What do you think the appropriate punishment would be for a 2nd grader bringing a loaded gun to school?

2 comments:

• Dale Whiting posted at 4:15 am on Thu, Jan 12, 2012.

  Posts: 3705

  Once again our editors fail to put forth the best alternative.

  Expulsion: A punishment not fit for the crime. What 8 year old can appreciate the wrong in taking that bright shiny pistol to school? Likely he thought it was unloaded and hence safe.

  Suspension with mandatory counseling: What child psychologist can impart anything of value on this topic into the mind and hence behavior of an 8 year old like this one. My grade school principle knew how to impart wisdom and how to impart it in five minutes. After fighting on the play ground, we'd be parked for 5 minutes on chairs positioned just outside her door. Then it would be into her office one at a time, bending over a chair and a whack or two on our bared bottoms. But then that was Texas. Funny how the girls never got into trouble! Those spats were our 'red badge of courage!' And our adversaries on the play ground became our new best friends. That is real child psychology!

  Suspend the student, charge the parents with a felony: In something as minor as this, a felony requires the showing of an "evil mind," intent to do harm to others. Here the parents were negligent at best.

  This is nothing like negligent homicide. And since no more harm that a hole into the plywood seat back was done, paying a fine for a replacement seat back is all that is required. Let the Dad do the seat changing as a Saturday activity with his son. I'll bring the tools. Mom can bring the lunch!

  Now here is the choice that should have been offered.

  Have the child counseled [the modern way] by his principal. Then have the principal accompany him back to the classroom, there for the principal and teacher to apologize to him and his entire class for not teaching that guns are not to be brought on campus, then onto a school wide assembly where that lesson is taught to all, makeup’s scheduled for those absent that day. A video tape should do the trick.

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• DrJCA1 posted at 9:39 pm on Sun, Jan 15, 2012.

  Posts: 315

  Perhaps a felony for the parents is a bit harsh, but as a society, we need to do something about these useless parents whose children cause all sorts of havoc. Most of these so-called parents are way too busy with achieving social status (Lexus, Rolex, Armani suits, Gucci bags, overpriced and oversized houses, etc) to actually have time to be involved with their kid's lives. I see it all the time in my affluent suburb where I live. So many children of all ages are out "running the street" and doing who-knows-what, while mommy and daddy are busy socializing with the golf club set. My three kids hated it growing up because my late wife and I were very active in their lives and knew what they were up to most of the time. Now as adults with their own kids, they constantly thank me for that "interference" in their lives as youngsters and are raising my grandchildren the same way. I am one very proud parent.

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