The same week as the horrendous story of a six-year-old cub scout being suspended and sent to reform school for bringing his cub scout mess kit to eat lunch (here), New York educators have added another ridiculous case out of the “zero tolerance” madness gripping schools. Matthew Whalen is a 17-year-old senior at Lansingburgh High School who has just completed basic training to be a soldier. He kept a 2-inch keychain pocketknife locked in his car with other camping equipment. When the school learned about the knife, they suspended him and, when he appealed, they added 15 days for the Eagle Scout.
For years I and others have complained about the absurd decisions of educators under the zero-tolerance policy. For a prior column, click here. This is another case where teachers prefer to abuse a kid rather than take responsibility to exercise common sense and good judgment.
Whalen was barred from school grounds for 20 days because he had a survival kit (with a small pocketknife) locked in his car. The little knife was given to him by his grandfather, a police chief in a nearby town.
What I love is that they gave him five days and then, after he argued his innocence at a hearing, they added 15 days for good measure.
The incident began when assistant principal, Frank Macri, told him that a student had complained that he was carrying a knife. Whalen agreed to be searched and no knife was found. The principal then asked if he owned a knife and he responded that he was both an eagle scout and a soldier and obviously did own a knife. He volunteered that he had a small pocketknife in the car.
Whalen is an ideal student and scout — he received an award from the Boy Scouts of America and the City of Troy for saving a woman’s life. He is now concerned that the suspension will hurt his chances to get into West Point.
This case is similar to some cases described in this column.
What is amazing is that, even after seeing that it was only a two-inch knife, the teachers called the police. When the police said that there was nothing illegal in having such a small pocketknife, they decided to punish him on their own.
Macri imposed the longest possible punishment — negating any notion of a lack of discretion.
District Superintendent George J. Goodwin is entirely satisfied with this punishment, which he declared to be “appropriate and fair.” He added “[s]ometimes young people do things they may not see as serious.” Well, many of us (including educators) do not see this as serious. What I consider serious is the problem of educators acting without judgment and teaching kids that rules are enforced without any concern for equity or logic.
I taught school when I needed money; I played music when I didn’t.
The result? To this day I loathe all schools and most teachers.
Two observations about teachers from my time as an “educator”.
“Those that can do, those that can’t, teach and those that can’t teach, teach teachers.”
Also, “Teachers: men amongst boys…boys amongst men.”
RH,
I at least attempted to refute the central point of your thesis. Your
reply was not to respond to this except by a reworded repetition of what you had been saying in the first place.
“That so many are still beating the “homophobic” drum simply belies their limited, narrow agenda as regards those scouting organizations.”
While you obviously don’t see homophobia as a problem in the country, I do and believe it is symptomatic of the fundamentalist/right wing use of distortions to put forth an agenda that claims to be based on the values of “traditionalism,” but actually represent a radical transformation of the Constitution into a corporate based fascistic
reinterpretation.
“As to the “military uniforms” it seems that is another “phobia” that gets tossed out by those who choose to find evil where none actually exists.”
You are uninformed about American history. This has traditionally been a country that distrusts uniforms. Beyond that though I would cite organizations like the “Hitler Youth” in Germany, The young communists in the USSR and China, all dressed in uniforms. Around the world where organized totalitarian governments exist, uniforms and dress codes are enforced.
“I suppose in the mindset of those that find their American heritage/history personally repugnant in this New World Order time”
I would say that is the weak attack of someone who is terminally involved in substituting catch phrases and slogans, for knowledge and thought. What New World Order are you referring to, the one promoted by George H.W. Bush, I think not. How about the one promoted by PNAC in 1998, where the American Empire was to reign supreme in the world after establishing a “Pax Americana?” Throwing out memes that you don’t understand, as argument, is so Rush Limbaugh.
“If the guilt of traditionalist American values and organizations that promote them keeps you awake at night”
I sleep very well at night and certainly am not gulty about American values as set down by the Constitution and our Founding Fathers. It is your misconception of them that causes the problem in tandem with your mistaken belief that you represent them. Also I would appreciate it if you actually read my points and then replied without distortion based on your own pre-judgment. It maked dialog much easier, though I suspect diatribe is more to your liking.
RH writes: I’ll simply repeat what I said before, if the BSA/GSA do not meet YOUR standards for socio/political correctness, then by all means stay away from them. Find some to your liking. My issue has always been when people do not like the structure or social character of a group, the first order of business is to demand that said group modify or alter their fundamentals so that it meets THEIR standards.
perhaps you are the sort of person who likes to repeat things over and over.
I never said that I expect BSA to conform to my needs.
They are, as I have written, a private organization, and can use their own standards for admission.
I don’t buy the crap they sell. When kids ring my door and ask me to buy it, or grab my attention going into the grocery store, they express disappointment that I do not want to buy their junk. I tell them why.
Perhaps they don’t know that BSA is discriminatory. Maybe they don’t care. Maybe their parents like enrolling them in a club where there are no gay/lesbians. that is their right.
Dig: I golf. I’m not great, strictly a duffer, but I love the game. I watch the Masters because it’s always on my birthday and its great golf. Augusta, the club where they play is really discriminatory. I can’t join it. even it I wanted to. I still watch the match though.
so rant all you want about freedom.
I’ll simply repeat what I said before, if the BSA/GSA do not meet YOUR standards for socio/political correctness, then by all means stay away from them. Find some to your liking. My issue has always been when people do not like the structure or social character of a group, the first order of business is to demand that said group modify or alter their fundamentals so that it meets THEIR standards. Choice is a wonderful freedom we still have left in America. Use yours and go where and with whom you like. That so many are still beating the “homophobic” drum simply belies their limited, narrow agenda as regards those scouting organizations. As to the “military uniforms” it seems that is another “phobia” that gets tossed out by those who choose to find evil where none actually exists. Police wear uniforms as do Police Explorer groups. Firemen wear uniforms as do Fire Explorer groups. I suppose in the mindset of those that find their American heritage/history personally repugnant in this New World Order time, then those issues are at the root of all that is wrong with this nation and it’s citizens. If the guilt of traditionalist American values and organizations that promote them keeps you awake at night, might I suggest that it is you who have the problems. Those groups have been so marginalized they are seldom even on the general public’s radar screen.
And before you come back with all the “bad things in America’s history” to make your point as you tried with the “guilt by association” approach ie. the BSA was founded in 1910, at a time morphine addiction was rampant, give it a rest. That “guilt” approach has long ago been worn out and ineffective. Try another/new approach if there is one.
“With all the supposed wisdom of some here, with their mindset we now have kids killing their fellow classmates in school, more children than ever having more children than ever, less self respect and certainly even less respect for elders than anytime in my memory, and the list goes on. But then those who favor traditional lifestyles and morality, you know that Mom. the flag, and apple pie stuff, will continue to raise kids who will serve their country so that idiots have the right to be idiots.”
RH,
I thought I was one of the few old farts here, but you certainly qualify as one if you believe what you write. The “less respect for elders” bit has been repeated for thousands of years by every generation that grows older and decides it doesn’t get the repsect it desrves. The BSA was founded here in 1910. Morphine addiction in 1910 was so widespread that they the government developed Heroin to ween people off of it. The decade brought war and turmoil, but the 20’s, the decade that followed it was known as the “roaring Twenties” for its’ criminality. partying and general disrespect for elders. Then came the “Depression 30’s” and such youngsters as Bonny and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger. Their criminal records and the widespread public support for their bank robbery exploits, certainly doesn’t bolster your contention of respect for elders.
The 40’s were War Years and so militarism was the order of the day.
However, the 50’s saw the birth of The Beats, Rock n’ Roll, the surfers and other widespread counter cultural feelings among the youth.
Heroin Addiction was widespread in the country as were youth gang wars.
Elvis was the example of “moral rot” among our youth. Do I have to say more about the 60’s than name them. The 70’s brought the “Me Generation” and widespread sexual/drug use and experimentation. The 80’s represented a decade of greed and people looking out for themselves rather than others. Things in the 90’s and our current decade are also not better.
The BSA has not ameliorated any of this and as I implied before I bet the number of Eagle Scouts involved in crime/drugs is at least the same percentagewise as the population. Your point about our needing scouting discipline more than ever doesn’t fit the history or the facts. Besides to me America is not about people dressing up in military type uniforms to learn discipline. I’m not saying there is nothing to be learned from scouting, but of the things to be learned moral values is low on the list, being mouthed but believed in only by those who had them in the first place.
The Boy Scout Manual, is another issue and I learned a lot of good tips from it. I’m an experienced camper, not the KOA type, who has camped all over this country. I can make a roaring wood fire from scratch, chop timber safely using only dead lumber, cook a gourmet meal on an old, rusty camp grill, know the woods, understand the way you can hike wild territory safely and many of the other skills. Sadly I’m not good at a vatiety of knots, but can get by with those I know.
Yet I was never a member of, nor wanted to be a Scout. I’m not against them per se, but they are not only not my cup of tea, but I find the
military/uniform/homophobic aspect kind of un-American. You can dream on about how youth in your memory was more obedient but the facts don’t bear you out. I can get you quotes from 2,000 years ago saing essentially the same stuff about the younger generation that you do.
RH writes: believe you asked the wrong question. And since it appears you are coming from the position of one who has a gay/lesbian family member ( I had one also) then I think you are single issue focused. You’re main axe to grind with the BSA/GSA appears not to be all the law abiding, respectful and moral characteristics that they strive to impart in their charges, but the fact that they exclude homosexual members within their ranks. If that position equates those organizations with the “Brown Shirts” then I suppose a majority of Americans also qualify for such demonization. At one time in this nation it was almost a universal right of passage that young people would either be a Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Girl Scout. I might point to the fact, that during that period of this nation’s evolution, there cerainly were not the issues with America’s youth that seems to be an unslovable proble in today’s towns and cities.
the wrong question? according to whom? you? I was not aware that I had to clear my questions in advance.
and btw, none of my kids are gay/lesbian and as far as I know no one in my family is gay/lesbian.
my complaint with BSA is that they are discriminatory which is their right as they are a private organization.
my family is Jewish and when my daughter was a scout her troop was what I would call a bunch of bible bangers who had no sensitivity for her beliefs. I do know some jewish kids who have had good experiences. we did not. When I was a scout I was asked to leave my troop since the day they met was also the day I had my hebrew education after school and I had to leave the troop meetings 20 minutes early to get to synagogue on time. both were important to me but after I was asked to leave I realized that I didn’t need to dress up in a dorky uniform and make table crafts to have a good time.
this nation’s evolution, as you put it, is not so very different from other points in history. We like to think we are special and our place in history is unique. not so.
of all the clubs kids can belong to why is this one held up as the model for goodness?
there are plenty of other places kids can go for friendship and activities.
GWLawSchoolMom ,
I believe you asked the wrong question. And since it appears you are coming from the position of one who has a gay/lesbian family member ( I had one also) then I think you are single issue focused. You’re main axe to grind with the BSA/GSA appears not to be all the law abiding, respectful and moral characteristics that they strive to impart in their charges, but the fact that they exclude homosexual members within their ranks. If that position equates those organizations with the “Brown Shirts” then I suppose a majority of Americans also qualify for such demonization. At one time in this nation it was almost a universal right of passage that young people would either be a Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Girl Scout. I might point to the fact, that during that period of this nation’s evolution, there cerainly were not the issues with America’s youth that seems to be an unslovable proble in today’s towns and cities.
“after all, some of our kids are gay and lesbian and they deserve to have places where they can learn and grow.” Then by all means, instead of demanding that the Scouting Organizations that you find so dispicable, set aside their basic moral organizational principles so that “our kids” can be equal members of those dispicable organizations, why do you and like minded individuals not form your own organizations to meet the specific needs of your gay and lesbian kids? Since you are so adamantly opposed to the Scouts then I would think it would be a no-brainer for you to start your own groups that would meet your specific amd narrowly defind demographic. I think you demonizing the Scouts while at the same time demanding equal access for “our kids” seems on it’s face to be self contradicting. Think on it.
RH writes: I agree with the author. This was simply overkill and more evidence that the “zero tolerance rules” are simply a crutch that allows grownups to dodge their need to use their brains. As to those that dislike the Boys Scouts as an organization, I would be hard pressed to see where this nation has inproved it’s moral foundation by advocating against such as the Boy scouts. With all the supposed wisdom of some here, with their mindset we now have kids killing their fellow classmates in school, more children than ever having more children than ever, less self respect and certainly even less respect for elders than anytime in my memory, and the list goes on. But then those who favor traditional lifestyles and morality, you know that Mom. the flag, and apple pie stuff, will continue to raise kids who will serve their country so that idiots have the right to be idiots.
the world would not be improved if all kids joined BSA/GSA. These are private clubs that encourage some values and discourage others. I don’t understand moral foundation in terms of BSA. Whose morals? Which values? Just because I think BSA is a bigoted group doesn’t mean that kids don’t get something from it… but wouldn’t it be nicer if BSA was more accepting and less discriminatory? accepting gays and lesbians is a good moral lesson for our children also… after all, some of our kids are gay and lesbian and they deserve to have places where they can learn and grow.
btw. the leading cause of teen suicide is among the gay community. gay kids need acceptance and love and acceptance. wearing a starched brown shirt and selling junk door to door isn’t exactly character building.
teaching diversity is.
I agree with the author. This was simply overkill and more evidence that the “zero tolerance rules” are simply a crutch that allows grownups to dodge their need to use their brains. As to those that dislike the Boys Scouts as an organization, I would be hard pressed to see where this nation has inproved it’s moral foundation by advocating against such as the Boy scouts. With all the supposed wisdom of some here, with their mindset we now have kids killing their fellow classmates in school, more children than ever having more children than ever, less self respect and certainly even less respect for elders than anytime in my memory, and the list goes on. But then those who favor traditional lifestyles and morality, you know that Mom. the flag, and apple pie stuff, will continue to raise kids who will serve their country so that idiots have the right to be idiots.