6-Year old suspended - camping utensil?

[Volt]

Tried to stay away from posting on this thread, but here I go.... As one who works in both middle and high schools my thoughts.

First off, who cares what you and I did in school 35 - 40 years ago. Times have changed. BAck in high school I also carried knives and shotguns. There were more guns hanging in the backs of pickups during hunting season in the school parking lot than the whole police department had in totality. No one even thought of taking one out of an unlocked truck. The way we lived just has no meaning to todays students.

Were the rules over board in this case, who knows? We have kids from the 4th grade on up killing other kids in school or on the play grounds, google the news..... Parents are so cluless as to what there kids are doing and don't care to know. 2 jobs, got to get the Escalade to pull my boat to the lake, build the mansion, etc. I can't get even one of the 2 (if the kid has 2 parents) to come and see me to save their child from failing. The fix to problem #1, know what your children are doing and who they are doing it with. You may not be wealthier or happier knowing about your kids, but you will be able to have a greater affect on their lives. Trust belongs on a dollar bill, not for teens.

As to the disipline the student got, if that's what the rules called for by the education board/Superintendant (usually people you elected if you even showed up to vote that year). Principals do not set those types of policies. They must enforce them equally and dispassionantly or risk themselves and the school division being sued by the next parent whose child got different treatment. Or from the parent of the kid who gets cut/stabbed/shot etc. Almost every school I work in has a student agenda the kids must carry. Guess what, all the school rules and usually the infraction penalties are in it, ever thought about looking though it?

Why might there be so many hudlums in the schools? Getting back to "our" days in school, bad kids were either OSS or kicked out straight up. Not so much anymore. Kids in school = $$$$$$$. Either in free lunch money or what the state/Feds provide. So, every student on the rolls for that day equates to more funds for the school. End result, more undiserables are kept in school with your "good" kids, cuz I know your little Johnny wouldn't do those things (sick of hearing how their little angels would never start a fight).

I trust none of them and never turn my back for long in the room. My ears are always listening to what they are saying, most think I am only listening if they see me looking at them, not so. The more the hear the more I might be able to head off or stop. Average for a 1100 student body school is 3 rent a cops and at least 1 uniformed/armed city policeman. I work in schools from rual, "good" city schools to the the schools most parents given a choice would never put their kids in. The richer kids are just a tad smarter and their parents with better educations can afford better lawyers to keep their kids from getting records....

Before you pass judgement too quick on the rules of most any place - military, schools, etc make sure you have a good base to start from. I highly encourage you to volunteer a few weeks to get a feel for what the students are living in school these days. Do a little tutoring, open your eyes and ears and really see what their lives are about out of the house. Might open your eyes.....

Yea, I'm a bit cynical but it's real and I have seen/experienced this and more the past 10 years. Folks may not like it but that's what is going on. On the other hand, my and possibly not worth that much. Rest assured I do not teach english or typing, math is where I work