Samuel, now 8, has been out of school for almost a year. His parents have home-schooled him since he was expelled for bringing a clear plastic, spring-action toy gun to school, which fired plastic beads.
"He has been deprived of an education. My son made a mistake, and they kept him out a year," said Samuel's mother, Karen Burgos. And it may be longer than that before Samuel is permitted to rejoin his classmates. A hearing will be held this month as his family fights his expulsion. Because the school board's order has not yet been finalized, his punishment could be extended into next year. And it may be longer than that before Samuel is permitted to rejoin his classmates. A hearing will be held this month as his family fights his expulsion. Because the school board's order has not yet been finalized, his punishment could be extended into next year. "We said this is not an option, this is unacceptable," Samuel's father said. "I cannot, as a concerned parent, send my child, to a correctional school at 7 years old, who committed a mistake."
Zero tolerance policies, such as this one in Florida, exist in some form in all 50 states, according to the Education Commission of the States. In the post-Columbine world, schools have taken a hard line in increasing safety by increasing punishments. But the laws are constantly evolving, according to experts, so that the less serious, often petty cases of misconduct are not handled the same as the serious ones.
I understand the zero tolerance for guns, but come on a seven year old with a toy gun? I personally think it is ridiculous to expel a seven year old for a mistake and then try to put him in an alternative school. It is just unfair for him to be expelled and then have to keep that on his record for the rest of his life. What do you guys think do you think his punishment was fair?
I mean I understand the reasons behind it. What if it would have been a real gun that the kid took from his fathers safe of something. Plus the gun in questions sounds like an airsoft gun. Those can be potentially lethal and dangerous in the hands of a seven year old. It is a bit unfair especially since the gun was never used or anything of the sort but i understand why. This country has suffered enough with school tragedies that schools cant be too careful. As for the amount of time its taken, it is a bit ridiculous and far too long. I'm sure both the kid and the parent have learned their lessons.
ReplyDeleteThis is the reason I have an issue with mandatory rules. Is there no element of human interaction when the administrators review the case? Our society is so politically correct, we cannot make a rational judgement without fear of being called a racist or sexist or even an ageist.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of mandatory minimum sentences in today's courts. Many times it seems as if judges can't reduce (or even increase) a sentence because it's on the books. Even when the sentence is extremely harsh or light.