Weapons in School: Zero Tolerance

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by casimendocina

In the movie About a Boy, the bullies torment the main character by throwing sweets at him.

Whereas the directors of that film tormented me by alternately making me watch hugh grant while trying not to imagine him with that tranny looking hooker, and watching Toni Collette with far too many clothes on.

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Whereas the directors of that film tormented me by alternately making me watch hugh grant while trying not to imagine him with that tranny looking hooker, and watching Toni Collette with far too many clothes on.

Image of tranny looking hooker please. Confus-ed. Do you mean Rachel Weiss?

[glatt]

Smoking Gun

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Whereas the directors of that film tormented me by [making me] watch... Toni Collette with far too many clothes on.

Was it the clothes themselves you objected to?

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Free Speech Rights of Students

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/project...dentspeech.htm

Excellent link. It brings up the issue of intent and context. If Monster's son had been taunting a kid whose family had been gunned down the week before, probably not protected. But in the absence of any specific circumstances, just drawing a picture of a gun is hardly impeding the school's mission to teach. While the act of drawing, in itself, may have been disruptive, then that is what the charge should be, not invoking the zero tolerance policy for guns.

Originally Posted by casimendocina

Was it the clothes themselves you objected to?

yes. their existence was offensive to me. I much preferred http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Story

[Griff]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

a Ricola candy

licorice is a slow lingering death

[monster]

so c'mon. what is and what isn't OK?

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by glatt

... Teachers and administration should make judgment calls based on each situation ...

Originally Posted by monster

so c'mon. what is and what isn't OK?

I agree with glatt on his point. That's why I find it disconcerting that you at first withheld the nature of the alleged offense and you're still withholding the specific circumstances under which it occurred. Why did your child draw a picture of a gun? Since a picture can be worth a thousand words, a picture of a gun can be an historical account, an indicator of violent feelings/intent; or, anything in between. Intent is key to making a determination in such instances. Was the picture appropriate to the academic circumstances (more than just a tangent)? If not, it probably wasn't appropriate to the venue. If so, then perhaps the teacher was promoting a personal agenda rather than an academic climate. There is no line to be drawn between "Other weapon[s]" without knowing the full circumstances of the specific instance in which they're used; because, that's where people's perceptions about them mainly come from.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by sexobon

Why did your child draw a picture of a gun?

because he is a boy.

[monster]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

because he is a boy.

bingo.

[monster]

I reviewed the district policy on weapons, and I have to say I'm not impressed by this teacher's interpretation of it.....

Weapons:
A. Dangerous Weapon. A dangerous weapon shall include a firearm
(including a starter gun) or any device which will or is designed to or may
readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, any
destructive device or any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas bomb, grenade,
rocket having a propellant charge of more than four (4) ounces, missile having
an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine or
similar device; a dagger, dirk, stiletto, knife with a blade over three (3) inches in
length, or pocket knife opened by a mechanical device, an iron bar or brass
knuckles; or, any other weapon as set forth in 18 USC&921. Also, any electronic
device that inflicts or causes pain or suffering is likewise considered a weapon.


B. Other Weapon. Any object or instrument including a replica, facsimile or
look-alike of such object or instrument, the principal use of which is to inflict
injury, physical pain or physical harm. The term “other weapon” shall additionally
include an object or instrument which is not in and of itself a weapon as defined
above, but where the possession or use of same is coupled with an intent by a
student to inflict injury or harm upon another person. Chemical or toxic
substances, e.g., mace, pepper spray, etc., are included in this category.

I don't see where drawing a picture of a gun (which is what my kid did) is a no-no -it may be a replica if you really stretch that, but it isn't an object or implement...

[GunMaster357]

Originally Posted by monster

I reviewed the district policy on weapons, and I have to say I'm not impressed by this teacher's interpretation of it.....



I don't see where drawing a picture of a gun (which is what my kid did) is a no-no -it may be a replica if you really stretch that, but it isn't an object or implement...

Someone in the bureaucracy told the school : "No Weapon Policy". And then they forgot to use one of their own : a brain.

If I had children, I would seriously question the validity of the school's teachings since they're such morons.

[monster]

But the whole thing bout "zero tolerance" is the "why" is irrelevant. Either it's OK or it isn't. I guess because Jack can bring a gun into school to kill Jill, but when caught, claim it was for show and tell. Fine. Guns/People with guns hurt people. I get it. Fake weapons. Well they look like real weapons, they could be used to intimidate. I get it. Lego guns, Sticks like swords, pointed fingers, I sorta get it but I think mostly kids need to be taught to shrug it off if they don't like it. Drawing a picture of gun? HTF is that a threat to the safety of any other student?

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by monster

Drawing a picture of gun? HTF is that a threat to the safety of any other student?

It could lead to critical thinking and or independent thinking.

BTW, unless the school is private and receives no funding from the government this is in fact a freedom of speech issue. Unless they can show that he is inciting to riot, that drawing is protected speech. They are not allowed to ban that speech unless they are wholly private.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

BTW, unless the school is private and receives no funding from the government this is in fact a freedom of speech issue. Unless they can show that he is inciting to riot, that drawing is protected speech. They are not allowed to ban that speech unless they are wholly private.

Free Speech Rights of Students

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/project...dentspeech.htm