Lock and LEGO: Six-Year-Old Kindergartner Put Into Detention Over Tiny LEGO Gun Found In His Possession
jonathanturley
We have yet another zero logic case out of our schools enforcing zero tolerance policies on guns. We have yet another case of lunacy in our schools as part of the zero tolerance policy regarding guns. We have previously explored how teachers and school administrators are expelling or suspending students for everything from finger guns to stick figures. (here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). For a prior column, click here. Even nibbling a danish into a gun shape can get you expelled today. Now a 6-year-old kindergartner attending Old Mill Pond Elementary School in Palmer, Mass faced possible suspension or expulsion because he was spotted with a plastic Lego G.I. Joe gun — the size of a quarter — on to his school bus. After public outcry, the school decided that it would not discipline the boy. However, the boy was given detention after the discovery.
After a fellow student alerted the bus driver, the boy was taken to detention. He was forced to apologize to the bus driver — presumably for endangering the whole bus with the quarter sized LEGO toy. Then school officials sent home a letter to all parents alerting them to the harrowing experience and reminding them of the zero tolerance policy.
Once again, teachers and administrators insist on applying this policy will little judgment or logic. The fact that this boy was put into detention at all is moronic, let alone requiring him to apologize to a bus driver that a toy was brought on board.
