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HILTON HEAD FOURTH GRADER BOOTED FOR CARRYING ‘DANGEROUS DEVICE’
There is a new threat to South Carolinians and it is putting our children at risk. Worse than zombies or vampires or even the wheelchair werewolf, it could strike at any time, without warning. All we can do is take every possible precaution to fight this evil before it’s too late.
I warn you, what you are about to read from the Hilton Head Island Packet is disturbing, and may not be appropriate for everyone. Reader discretion is advised.
A 10-year-old boy here has been suspended from school for having something most students carry in their supply boxes: a pencil sharpener. [...]
A teacher at Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School noticed the boy had what appeared to be a small razor blade during class on Tuesday, according to a Beaufort County sheriff’s report. It was obvious that the blade was the metal insert commonly found in a child’s small, plastic pencil sharpener, the deputy noted. [...]
He had no criminal intent in having the blade at school, the sheriff’s report stated, but was suspended for at least two days and could face further disciplinary action.
District spokesman Randy Wall said school administrators are stuck in the precarious position between the district’s zero tolerance policy against having weapons at school and common sense.
“We’re always going to do something to make sure the child understands the seriousness of having something that could potentially harm another student, but we’re going to be reasonable,” he said.
Holy. Freaking. Crap. This kid brought a pencil sharpener to school? What the hell was he thinking? A pencil sharpener? In school?
What is wrong with kids these days? Don’t they know the hidden dangers of pencil sharpeners? Sure, they may seem innocent, but underneath lies a killing machine capable of mass devastation if placed in the wrong hands.
I think the administrators at this school deserve an award for taking decisive action and bravely saving the lives of countless people. Who knows what could have happened had they not acted quickly. They are true heroes in my book.
If you would like to express your outrage you can email the school principal at jill.mcaden@beaufort.k12.sc.us and the District spokesman Randy Hall at randy.wall@beaufort.k12.sc.us. Let them know how stupid that they are! And that people will not stand this intollorance!
It is certain the adults involved will not be suspended for carrying any BRAINS!
If Randy Wall thinks giving this child a 2 Day suspension for having a broken pencil sharpener blade is reasonable, he is just plain stupid! The zero tolerance policy has gone to far and been totaly mis-used. Re-write the policy so that it states zero tolerance based on common sense and student history! This child has probably been traumatized by this incident!
What’s next – no pencils or pens in school. Obviously the schools haven’t realized the danger of these items, yet. It’s a shame that our children have to be subjected to this kind of behavior when we, as parents, are trying to teach them how to use their own common sense.
Adam, this potential major problem has been ignored by SC schools long enough. It is common knowledge that youth gangs carry pencil sharpners as weapons of choice. This ‘terrorist in training’, law breaking 10 year is headed down the wrong path in life. What we need is a 3 day ‘cooling off period’ for those buying that type of weapon.
Unfortunately, there appears to be a flood of letters to congresspeople all over this country from Pencil Control, Inc., encouraging them to pass new laws demanding a 7-day waiting period for sharpeners and ammunition (pencils), government registration of pencil sharpeners, a ban on automatic sharpeners, a demand for “smart sharpener” technology, and a government sharpener buy-back program designed to trade pencil sharpeners for U.S. flags and government peanut butter.
In response, I’ve decided to join the National Pencil-Sharpener Assocation (NPA) as a lifetime member, which will protect my rights to keep and bear pencil sharpeners as envisioned by our forefathers.