Eating Utensil Gets First Grader in Trouble
13 Oct
It’s an absurdity you’d expect Douglas Adams to mention as a quick aside in one of his books. That is, a First Grader from Newark, Delaware had to go before a character witness hearing last week at his school. Why? Because he brought an eating utensil that serves as a fork, spoon, and knife to lunch.
Unfortunately, I don’t think events like this one are isolated. After all, students regularly get suspended for offering classmates Tylenol. But, the Supreme Court long ago decided that the rights granted to all American citizens, regardless of age, don’t apply within the boundaries of a school, even though a school is government property. So while normally you’re innocent unless proven guilty, that axiom does not apply if you’re a student.
In any case, read more about the first grader in the New York Times.
For crying out loud. Never mind the absolute absurdity of this whole thing in the first place. I want to know why they even have character witness hearings for first graders. Poor kid.
Poor little dude. Big kudos to his parents though.
Pfft. That kid is smart and the school system is stupid. Heck, forget individual eating utensils. That’s genius!
Poor kid! That school system is messed up.
Health and safety has gone too far!!
I thought the most uplifting part of the whole disgraceful saga was his parents’ reaction: they didn’t rage or spit fire, they just said they supported the school’s policy on knives but were disappointed way it had been enforced in this case. Standing up for their child without going overboard – it’s a skill more parents [and people in general!] could use.