Spokane school suspends students over toy guns

The Spokesman-Review ^ | 1/27/2004 | Sara Leaming

[Thornkin]

Terry Wilson-Spence thinks administrators at Spokane Public Schools may have jumped the gun when it comes to her 8-year-old son.

The third-grader, along with two other boys, was suspended Friday from Bemiss Elementary School for bringing toy guns to the northeast Spokane school.

But, according to Wilson-Spence, the toy guns her son carried in his pocket were for GI Joe action figures. The guns are from only 1 inch to 3 inches long -- half the size of a pencil.

"I don't think any child would look at it and be threatened," Wilson-Spence said.

But the school district is standing by its zero-tolerance policy on weapons, which doesn't specify size or type, school officials said.

"We've been very clear with our students and parents that you don't bring anything that resembles a gun to school," said Bemiss Principal Lorna Spear.

"At school you don't need anything that's going to make kids feel unsafe."

[Thornkin]

This is just insane! How can we expect our kids to respect the good rules when we enforce such stupid ones on them? How does a 2" GIJoe gun threaten anyone? Answer: It doesn't. Please go to the school's page and courtiously tell the principal what you think of the policy.

http://www.spokaneschools.org/bemiss/Staff.stm

[Cindy]

The best options to ensure your child receives a well rounded education are:

1. Homeschool
2. A good private school
3. A combination of homeschooling and private school classes

[GeronL]

tiny peices of plastic are a threat....

but those students who disrupt class are fine

[GeronL]

Worm in the Apple: how teachers unions are destroying public education

[clee1]

FReeped.

My note to the principal.

Suspend a child for a 2" GI Joe plastic gun?

Kids need to be in school; not at home because you don't have the common sense required to come in out of the rain.

Keep up the great work! You are making the case for homeschooling and vouchers ever better.

[meadsjn]

Who in their right mind would trust the safety and education of their children to people of such low intellect and common sense?

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

Suspend a child for a 2" GI Joe plastic gun?

Principal's reply: Of course! Sin is sin, and these 'toy's' are nothing short of obscene and crude phallic representations of the male-hierarchical mindset of domination of nature and women, which is responsible for all the wars, poverty and other calamaties now besetting our nearly extinct, moribund Western civilization. Our only hope is to turn things around by not letting boys act like boys in our public schools.

PS: Phallic issues will be discussed in due time, when the children are instructed in the proper use of condoms, probably next school year.

[clee1]

What is really sad about that, is I could just hear (in a snotty, elitist, feminazi voice) that Governmental Indoctrination Specialist replying just that way.

[goldstategop]

A 2 inch GI Joe toy gun is a lethal weapon? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[buffyt]

My neighbor once went ballistic when my son and some friends while working on a video assignment they HAD to do for German class, used toy guns outside, while filming their video. He called the cops! The cops came and laughed. I didn't find it amusing. Since then I have seen same neighbor's son PLAYING WITH TOY GUNS and WATER GUNS. I didn't call the cops on him, but it was tempting.

[RogueIsland]

How can we expect our kids to respect the good rules when we enforce such stupid ones on them

I think you might be missing the point of the exercise. I believe the intent is to condition children to automatically obey, unquestioningly, any rule laid down by "the authorities" regardless of how inane or stupid. If you deliver swift and inflexible punishment for even the slightest infraction, and make examples of some particularly unfortunate individuals who had the gall to think as individuals rather than Group Members, you will eventually condition the "appropriate" response.

It's a grand experiment in creating the One World Man.

[the invisib1e hand]

why Johnny can't defend himself.

why Johnny can't/won't defend his country.

why Johnny has no balls.

[Fixit]

"At school you don't need anything that's going to make kids feel unsafe."

Then I guess you need to dump about 80% of your staff, and fire yourself for good measure.

[yoe]

Over reaction; over the top; unrealistic and stupid.

[mtbopfuyn]

you don't bring anything that resembles a gun to school

Does that mean they must also cut off their thumb and forefinger?

[Joe Brower]

The culture of fear strikes again.

[RikaStrom]

(sigh)

[ladylib]

Of course it does! Or put those thumbs and forefingers away during school hours.

[TankerKC]

But the school district is standing by its zero-tolerance policy on weapons...

By what definition of "weapon" is a plastics GI Joe toy a weapon?

[libstripper]

The boys' parents ought to show the "school" what they think of this by taking the boys to the nearest pistol range and teaching them to shoot.

[ladylib]

In some school districts, it could be a drawing of a gun.

Some public school officials are idiots, deserving of contempt by students and their parents.

[TruthNtegrity]

Sorry. As a former teacher, the operative verb is not "destroying", it is destroyed.

They have taken over the schools for years, and the Union manages to keep anyone with a brain and a genuine love for children OUT.

Get rid of the Union, purge the inept teachers and get our schools back.

I'm rooting for the First Lady's retired Military to teacher program. I know three men who have done this, and their prescence in the schoolroom in a small way, starts to take back the schools. Once the kids discover how much fun learning is, and thrive in good discipline, they fight to get into their classes. A testimony to children's knowing what is right for them!!

Meanwhile Public Schools continue to be a disgrace.


Here's a thought. If you know anyone who is about to retire or is getting out, suggest this program to them. It pays a living stipend while they take some education courses, become certified teachers and go into the schools.

Can you envision the discipline a former Ranger or Army Colonel will bring to that classroom? Yes, going into inner city schools is encouraged!

[LongsforReagan]

This is how metrosexuals are made.

[20yearvet]

"At school you don't need anything that's going to make kids feel unsafe."
I am so glade to here that, My kids do not feel safe around someone talking about condoms.

[claudiustg]

---"At school you don't need anything that's going to make kids feel unsafe."---

Like moronic teachers and administrators?

[El Gato]

I for one would feal much more threatened and endangered by a principal whose name was "Spear" than I would by a 1-2" plastic scale model of a gun.

[Smogger]

More "zero tolerance" bs.

I am convinced ZERO TOLERANCE is a codeword for stupidity and the abdication of ones RESPONSIBILITY to use their DISCRETION.

For all those in favor of zero tolerance, the Lord will have a zero tolerance policy when you are judged.

[Smogger]

How can we expect our kids to respect the good rules when we enforce such stupid ones on them?

Short answer. They won't. They will learn that there is no such thing as "justice", and laws are purely arbitrary and have nothing to do with right or wrong or proportion. They will learn NOT to respect the law.

This is what "zero tolerance" and "mandatory minimum" sentencing have wrought.

[SeaDragon]

Pretty sad state of affairs isn't it?

[Stopislamnow]

The parents of these suspended children would be justified in going to these educators and kicking thier teeth in, among other things.

When we gonna say "NO MORE" and start smashing these people who are ruining America?

When nothing else seems to work, violence gets results. If these morons were more afraid of parents than trial lawyers this would not have happened.

[SeaDragon]

The parents of these suspended children would be justified in going to these educators and kicking thier teeth in, among other things.

I couldn't agree with you more. It is unfortunate that the nanny state has taken the power away from the parents. Unless, of course, it is to sue the schools cause little johnny was offended by something.