Student Makes Wood Knife - Suspended!
Here’s another incident that started out innocuously and ended up with serious repercussions. A student in Castle Park Middle School in Chula Vista, California, was “caught” by a teacher making a wooden knife in shop class. If you were the teacher, what would you have done? How would you have reacted?In this particular case, the wood shop teacher did what he thought was best - he called the campus security and had the student escorted to the assistant principal’s office. For his part, the assistant principal called in the police to talk to the student. The mother was then called up and the student was suspended for 4 days. As it is already Christmas vacation, he would not be going back to school till the start of the New Year.
So what is the issue here? The incident actually caused an uproar among people who heard about it. There are camps saying that the teacher and the school authorities in fact over reacted. On the other hand, there are those saying that they did the right thing - times have changed and schools have to enact a zero tolerance policy in order to ensure safety.
As I was reading the news article, I was mulling on the incident myself. Did the wood shop teacher do the right thing? Was there a better way that he could have handled the situation? Same thing for the assistant principal - was calling the police in the best course of action?
This occurrence is actually indicative of the dilemma that school administrators are facing, I believe. On the one hand, they know that they must be strict and enforce security measures to the fullest. On the other hand, they must also take each incident in context and analyze the factors involved in each one.
For this student who fashioned a knife out of a piece of wood - in wood shop, no less - it is hard to say whether the authorities took the best course. I would like to think that if I were the teacher, I would have talked to the student first. Then again, I do not have information regarding the student’s background and if he had any history of violence or insubordination. These things would play a big role as to what decisions school authorities should take.
I know I have not said anything conclusive but I do not think I am in the position to do so. What would you have done?
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Posted on December 28th, 2007 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, News, People Involved, School Safety Issues, Security, Students
I agree with you. This zero-tolerance policy is getting out of hand. You mentioned it was close to Christmas break. The student was in wood shop class. Again not knowing prior knowledge of student or attitude…
Was the student perhaps making a letter opener as a Christmas present? I have a metal opener that I bought at a festival. People do still use them.
This type of stuff and six years olds being labeled a sexual offender because he kissed a girl in school is CRAZY. I remember when we used to think they looked “so cute” when we saw little kids show affection to each other. Our kids can not show affection towards each other or anger/ aggressive behaviour.
What is happening? Mindless, dull inanimate zombies walking to and fro. Is that what some people want?
I think we better read the book “1984″ again and say this is what is happening. Does the majority of the people want this? We are giving away our civil rights and no one is thinking twice about it. I am so disappointed in my 60’s generation people. I feel they have gone “belly up”. We have cameras on corners and intersections. Now next year, we are being forced to have some box on our television or we will not be able to view it because legislature decided we should all experience viewing high definition T.V. I truly think this is unconstitutional as is the HOMELAND Security laws. Does everyone realize that any agency can come to your door and without any search order, enter your private home and search for anything that is suspicious and arrest you for probable cause. As a former Military disposal ordinance person told me, he could make a bomb from a bar of soap and a couple other household things. Don’t we all have these things at home? I must get off my soapbox.
Deborah
What the hell?
The student was punished for making a knife?
That takes imagination and skill, and look what happened to him…
The student should have been praised for being so creative and making such a useful tool, and the teacher and pricipal, sacked.
It’s the first time I commented here and I should say you give genuine, and quality information for other bloggers! Great job.
p.s. You have a very good template . Where did you find it?
Sack the teacher for doing the right thing? Praise the kid for making a weapon? Do you know how hard it is to find woodshop teachers? Do you know how stressful it is to be in a class with 30+ kids with power tools and sharp objects? What if the teacher had let it slide and the student had hurt somebody? I constantly have kids trying to make weapons or pipes and you suggest I say good job! How long do you think I would keep my job? I learned very quickly the old adage CYA. If a teacher knows about a weapon and lets it slide then he or she is the one who gets the rap. there is another old saying about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes before you criticize.
Ted
A knife is not a weapon. It can be, just like any other object you can make.
It is the most used tool throughout the world, and this kid was suspended for having the brains to make one. Silly principal.
I think if the student was a good kid and didnt have any other reports of violence or misbehavior. He should have let it slide and gave him a warning saying he was going to tell the principal. If the principle thought he should get expelled he should have suspended him for a short time and said next time your expelled. and if he didnt use it then just take it away if he was still making then just take it away
Chris
How is this misbehaviour?
For those who have been brainwashed by the media, a knife is NOT a weapon by default. Is a hammer a weapon? Are your fists a weapon?
This story reflects upon our sheeple society, Ted from above being top of the list.