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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009

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|NEXT STORY »

First-Grader With Camp Knife Back in School

Board shortens punishment from 45 days to 3

By Harry Kimball| Posted Oct 14, 09 12:14 PM CDT|

(Newser) – The Delaware first-grader suspended for bringing a camping knife to school is welcome to return after the school board amended its zero-tolerance policy. Zachary Christie was to spend 45 days at an alternative school; now, kindergarten and 1st-grade students with a “dangerous instrument”—a blade less than 3 inches—face a 3-to-5-day suspension and counseling. “We need to recognize the cognitive level of these kids,” a school board member tells the News Journal.

“We need to provide a little leeway,” the member continues. An expert says boards often arrive at these draconian policies as a way to eliminate discrimination, but it doesn’t make the situation any less bizarre. “They're scared of opening themselves up to a lawsuit so they turn to these one-size-fits-all policies,” he says. “But unfortunately that leads to some crazy kind of decisions and some strange and odd outcomes.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Debbie Christie, right, mother of Zachary Christie, 6, not pictured, and her fiance Lee Irving, left, attend a Christina School District board meeting yesterday. (AP Photo)

Zachary Christie, 6 during an interview yesterday with the CBS Early Show in Newark, Del. (AP Photo)

George E. Evans, left, president of the Christina School Board and Marcia Lyles, superintendent of the Christina School District glance at one another during a school board meeting yesterday. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I'm thrilled Zachary will be able to go back to school. I'm overwhelmed. I'm sure my son is overwhelmed, and I'm ready to get back to my private life. - Debbie Christie

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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33 comments

VIEWING:

Aelius28
Oct 14, 09 12:16 PM CDT

Fuck that school board. Sorry, but that's all that needs to be said here. Reply

+12

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Oct 14, 09 1:14 PM CDT

Yeah, you really showed 'em. Never mind that they acknowledged their mistake and changed the policy. Never mind that I've never served on a school board and don't see things from their perspective. All that needs to be said is, "F 'em". So, "F you, school board." Yeah, that's all that needs to be said. OK, everyone is free to move along. No more posting necessary. Everything that needs to be said has been said.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

zik
Oct 14, 09 1:17 PM CDT

@Unaffiliated: the change was even bullshit... And this never should have happened... Common sense seems to dictate that we consider an iota of intent here. This is a first grader who just joined the cub scouts with a multitool, I'm not inclined to believe he brought it to school to shank someone... Take it away, give it back at the end of the day, and explain to him that he shouldn't do it again...

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 14, 09 1:33 PM CDT

@Unaffiliated, what did they change? "Zero-tolerance" to "multi-day suspension + councilling"? It's insane. Nevermind the fact that it's virtually unheard of for children that age to attack someone with a weapon, but... it's a fucking TOOL. Nothing has changed in the last 50 years in terms of the human psyche; people used to bring hunting knives and shotguns on to school property as a matter of course and no one batted an eye. People have become so accustomed to an urban lifestyle nowadays that they think guns and knives will jump out of pockets and start shooting/stabbing people. It's absurd, and it would be laughably absurd if it wasn't for the fact that these poor kids are being punished for it.

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Oct 14, 09 3:15 PM CDT

I'm not saying their original policy, or the changed policy is right. I'm just saying I think you're dropping the F bomb unnecessarily and without fully thinking things through, and then declaring the end of the conversation, even if done partly in jest, was also unnecessary. I agree with Zik that this was not an intentionally malicious act, and I agree with you, Aelius, that this was just a tool and that the school overreacted. Imagine what might have happened if the principal was made aware of the kid bringing in the tool, he took it away and gave it back at the end of the day and said "Don't bring it in again." I can imagine all sorts of overreactions from other kids' parents if that ever got out. which would put the principal at risk of firing from the school board, and the school board at risk of being voted out of office. What's 45 days out of school (or in an "alternative" school) for one kid when my position is at risk? It would have taken a lot of courage, real courage, for the principal or the school board to act differently, to do the right thing when it goes completely against public opinion.

-3

| 0 minutes ago

Netstorm2k9
Oct 14, 09 12:23 PM CDT

Finally, some common sense prevails. Good for you, kid. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

blondoharris
Oct 14, 09 12:23 PM CDT

My personal opinion is that I have raised a child that did numerous things behind my back. I always protected him, until I found proof! Then, I had him locked up at Campus. I do not have any regrets, as his Father was rarely their, and I had to do what I had to do. It was getting beyond the word control. Bring a knife to school, bring gasoline in a paint thinner bottle, etc. I appreciate the school for doing something". Seriously, I'm just a Mother, aware that teachers have no control, what will the world turn into? I completely agree with the suspension! Call Me Blondo! And now that my children are grown, tough love won! Reply

-8

IN RESPONSE:

carbonated_turtle
Oct 14, 09 12:52 PM CDT

So I guess we should remove all the tools from shop classes. And while we're at it, pencils and pens can be used to stab people in the eye, so we better remove those too. Oh and if you drink enough paint, you'll probably get pretty sick or die, so we might as well just cancel art. I've carried a knife in my pocket since I was in grade nine, and despite using it almost every single day, I have never had to use it as a weapon. This world is so backwards.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 14, 09 1:40 PM CDT

I go a step further. I have on my belt a $100 tactical flashlight, two knives together costing $200, a pair of handcuffs, a pen-and-notepad, a lighter, a monocular and a small fixed-blade attached to my ankle. Guess how many outrageous crimes I commit every night? What, why not? Why else would I have all of this equipment unless I wanted to commit a crime? That's the kind of attitude these people (sheeple, I call them) have. They think if THEY can't find a reasonable use for something potentially harmful that therefore it MUST be that person's intent to use it for harm.

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Oct 14, 09 4:01 PM CDT

@Aelius, what DO you use all that stuff for? Are you a cop? A private investigator? Have you ever needed the handcuffs? I don't ask to insinuate that you shouldn't carry that stuff. I just wouldn't have a use for that stuff personally, so I'm curious.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 14, 09 6:45 PM CDT

@aelius - So, if every kid came to school wearing your Batman belt, it would be ok? If it's ok, then how do Teachers know which kids are going to use their Batman belt for good and which ones are going to use their Batman belt for bad? The point of the zero tolerance policy is to prevent Teachers and other school officials from having to make that call. I feel sorry for our school officials; they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. There's no where to draw a line on this stuff. It's not black and white, but treating it as grey just leads to lawsuits and other problems, hence, they take the approach they take, whether it makes sense or not to the rest of us. The rest of us are not walking on egg shells waiting for the next lawsuit to target us! The only problem with this situation is that 45 days was excessive. There was nothing wrong with ensuring the kid does not bring his own Batman belt to school again and instead uses the Batman belts provided at the school. No, they can't take every single dangerous thing out of the schools, but they can damn sure try to stop other dangerous things from being *brought* to school.

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Oct 14, 09 12:23 PM CDT

Things sure change. My dad used to take his hunting rifle to school (in case there was game to shoot on the way to or from). They just stacked them in the corner by the coats. Columbine-type situations just weren't a reality then. This country has lost it's moral footing, and quite frankly, it's sanity. This has a lot to do with the advent of the atheist/socialist state. In the words of Barrys racist, America-hating ecumenical leader and pal Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.: "The chickens are coming home to roost!" Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

Jes
Oct 14, 09 12:32 PM CDT

The high school I graduated from was rural and guys used to have guns in their trucks during hunting season and would carry pocket knives and multitools with them and it was just something people wouldn't bring up unless they had them out in Ag. Coming from a reasonable sized and very strict zero tolerance school before that it really weirded me out at first, but it worked at that school, though it never would have at my previous one. I graduated in '06, so this wasn't back in stegosaurus days either.

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 14, 09 12:44 PM CDT

Say what you like about rural folks being rednecks and all. Generally speaking, they are more law abiding, religious and moral than urbanites.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

calkino
Oct 14, 09 12:45 PM CDT

jayster, when exactly was the advent of your atheist/socialist state?

IN RESPONSE:

opheliaglass
Oct 14, 09 12:54 PM CDT

A lot of nations are atheistic, but are doing really well. This has nothing to do with the advent of the atheist/socialist state. We are actually statistically very, very Christian compared to other western countries, yeah? Maybe you can continue the advent of apathy by doing nothing except praying and waiting for Jesus to come back and fix everything.

IN RESPONSE:

opheliaglass
Oct 14, 09 12:57 PM CDT

and I'm from a 700- population town as well. Then I actually WENT to an urban area and saw that most of the people are actually very nice. I was very religious, but eventually I realized that belief God encourages petty bullshit and erroneousness, rakes frustration. The world is very peaceful outside of the moral safety of religion...

IN RESPONSE:

carbonated_turtle
Oct 14, 09 1:06 PM CDT

As soon as you blame atheism for school shootings, nobody is going to take you seriously. Please hang up and try your comment again. You obviously belong to the religitard right, so I realize that ignorance is your specialty, but for once in your life, please make an effort to not be so stupid. Let's check the score. Wars started to spread Atheism = 0. Wars started to spread religion, and innocent people murdered because of it = Countless and growing. Your god can suck it.

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 14, 09 1:16 PM CDT

Our nations troubles are largely based on the fact that we have turned from God and become a sinful and decadent people. We will continue to suffer the consequences until we repent as a nation and give our love, faith and allegiance to our loving and benevolent Father In Heaven.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

carbonated_turtle
Oct 14, 09 1:28 PM CDT

Thanks preacher Jay! If I wanted to listen to childish fairy tales, I'd visit a pre-school. You have no idea just how clueless you are. As usual with your kind, you've ignored what other people have said, and you just preach your nonsense. Before Xianity, every single Viking believed in Odin and Thor, and tell me, how many people believe in them today. You can kiss your medieval beliefs goodbye, because the world is finally ready to get rid of them once and for all.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 14, 09 1:46 PM CDT

Jayster, most European countries have many times the amount of atheists than the United States as a percentage. And yet they rank higher than we do on pretty much every social standard. Americans kill each other more, they have more teen pregnancies, and on and on and on. California has about the population of Canada. Californians kill each other with KNIVES more than Canadians kill each other with EVERYTHING. Canada is less religious. Oh, and urbam people are statistically more secular than rural people. And by the way, since idiocy is never too far behind religion's wake, I assume you think the United States is a Christian nation? No. It never was. It was founded as a secular nation - God is never mentioned in the Constitution and several of the Founding Fathers were atheists, most of them were deists. Certainly most were not Christians. You'll probably say "80% of the country is Christian". Yeah, well 80% of the country is white. Most of them are women too. I dare you to go out on the street and say "America is a white female nation". You won't, 'cause someone would kick your ass.

IN RESPONSE:

carbonated_turtle
Oct 14, 09 1:59 PM CDT

I think answered all our comments with this one. "Say what you like about rural folks being rednecks and all. Generally speaking, they are more law abiding, religious and moral than urbanites." When you're completely self-centered, and oblivious to the world around you, it's pretty easy to think you're better than everyone else. I think it's time to pack up and leave Redneck, Alabama and see the world. I think you'll be quite shocked with what you see.

| 0 minutes ago

LibertyMan
Oct 14, 09 12:38 PM CDT

The parents of this boy are so lucky to have such a sweet and innocent boy. I sure this experience with confused goverment thinking doesn't sour him further down the road. He looked a good boy caught up in liberal socialism regulations. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 14, 09 12:46 PM CDT

You are high.

IN RESPONSE:

yummines
Oct 14, 09 4:18 PM CDT

You had a good comment until it blamed liberals for this. Really? Liberals are the cause of panic from a small child carrying a camp tool? It is one thing to put the blame on the school board from not keeping in mind that it is a tool, not a weapon but it is another thing to blame a completely unrelated party for no particular reason other than moving the blame.

IN RESPONSE:

GetALife
Oct 14, 09 5:30 PM CDT

Go to somailia, will ya?

| 0 minutes ago

Derni
Oct 14, 09 12:57 PM CDT

As a school adminstrator I was interested in how this would turn out-what he had in school is a joke -I see 6-7 inch blades and a varitey of other "hunting" equipment !! Good luck to this little guy. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

thejoint00
Oct 14, 09 2:01 PM CDT

this is what happens when we start limiting the capabilities of others rather than training them how to apply thier capabilities. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

sspoonmann
Oct 14, 09 2:50 PM CDT

I was fighting, in 1972 6th grade, and got on top and found myself trying to stab a pencil in his eye. fight was stopped before i did, I'm glad. But, should they ban pencils? I'm not a violent person but when threatened you do stupid things. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

serfinWI
Oct 14, 09 8:50 PM CDT

Could cause some pretty serious damage with paper cuts, too.

| 0 minutes ago

SemperFI
Oct 14, 09 4:05 PM CDT

Yup. All ya need is a little media attention. That being the wrong media attention. And viola. Back in school. Next up the School Board needs to fire itself. Duh...we have to provide a little leeway. Watch out the next 6 y/o you see might be a terroist w/a Cub Scout fork and spoon Reply

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Oct 14, 09 4:41 PM CDT

Waking up to your stupidity retrospectively is better than staying asleep. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

GetALife
Oct 14, 09 5:29 PM CDT

Who gives a shit one way or another and why was a big deal made of it on both sides? The media's need to fill airtime, that's why. You all fell into their trap with your "deep" analysis and I imagine me too, since I am now commenting on it. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 33 comments »

school • suspension • Delaware • elementary school • school board • school violence • knife • zero-tolerance • Zachary Christie

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First-Grader With Camp Knife Back in School