Knee jerk reactions aside, there is something to be said for making sure children know when is the proper time and place to carry a knife with them. It's something the Scouting program teaches as part of safety.
Reactions on the table, I strongly disagree with the initial punishment, but I feel the commuted 3-5 day suspension is warranted. It's enough to impress on both student and parents the gravity of the situation and help ensure it won't happen again.
Besides, I carried a dive knife strapped to my ankle almost every day, or a folder on the inside of my belt, and no one said a word, not even the dean when I lent it to him one day to cut some ribbon.
