Kids Expelled For Knives At School!

[Hoosierdaddy]

The local paper (Orange County Register) had this article in the local section on Tues. Jan. 22 Thought some of you might find it interesting.

http://www.ocregister.com/sitearchives/2002/1/22/local/knife00122cci1.shtml



Think it's a little harsh of a punishment, most of them will probably be future Spyderco Forumites <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> !

[Kahz]

I do not agree that knives should be satanized due to the limitations in other people's brains. Geez! I think this just went too far. Educating kids should be about making them intelligent, open, trusworthy, and free people. It's about them learning how to USE tools, such as knives, for constructive purposes. Imagination and collecting stuff is part of childhood. I don't think they should become humans with judgmental attitudes. So, next they are going to prohibit scissors in the classrooms? No more paper-cutting projects? Oh, and don't let anyone catch a kid with a sharpened pencil in his hand! Laws and human stupidity are going too far!

I remember using X-acto knives in school projects all the time, and razors, and scissors, and any tool that could serve the classes purpose. Hey, I even remember that super glue was once legal. <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> I was certainly not carrying a sword, but I did have a miniature knife with me, that my dad had given me (I think it was a Case). If was fun to scrape dust off interesting rocks and look for fossils, and make fun shapes in clay (eyes and scales could be carved out quite easily with a knife).

Those kids may never forget this situation and they will grow up either disliking or fearing authorities and laws. They started &quot;doing wrong&quot; when some idiot _decided_ that they were doing something &quot;wrong&quot;, not when they collected and shared knives.

Kahz

[Sword and Shield]

People fail to realize that if you are mad enough, anything at all can be a weapon. I've a fine 50# impact weapon right next to me...oh wait, that's my backpack! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

[Kahz]

Hey, even a paper bookmark can be lethal. Paper cuts hurt! <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Kahz

[bogeyman]

I've caught the occasional student with a knife in their possesion. I always just pick it up from them and give it to their teachers and they give the knives to their parents. I explain to the kids that student carrying knives are against school rules but I don't make a federal case over it. all my students know that the coaches carry knives but we a have all taken time to explain that knives are tools, and that responsibility, respect (for the knife) and safe handling are a must. So our students don't &quot;freak&quot; when we use our knives in front of them. Education, as always, is the key.

[ruxton]

oh what is all that about!? 1 1/2 inches? CAN'T CUT PAPER?! i wouldn't even class it as a knife let alone a weapon. less than $2?! no offense to teachers, but i hate teachers <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
MAT

[boxer93]

I agree that expulsion is going too far. The student acknowledged his mistake. Let it go.

Kirath, since you are in contact with kids is your EDC a sheepfoot blade?

Chris

Lurker for a while. First post, let's hope it works.

[Hoosierdaddy]

Boxer93,

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum!

I will keep an eye out for further information on punishment if published, and keep you guys informed. They had a picture of the knife in the article in printed form, no picture online. I will try to track down and post it here.

It's good they don't realize that the students who &quot;brown bag&quot; it have the lethal bread on their person, for the whole school would be expelled <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> !

[bogeyman]

boxer93,

My EDC is a Calypso Jr. I also carry some kind of Case pocket knife.

[meldroc]

I can see suspension for bringin these little &quot;knives&quot; to school, but expulsion is way too harsh. I blame it on the idiotic zero-tolerance policies that many school districts have. They've caused all sorts of ridiculous expulsions for things such as prop guns brought to school for science projects, knives carried in first-aid kits by honor students, dummy bullets on keychains, etc.

These kind of situations just chap my hide. I remember when I was young I would bring my Swiss Army knife to school, and nobody batted an eye.

[Sword and Shield]

Hi Meldroc, Boxer93, Kirath! Welcome to Spyderland! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I've seen first hand what Meldroc is saying. When I was in elementary school those many years ago, a huge deal was made over allowing the 8th graders to bring in toy guns for a school play!

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.