A Delaware first grader fails to consider the serious consequences of his innocent action and has been suspended by school administrators. He now faces 45 days in the district’s reform school having been found guilty of violating the school’s zero-tolerance weapons policy by a disciplinary committee.

Six-year-old Zachary Christie was so proud of being a Cub Scout that he decided to take his camping utensil to school and use it to eat lunch. When he got off the bus a teacher asked him what he was holding in his hand, so he showed her the utensil and explained why he brought it. The teacher confiscated the utensil and gave it to the principal, unleashing the whirlwinds of political correctness.

As a student, Zachary has advanced math skills and reads above grade level. He is a Cub Scout who plays Little League Baseball, studies martial arts, belongs to a church youth group, and attends school activities, including the talent show, the science fair, and the PTA Art Contest, where he won first place for his film, “What Is My Job?”

The District’s code of conduct bans knives “regardless of possessor’s intent,” leaving school administrators no choice but to automatically suspend him. Residents question why administrators blindly follow such policies without using discretion for each case individually. But school officials contend that it’s hard to distinguish innocent mistakes from serious threats and their strict policies protect students.

Critics argue that student protection is a two-way street. Zero-tolerance policies have expelled kids to the streets or to institutions where their behaviors exacerbate. The “collateral damage” from the District’s zero tolerance policy has resulted in innocent children being alternatively placed in The Douglass School, a reform school for juvenile delinquents with severe behavioral problems convicted of rape, assault and battery, concealing a deadly weapon, and drug offenses.

While critics contend that zero-tolerance policies undermine the use of common sense in handling minor infractions, school board President, George Evans, defends the committee’s decision and the weapons’ policy. 

“There is no parent who wants to get a phone call where they hear that their child no longer has two good seeing eyes because there was a scuffle and someone pulled out a knife,” Evans said.

The Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings have driven many of the nation’s school districts to adopt zero-tolerance policies for weapons on school grounds that have gone too far. What equivalence is there between a six year-old first grader and 17 and 18 year-old high school students or a 23 year-old college student?

How is showing off a combination knife, fork, and spoon camping utensil at school comparable to brandishing a Glock 19 and Walther P22, or a sawed off 12-gauge pump shotgun, 995 carbine rifle, TEC-DC9, and sawed off double-barrel shotgun?

Perhaps a better question is what indoctrination method or fluid is being given to education majors in graduate school to produce so many irrational, politically correct teachers and administrators? Obviously, something has sapped their common sense or they wouldn’t attempt to justify such absurd disciplinary actions. 

Concerned citizens who would like to offer Evans and the school board a bit of common sense, a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 13, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Porter Road Elementary School, 500 Caledonia Way, Bear, Delaware; for those who like to make their views known, Zachary’s parents have created a website with phone numbers and e-mail addresses of administrators and board members.

1.  [MathMan] tells us that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld has written Congressional leaders to clarify the Department’s continuing support for scouting events. Read Secretary Rumsfeld’s letter here. Perhaps the ACLU would like to sue the Department of Defense? We hope they have really DEEP pockets.

 
2.  [Amelia] points out that the Florida recount, conducted by the very liberal Miami Herald, proves that George Bush won overwhelmingly in areas with a 3:1 Democratic voter registration.

 
3.  [Amelia] shares an article about the culture war between Islam and the Dutch way of life, and offers comments.

 
4.  Various interpretations of the function of the President’s Cabinet have prevailed
during different periods in U.S. history. [Amelia] finds a news article, and comments.

 
5.  [Amelia] also links to this important article about the involvement of Kofi Annan’s son in the oil-for-food scandal. The article suggests that the scandal will continue “…until Kofi Annan, even if personally innocent, resigns…”

1.  [PTMOTT] refers us to this article** in the American Family Association newspaper, suggesting that the United Way and Target Stores are no longer worthy of support. Both organizations appear to have abandoned our American ideals. Most egregiously, several United Way chapters have withdrawn support from the Boy Scouts.

(**Link no longer valid.)

 
2.  From [American Cowboy] comes this piece called A Good Story.

 
3.  [A Fine Irishman] recommends this website as a good resource to learn the latest about all kinds of terrorism.

 
4.  [American Cowboy] contributes this definition of “Globalization”.

ACLU Challenges Military Over Boy Scout Troops

Our contributors comment:

1.  The Nov 16, 2004 Washington Post had an article “Military Bases Are Told Not To Sponsor Boy Scout Troops”. It seems that the ACLU has objected to American Military Units sponsoring Boy Scouts as they are a group that requires members to believe in God. Isn’t our democracy just wonderful when an organization such as the ACLU has the ability to object to what our military units may do in sponsoring an organization that prepares our children for their future in our country? The Boy Scout oath and its functions are all related to living a helpful and useful life within our society. Scouting also prepares our children to be patriotic and forgiving yet the ACLU has the ability to stifle its operation. Worse yet we have leaders in the Pentagon who are giving in to this outrageous demand. This directive needs to be reassessed at the highest level including the Supreme Court if necessary……….[Jarhead]

2.  So now the Military has caved in to the ACLU over the issue of Boy Scout Troops. What is next? Will we no longer be able to use the taxpayers’ money to provide chapels on military bases? Will the Chaplain Corps itself be abolished? Then next maybe the Chaplain for the United States Senate will have to go. (Sorry Barry. We will remember you.)

I have a better idea. Since the ACLU is a group of lawyers looking to make a name for themselves by taking up lawsuits counter to the best interests of “middle America”, let’s assemble a team of lawyers and counter-sue them every time they bring a case. That would be interesting……….[Virginia Doctor]