, who is described by his family and teachers as a serious student who often wore suits to school, was so excited to use his combo fork, spoon & knife scout tool that he brought it to use for lunch. (Might I add that this is a tool very similar to the one Diego includes in his 5 in 1 Camp and Rescue set, which my son has owned since he was three).
Thankfully, school officials said today that they might reconsider the punishment after an outcry in the district, according to the Associated Press. A throng of parents is expected to attend a school board meeting tonight in support of Zachary.
Had this happened 20 years ago, there would have been no controversy. Bringing the scouting equivalent of a spork to school wouldn't have been much different than my son stowing his Ben Ten Omnitrix in his desk to show friends how he can morph into aliens.
However, it's 2009. So when the camping tool fell out of Zachary's pocket on the bus it was not only confiscated, (which would be understandable), it was followed by an insane overreaction. Zachary is now facing 45 days in the district's reform school, due to a zero tolerance policy for weapons.
This is not the first instance that the zero tolerance law was brought into question in Delaware State. Three years ago, an elementary school child was expelled for bringing in a cake cutting knife for her birthday cake.
the rest of the article is here...
http://www.nj.com/parenting/guest_bloggers/index.ssf/2009/10/first-grader_booted_for_boy_sc.html