Kid suspended for drawing a gun

[Gemini Cricket]

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know what the other parents of kids in his class think. If I was one of them, I would be okay with the school's decision. AND I would sit my own kid down and talk to them about the incident.

[blueerica]

I stand by my insistence that suspension isn't the answer. It's an answer, and I suppose any attempt is better than none, but I feel that this could have a negative repercussion if there is a bigger issue at hand with the child.

I was suspended once, for a prank. I carried the least part in it, had been a model student, and yet I got the greatest punishment. Not only was I suspended, I had to go to "Saturday School." The suspension was a mere nuisance, and I got to chill out at home. (I am not even sure mom knew what was really going on). My biggest problem was how angry I felt toward the school administration for my seemingly excessive punishment in relation to my crime. Had I been having other issues who knows where it could have led. It was in my senior year of high school, and I still carry a distrust of authority that I have no doubt was only affirmed by my incident.

I feel that there is almost no situation in which suspension would be the correct course of action. Nothing ever really gets learned with suspension. It's usually just another prime example of authority not really doing anything but pretending to punish. "Let's get so-and-so out of our hair." The most effective part of my punishment was probably the Saturday School. Even a detention would have made more sense (to me) than a suspension.

Oh well.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by blueerica

Oh well.

Distrust, yes. But are you emotionally scarred by the incident and more likely to become a Columbine-esque murderer because of it? I'm thinking, no. But you do remember the suspension, don't you?

I was never suspended from school. I was never sent to the principal's office for my actions. (I voluntarily went to see the principal to complain about the shoddy job of teachers of mine, and I also went to protest the mandatory church services at my high school, but I never went because of something I did.) Why? Because I didn't do messed up things. Even when I was ten, I'd know that anything I put on homework goes directly to the teacher's eyes. I wasn't dumb.

I was raised to be accountable for my actions and if I mess up, I pay for it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I was raised to be accountable for my actions and if I mess up, I pay for it.

As was I, but I was never punished for the sake of punishment without accompanying dialog as to why what I did was wrong, to find out why I did it, and to discuss what a more appropriate behavior would have been. That's what's missing with the "Suspend first, ask questions later" attitude. The hypothetical kid did something wrong, but unless someone bothers to talk with him, learn why, and find out if he needs help finding better ways to express himself, nothing is solved. Best case, you've got a frustrated kid who feels he can't trust school administration. Worst case, you've given a troubled kid something to be angry about.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Distrust, yes. But are you emotionally scarred by the incident and more likely to become a Columbine-esque murderer because of it? I'm thinking, no. But you do remember the suspension, don't you?

I was never suspended from school. I was never sent to the principal's office for my actions. (I voluntarily went to see the principal to complain about the shoddy job of teachers of mine, and I also went to protest the mandatory church services at my high school, but I never went because of something I did.) Why? Because I didn't do messed up things. Even when I was ten, I'd know that anything I put on homework goes directly to the teacher's eyes. I wasn't dumb.

I was raised to be accountable for my actions and if I mess up, I pay for it.

You, my friend, have not lived. Poor bugger.

Got suspended myself for fighting... my parents always said, "Never hit first, but if they hit you, hit them back and make them bleed." And they supported me getting suspended for it, because that's exactly how it happened. Lost the fight, technically, but they were right that the person would never mess with me again.

But I guess you could see a disrespect for authority being bred by the fact that both people get suspended regardless of who the instigator was - like what, I'm just going to sit there and let some chica pound my face in so she can abuse me the rest of the school year? I don't think so.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

You, my friend, have not lived. Poor bugger.

Ha ha.
Being the son of a cop and a fundamentalist Catholic mom, I was an angel.

Which means I merely influenced others to do mischief.
I never got into fights because I had bodyguards. One was named "Psycho" the other was a Kung Fu black belt. Also, everyone was scared of my dad... including me.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'd like it noted that I think the parents in the real case here are total scumbags for going to the media. It's a petty way to deal with an issue that should be dealt with by going in and talking to the administration.

Hell, if you choose to go public with it, I think that should absolve the school from any requirement of confidentiality.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I'd like it noted that I think the parents in the real case here are total scumbags for going to the media. It's a petty way to deal with an issue that should be dealt with by going in and talking to the administration.

Hell, if you choose to go public with it, I think that should absolve the school from any requirement of confidentiality.

I agree. Apparently, there's a second kid involved whose parents didn't go to the media.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by The Lot

You must spread some Mojo around before giving it to Cadaverous Pallor again.

doesn't the mojo system ever 'reset?' I haven't mojoed CP in, like, forever ... but she deserves this public mojo very much, so all's good.

[Gemini Cricket]

CP ~ I went to a private school. Nuns and priests. And yes, they were all like that. I got hit if we did stuff wrong...

How can you possibly say that that nothing has changed from then and now? Nothing Columbine-esque happened when I was in school. Kids weren't packing when I was in school. Maybe the odd bee bee gun or slingshot but not real guns.

You keep bringing up examples and I keep telling you that anything inappropriate that gets turned in to a teacher is fair game. I'm handing this paper to you and it has a gun on it. That's a threat in my book. Especially when it isn't in context with what was written. ie. An illustration of a gun in a creative writing story.

I think we do live in a society of fear. We have this administration to thank for that. But like you said it's the half-assed nature of it that's wrong. Hastily checked bags, extra security one day then it's gone the next... I'd rather people be consistent. At times, I feel it's justified, sometimes I don't. In this case, I'd rather them err in the name of safety. I don't feel that in every case, but in this case I do.