Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on October 12, 2009

Remember when you were in first grade? How much bigger you felt over those baby kindergartners, how you wanted Scooby Doo to be your friend, how you thought that the world was as big as the block your house was on? When seeing a butterfly was truly fascinating, and being away from Mom and Dad for a full day was still scary?

First graders are just awakening to a world outside themselves, are filled with fears and wonder, have no concept of politics (or long division), and must be protected from the avarice and evils of the oft-times twisted adult realm.

First grade was a special haven, a place to learn and be nurtured. A place to set the foundation for a child to become a normal, healthy adult.

Well, not anymore.

The out-of-control zero-tolerance policy strikes AGAIN in a Delaware school. When is common sense going to make a comeback?

From AOL News:

Student Suspended Over Camping Tool

(Oct. 12) — Zachary Christie, 6, was happy about joining the Cub Scouts and was excited about a new camping utensil that functions as a spoon, fork and knife — so excited that he took the tool to school to use it at lunch.

But the Newark, Del., boy’s enthusiasm got him kicked out of school for violating a zero-tolerance policy on weapons, The New York Times reported.

The first-grader faces 45 days in reform school after officials determined the camping utensil violated the Christina School District’s ban on knives. His mother is home-schooling him while his family appeals the punishment.

“It just seems unfair,” Zachary told The Times. Debbie Christie has started a Web site, helpzachary.com, to draw attention to her son’s situation.

Some people say school officials should be able to exercise discretion in such cases, but others argue that zero-tolerance policies are necessary to prevent discrimination. Delaware lawmakers gave school officials more flexibility on weapons last year after a third-grader was kicked out of school for a year because her grandmother sent her to class with a birthday cake and a knife to cut it. But the change dealt only with expulsions, not suspensions like Zachary’s.

“We didn’t want our son becoming the poster child for this, but this is out of control,” Debbie Christie told The Times.

And yet, more tolerance and compassion is shown to elected officials in Congress who deliberately don’t pay taxes.

A not so “brave new world” where a 6-year-old is prosecuted more than sleazy tax-evading millionaire congressmen in Washington, DC. If you’re interested in helping, go to Help Zachary, the website the boy’s parents have set up to promote their cause of overturning their son’s suspension.

On the flip side, there’s this atrocity in Arizona schools: Bonkers in Arizona: Tucson Schools Propose One Set of Disciplinary Rules for Black & Hispanic Students, Other Rules for Everyone Else.

Related reading:
Dvorak Uncensored: Zero Tolerance School Policies Are Out Of Control
New York Times: It’s a Fork, It’s a Spoon, It’s a … Weapon?
Delaware Liberal: Zachary’s Story Goes National
QandO: 0% Tolerance; 100% Nonsense
PoliGazette: Zero-Tolerance Policies Go Bonkers…Again
Resolute Determination: 6 Year old cub scout gets suspended in Delaware… Educating for the future…
Controlling Authority: Annals of Zero Tolerance
AskCharly: Six-year-old sent to reform school for bringing a “weapon” (Cub Scout camping cutlery) to school
Chicken Heart: Zachary Christie – Help Zachary
Unfair Doctrine: Student Suspended for Anti-Obama T-Shirt

Categories: Education, Government, Social and Political Climate
Tags: American school, camping utensil, Cub Scout, Delaware, first grader suspended, Help Zachary, public school, school, student suspended, Zachary Christie, zero tolerance