You may have read recently about the fourth-grade who was suspended for using a broken pencil sharpener.
After reading the school's response, and as the parent of a fifth grader, I couldn't restrain myself any longer.
Dear Parents,
On Tuesday, September 9, a ten year old student at our school brought the metal blade from a pencil sharpener to his classroom. The pencil sharpener was altered at home and the blade was brought to school. Though students are allowed to bring pencil sharpeners to school, it was evident that a detached blade could have created a dangerous setting for the student and/or other children.
The student was referred to the principal’s office with the blade. The sheriff’s department responded and documented the incident in a report. The parent was contacted for a conference and took the student home. The student went home with his mother and was suspended for Wednesday, September 10 for inappropriate behavior. The School District’s Office of Student Services was contacted immediately and is working with the family to address the child’s needs.
The article published in the media on Thursday, September 11 contained several inaccuracies. One inaccuracy is the implication that the student’s pencil sharpener accidently broke at school. Other inaccuracies cannot be specified in consideration of student confidentiality.
We take great pride in assuring our parents that we have a safe school. We are updating you so that if you read or hear about the incident, you will know the facts.
Thank you for continuing to work with us to ensure a safe campus.
Sincerely,
Jill McAden
My responses to Ms McAden:
Every time you sharpen a pencil from now on, you suspend yourself.
There is absolutely no excuse for this level of idiocy.
He could probably give someone a better paper cut than one with that
pencil sharpener!
Epic fail. You has it.
"We take pride in assuring our parents that we have a safe school"
That's a very telling remark. You don't take pride in having a safe
school, you take pride in informing people you do.
Somewhat to my surprise, I today received a polite response from a school district spokesman.
On behalf of Beaufort County School District, I thank you for writing, Mr. Fitzgerald. I'm sure you understand that we cannot discuss the specifics but below is a response from the principal.
We appreciate your care in writing and hope that you trust us that there is more to this story.
Sincerely,
Randy Wall
Thank you for your interest in our school. We regret that inaccuracies in a local news story created an impression that we do not use common sense in working with our children.
While I cannot discuss a minor child's case, I want to advise you that the Beaufort County School District does not have a zero tolerance policy. In our elementary school, all discipline is progressive. Our students have pencil sharpeners in each classroom as well as individual sharpeners in their art boxes. The student was not suspended for having a pencil sharpener. He had an exposed blade which created a dangerous setting for the student and other children. The student was suspended for one day for inappropriate behavior in the classroom. The suspension was warranted.
Please visit our school web site to know more about our wonderful school.
I couldn't let that slip by so easily.
Dear Mr. Wall,
I'm sorry, but I don't trust you that there is more to this story than
has already been reported. If he had actually caused a "dangerous
setting", it would have been in the police report. Instead, it says
"(Amy Dungan) observed the Suspect holding what appeared to be a small
razor blade".
When I was in sixth grade, I had a thrown trash can hit me in the back
in a classroom from which the teacher was temporarily absent. Nobody
was suspended, and I don't even remember if the attacker was sent to
the office. You suspended a student for holding part of a pencil
sharpener that had broken at home.
I stand by my earlier "EPIC FAIL" comment.