The whussification of America continues.

[bassrique]

So these kids had a multi-tool and a lighter in their lacrosse bags for fixing equipment. They were arrested at school. I used to carry a Swiss Army Knife when I was a kid. Big deal. Oh yeah, when I smoked for ~one year in high school, I carried a lighter. I guess that made me a terrorist. WTH?





Controversy Over Suspension Of 2 Easton High Lacrosse Players « CBS Baltimore

Controversy Over Suspension Of 2 Easton High Lacrosse Players

May 10, 2011 11:35 PM

EASTON, Md. (WJZ)— Outrage is growing after two high school students are suspended– one taken away in handcuffs– over items found in their lacrosse equipment bags. Those items are banned from school property.

Mike Hellgren explains the zero-tolerance controversy.

The parents of those two students say the school administrators are taking this way too far.

Talbot County schools are under fire for suspending two Easton High School lacrosse players over equipment they kept in their bags to fix their sticks.

“It’s a huge overreaction for a very minor infraction, and it wasn’t handled well at all,” said Graham Dennis, suspended student.

Laura Dennis’ son Graham had a pen knife and a Leatherman that school authorities found while they searched a team bus before it headed to a game. He now faces jail time and damage to his permanent record.

“A police officer came and took him away in handcuffs and they said ‘Give us 40 minutes, we have to process him,’ Laura Dennis said. “So they did mug shots and they fingerprinted. I was able to pick him up from the police department 45 minutes later.”

Doug Edsall’s son Casey had a lighter he also used to fix his lacrosse stick. The school classified it as an explosive device.

“The school administration apparently stepped in, and I think the wheels came off at that point. I think a big mistake was made,” Doug Edsall said.

“I’m just really terrified of what could happened, and it’s just been real emotional for myself and Graham of what we’ve been through,” said Casey Edsall, suspended student.

The school refused to answer any questions. Instead they sent WJZ a statement that says the students broke state law: “The criminal law does not have an exemption for any class of students. Disciplinary decisions are often controversial.”

“To charge him for having a deadly weapon for a two-inch pocket knife is ridiculous,” Laura Dennis said. “It’s such a waste of everyone’s time and energy.”

The Maryland state school board is already taking a look at whether zero-tolerance policies go too far.

The parents of these students say the administrators’ actions here are out of line and their sons have never been in trouble and didn’t intend to harm anyone.

“You can hide behind a zero-tolerance policy. But I do believe that common sense needs to be applied, and unfortunately was not done in this instance,” Doug Edsall said.

“It makes me feel like I can’t trust people in a position of authority like that,” Graham said. “It’s scary to think that they would do something to a kid that doesn’t have any problems.”

The students have served their suspension. It’s unclear what might happen next, though, with these charges.

The school administrators say a team of staff members evaluated the case before making a decision about the punishment.

[hover]

but... but.... they might....fix something....or even....light..................................... .................................................. ............something.

We can't have that. That's why we hired a janitor. I mean custodial engineer.

[basstotheface]

I'm allowed to bring a knife as long as it is 3' or under.

[bassrique]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

I'm allowed to bring a knife as long as it is 3' or under.

High school or college?

[UncleFluffy]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

I'm allowed to bring a knife as long as it is 3' or under.

I'm hoping that the limit's really 3', but suspect you really mean 3".

Otherwise, flashing sabres in the school tennis courts here we come!

[jonathan_matos5]

i kept a pocket knife and a zippo with me at all times during high school. i used them for cutting things and lighting them on fire. i also used to keep fire crackers in my car and light them with the cars cigarette lighter and throw them out the window.

[pacojas]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

i kept a pocket knife and a zippo with me at all times during high school. i used them for cutting things and lighting them on fire. i also used to keep fire crackers in my car and light them with the cars cigarette lighter and throw them out the window.

don't look now, but there's a black van outside of your house.

[Hawaii Islander]

As a student, I used to have cigarettes and lighters with me in highschool all the time. I even smoked "in school", in the teacher's lounge when it was too cold or rainy outside. It was a bit strange having a teacher bum a light off me though. (Yes that was in the 70's)

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by pacojas

don't look now, but there's a black van outside of your house.

that van is always there. it is the drug dealer not the law.

i really need to move to a better neighborhood.

[pacojas]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

that van is always there. it is the drug dealer not the law.

i really need to move to a better neighborhood.

oh snap!!! lol

[pie_man_25]

I always had a victorinox brand pocket knife in my pocket in high school. And I got out just two years ago. I knew exactly how much crap I could get into, and I really don't care.

[coreyfyfe]

I blame it our litigious society. People are so scared of being sued for every little thing that you end up with restrictions on everything.

[()smoke()]

wow that's ridiculous

[GregC]

Very silly. But, having gone to public school in the '70s and '80s, it always seems like the rulemakers have been enemies of common sense. I knew a couple girls who had gym as their last class of the day one year. Well, a bunch of us liked to hang out at our favorite teacher's classroom for a while after the day was over as she graded papers and whatnot.

Wouldn't you know it, the assistant principal got wound up and admonished the girls for breaking the rules by wearing shorts in the halls (you couldn't wear shorts to class in those days) even though it was afterhours.

[Texan]

Nazi Germany had a zero tolerance policy...no good came of it.

What happened to the days when authority figures could make decisions on their own?

[jp58]

I'm honestly shocked.

We used to have a team knife and grill lighter to patch the wrestling mat and mend our shoes. How else were we supposed to use the sports tape or heat-to-use mat patch stuff?

Major face-palm.

[Staredge]

zero tolerance=zero brains



oh, and .........

[NateS]

wait, you can make lighters explode?

somebody needs to show me how.

and...let's be serious here. sure, he used the lighter to fix his lacrosse stick. then he turned around and took a bowl hit with it, too. lol

[anonymous122511]

Amazing....
Next you'll be telling me they wanna take guns away from responsible adults. Like that could ever happen.

[Mark Latimour]

If this is such a big deal, why arn't Americans doing something about it? There's a system in place to get laws changed - unless of course, this is really what the majority wants.