I learned from St. Louis Catholic, that a little kid was thrown out of school.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the photos above depict both the criminal and his weapon of choice. Another Columbine averted thanks to the quick wit of the tax-eating, brain-dead Principal of the appropriately, mundanely-named Public School 52.
The full story is here.
Moreover:
Also in New York, the creatively-named Junior High School 190 had a student arrested and led out in handcuffs (!) for doodling on her desk with an erasable marker:
Queens girl Alexa Gonzalez hauled out of school in handcuffs after getting caught doodling on desk
BY Rachel Monahan
A 12-year-old Queens girl was hauled out of school in handcuffs for an artless offense – doodling her name on her desk in erasable marker, the Daily News has learned.Alexa Gonzalez was scribbling a few words on her desk Monday while waiting for her Spanish teacher to pass out homework at Junior High School 190 in Forest Hills, she said.
"I love my friends Abby and Faith," the girl wrote, adding the phrases "Lex was here. 2/1/10" and a smiley face.
But instead of simply cleaning off the doodles after class, Alexa landed in some adult-sized trouble for using her lime-green magic marker.
She was led out of school in cuffs and walked to the precinct across the street, where she was detained for several hours, she and her mother said.
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I for one feel safer. I’d also feel safer if the Catholic Social Gathering conference wasn’t going on. Er, scratch that, I’d feel safer if it was going on in a insane asylum.
In today’s world, the schoolroom antics I participated in while a young child in the 1960’s would likely result not only in arrest, but the death penalty. Such a strange, sad, state of affairs.
And I thought I had it rough when Sister Martin Marie made me sit out in the hallway, at my relocated desk, for joking in class too much in the fourth grade. But then again perhaps that, in part, accounts for the fact that she is the teacher I have always held closest to my heart.
One more reason to keep your kids OUT of public school. My kids are in Catholic school and we still need to watch closely to make sure some of the public school revert teachers aren’t bringing along public school baggage.
Public schools are full of insane people who want your children to grow up and be serfs to the state. Yes, it really is THAT bad!
When real life starts to looking more and more like The Onion, you know it’s getting bad.
At my school, we were almost expected to carve our initials on our desks with penknives. Happy Days.
We need to once again insist that every parish have a school. And make sure said schools are not operated by professional “educators.”
Ironically, our school had a state-mandated writing assessment test this past Wednesday. The topic was: “Should teachers be allowed to carry guns to school?” No, I’m not kidding.
As a long time law enforcement officer I regret the dumbing down of the profession that results in any police officer making an arrest for such trivial matters. There are much better and less intrusive ways to handle such things. One of the spin offs of too many police leaders being politically correct rather than acting based upon common sense.
Though when kids are sent home from our Catholics schools because the principal thinks a boy’s hair is too long or a girl’s skirt is too short that arbitrary sanction is defended by “they knew what was in the rule book when they signed on.” Undoubtedly this piece of weapon-oriented jewelry was in violation of clearly stated rules. In the interest of consistency, the M-16 necklace is as deserving of a sanction as any of the hair/skirt/jewelry restrictions we have enshrined in most if not all our Catholic schools, many of which are equally ridiculous and arbitrary.
frjim4321, you think keeping the boys looking neat and the girls looking proper is arbitrary?
A. It is not an M 16
B. I doubt any written rule prohibited it
I’m with you, exchief, but what IS it? An HK SCAR?
One reason out of many why we home schooled. To paraphrase a famous tennis player, “You can’t be serious!”
May I add that the real danger is the consistent agenda of the public school teachers as a union in the past 30 years, an agenda of liberalization of morals, hatred of America, and dumbing-down of the curriculum for politically correct reasons. This young man is a poster boy for many children who do not “fit” into the mold desired by such educators. Reverse prejudice…
I’m going to play the devil’s advocate. I too would have laughed, and still laugh, at such nonsense. But remember that schools are different now. The media’s eye catches the little-toy-gun episode, but ignores how zero-tolerance is saving lives in public schools.
This aint little house on the prairie or the diminutive sheriff from that 1950’s show anymore.
These kids act and behave like adults, except with more weapons, and so good for these schools for having a zero-tolerance policy (better that than the reverse.)
So these artificial martyrs holding up their toy guns are just that; I’m nonplussed.
Maltese, zero tolerance MUST include common sense. How on earth could a 2″ plastic toy qualify as a weapon? Anyone not totally blind and/or stupid must be able to determine that the “gun” involved is not a weapon.
If we choose to have zero tolerance in anything we must also ensure that we know exactly what we will not tolerate.
That principal needs to go to common sense school. Oh! Sorry, there is no such school…. Either you have it or you don’t. She obviously doesn’t.
Joan: zero tolerance MUST include common sense.
Actually, “zero tolerance” is–and is intended as–a substitute for common sense.
That principal needs to go to common sense school.
I’d argue that a school administrator or teacher who has no sense, common or otherwise, should be fired.
Henry Edwards: “I’d argue that a school administrator or teacher who has no sense, common or otherwise, should be fired.”
Henry, that would eliminate over 50% of the administrators and teachers in school systems across the country!
Zero Tolerance is VERY sensible, but not for the reasons people think. Zero tolerance is there to protect the school from liability, it is not primarily about protecting the child: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/zerotolerance.htm
Just a couple of observations:
I have to thank God every day that I went to school in the 1970’s and 1980’s, otherwise I’d (not to mention so many of the other kids I was in school with)be locked up somewhere for a very long time for the normal routine things we did on a daily basis that noone thought anything of. The amount of freedom and license we had was incredible compared to the prisons these poor kids have to endure today.
Secondly, I’m in a nature of history class at Indiana University, and the texts dealing with how history has been taught since the late ninteenth century are scarry. The progressives and revisionists have been attacking our schools for much longer than we realize.
This kid should have been licked out of school…that is, if he was a liberal. It is only liberals with guns that scare me.
I agree this is yet another reason to send your kids to Catholic school, or to homeschool… unless you have no choice due to the fact that your child has special needs (autism) that exclude her from Catholic schools, and you can’t homeschool either due to the fact that both parents have to work to keep a roof over your head. Simply writing off public schools is NOT an option because some parents, even good Catholic parents, have no alternative.
I agree with Scott W. that zero tolerance policies exist primarily to protect schools from liability. If school administrators were to actually judge incidents on a case by case basis, they would be opening themselves up to possible charges of racism or discrimination. With a zero tolerance policy they can claim to be treating everyone “equally.” Also, if something tragic does happen, the school is less likely to be blamed for ignoring potential “warning signs”.
The “gun” looks like it came from any GI-joe or Star Wars action figure. Did the kid also have the figure with him? Just about half of the action figures sold in toy stores around the nation includes weapons– the thing to do was for the teacher to take it away from the kid and to say you will get it back when school is over, you are here to learn -not to play with toys. End of story.
Legal liability is a red herring. Teachers and administrators are protected by “governmental immunity” – more precisely, a concept called “official immunity”.
In fact, it’s the opposite of what you would think. A public official is not liable for discretionary acts performed in the course of his duties. However, he is liable for acts that are termed “ministerial” – in other words, following a stated, published policy.
So by introducing “zero tolerance” the schools actually exposed themselves to liability. Instead of exercising discretion, which would protect them, they are making everything a ministerial act, which subjects them to liability.
Now, if somebody with a chip on their shoulder wants to bring a federal discrimination action, that’s another whole kettle of fish. But it’s not as easy as you would think – hard to prove. What usually happens is that activist parents or community agitators use intimidation by threatening a discrimination action.
I think it’s just stupidity and laziness on the part of the administrators. Then they don’t have to exercise good judgment — they can simply think about their next paycheck, or nothing at all.
And they say that Catholic schools from the 50’s were rough with the kids. This seems to trump them all…I live in Forest Hills so I expect to see this in my local paper and news. It seems no one, no where knows where to draw the line anymore. Well certainly don’t do it on a desk !
The “gun” looks like it came from any GI-joe or Star Wars action figure. Did the kid also have the figure with him?
He brought a Lego figure with him.
Actually, “zero tolerance” is—and is intended as—a substitute for common sense.
I think the whole point of zero-tolerance is that administrators don’t have to take responsibility for their decisions.
Just throw these two stories into the same pile of nonsense that permits school administrators to have girls arrested for drug trafficking because they give another girl an aspirin for menstrual pain while on school grounds.
The “zero tolerance” rules basically exonerate administrators from having any common sense, assuming they had any in the first place, since “political correctness” now is the replacement rule and accepted standard of thinking.
I’m all for getting our Catholic schools back on track, well-funded and supported, staffed by faithful Catholic lay people and religious as well, and spare yet another generation from the foolishness that passes for an education in our public system.
For the record, I graduated high school in 1982, and am pretty much convinced that I’m part of the last generation of those who were public-schooled with any kind of common sense. I have two nephews and a niece for whom I worry greatly, as they are clearly products of our post-modern, sanitized, PC-driven, zero-tolerance system, and while they have some book smarts that they were able to develop on their own, they’ve been fed a steady diet of socialist/Marxist/statist ideologies and revisionist history and can’t see beyond the statist rhetoric: man-made global warming, the evil of the White Europeans, the evil of capitalism, the wickedness of Reagan, and on and on.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the stupidest, most cowardly people in America work in public school systems and the media.
I just had a conversation with a friend of mine, a school psychologist, about this sort of thing. In her district, they are now looking at true risk factors instead of a blanket ‘zero tolerance’ idea. It makes much more sense.
maltese, so “zero-tolerance is saving lives in public schools.”
I would challenge you to point to one example – just one – where ‘zero tolerance’ saved one life that a common sense approach would not have.
The sensible approach has always been to keep an eye on the troublemakers, not waste time, energy, and resources persecuting students who “possess” Lego toys, GI Joe dolls, Midol, and Tweety Bird keychains. Because when administrators are hauling marker doodlers and toy toters off in handcuffs, they don’t have time to keep an eye on the creepy loners who are talking about blowing up the school.
But that takes the exercise of judgment and wisdom, as well as trustworthy behavior that encourages the confidences of teachers and good students alike. And that is a real job that takes hard work — not what your average paper pusher who’s just waiting for his pension wants to do.
My high school principal was an outstanding example of the best sort of school leader. He led by example, he used both justice and mercy as appropriate, he was creative and full of ideas, and as a result his teachers and students trusted him. I graduated the year he retired, but he lived into his 90s, loved and respected. God bless you, William L. Pressly.
moon1234: “One more reason to keep your kids OUT of public school. My kids are in Catholic school and we still need to watch closely to make sure some of the public school revert teachers aren’t bringing along public school baggage.”
I agree with this statement completely, but I teach in a so-called Catholic school, and I find the infiltration of a secular mentality to be rampant. Remember, nearly all education departments in universities across the country (including Catholic ones) are guided by a wholly secular philosophy. Most teachers don’t even realize this since philosophy is not required any more. Some of the best Catholics I know keep their children out of Catholic schools because they find it easier to deal with a public school that is obviously secular to a Catholic school that pretends to be Catholic but really isn’t.
Call me random or misobservant, but how exactly is it that we’re tolerating less and less and yet genuine crimes among children like kids raping other kids on the bus seem to be increasing if anything?
Exactly what I mentioned earlier.
The time-servers, the lazy, and the cowardly prefer to spend their time harassing and arresting kids who are no threat to anyone. They are compliant, obedient, and will not pose any danger. At the same time, the administrators can say “Look how hard we’re working!” and thus justify their salaries.
On the other hand, if a teacher or principal disciplined a real bad actor, he might get hurt. Bad actors often (but not always) have bad parents (that’s how many of them get to be bad actors) who could be dangerous themselves. Better and safer to pick on the good kids whose parents will at worst go to the media instead of lobbing a Molotov in at your window.
And of course the problem ultimately lies with society, the courts, and law enforcement who allow such people to roam unhindered seeking whom they may devour.
The poor boy put the little gun in the hand of his Lego police officer. His father is a retired police officer. He was being a good boy. Toys probably don’t belong at school but the principal really freaked out over nothing.
If a kid makes a gun shape with his hand are they going to tell him he can’t come back to school with his hand? Good grief.
edwardo3,
Can you share the titles you think most interesting or illuminating? Thanks.
therecusant
All I can say is, thank God I went to school when I did in the 1960s and 1970s!
The public schools today are nuts! Doesn’t anyone have an ounce of common sense?
‘Tax-eating’-you got that right! Public schools have to stop gouging the taxpayers and live within their means! Cut out the frills and concentrate on EDUCATING the kids! Some can’t even read and write properly when they graduate!
I really do not understand what everyone is so worked up about. After all, the public school administrators, principals and teachers TODAY were the public school students YESTERDAY. This yearning for a return to the common sense education of the 1960s and 1970s is really just fly-in-amber nostalgia for a thing that really did not exist
Disagree, Michael.
It existed. I saw it, as many of my friends were in public schools although I graduated from a private Presbyterian prep school. Best friend in elementary school graduated from Atlanta city schools, went on to become a violinist and Latin teacher. Another friend graduated Decatur City schools and went on to get a degree from the Sorbonne that qualifies her to teach French – in France. Another friend graduated from Chamblee City high school and went to Columbia. A friend’s three daughters went to Atlanta schools and went on to good colleges, law school, and graduate school.
Consider that you had a range of students in each grade — from the brilliant and creative, to the NOT so brilliant and creative, to the frankly dull and conformist. The latter group by and large became the teachers.
Recognizing that there are always exceptions, the education majors have the lowest average SAT scores of any major. The field also attracts those who can tolerate absurdity and make-work, as well as those who like the idea of a short work day and a three-month vacation. Union rules and silly qualification requirements mean that only ‘education’ majors are able to get work. (Personal experience, I tried to get work as a substitute teacher when I was home with my kids. Ivy league honors degree, certificate in theater and dance, law degree, speak one language fluently and two others well enough to teach elementary level, and the City of Atlanta public schools did not want me because I didn’t have an “Education Degree”. I’m certified to teach horseback riding as well as Scottish Country Dance, but none of that was considered. I would have had to take several years’ worth of “Education” courses in order to be qualified to teach.)
The private and church schools also tend to siphon off the best teachers. They don’t pay as well, but you don’t have to put up with the certification nonsense (they will accept your degrees) or the kids who are dumped in public school to get them out of the way. I wound up teaching and assisting in my daughter’s private church school, where they were happy to have me.
As early as the 40s C.S. Lewis was commenting on this situation in “Men Without Chests”, mentioning that he had a rather dull student who complained about the horrible Education Establishment, then asked if Lewis could give him a reccy to the Ministry of Education . . . .