Talk about ridiculous, today nine year old Patrick Timoney was nearly suspended for bringing a Lego gun to school. The so called gun that the New York fourth grader brought was less than two inches long and made of plastic; on the today show it was referred to as a toy gun made for a toy. The obviously tiny weapon could in no possible way inflict any harm so it was completely out of had to subject the child to such an outlandish punishment. The boy’s father is a retired policeman and saw nothing wrong with the pinky size weapon he pointed out that it causes no real threat in the least. The boy’s mother was equally if not more angry and rightfully so, ““You don’t traumatize a child who loved to go to school, who wanted to be early every day to school, you don’t make him cry, you don’t make him fill out statements,” she told WNBC, holding back tears. “You don’t do it.” Ironically enough the mother also claims that while her child was taken to the principals to be reprimanded another little boy at the lunch table with an action figure and an ax was left to play.
So, why did the school administration freak out over something so small. If the gun had caused some harm or appeared to be realistic or if the boy had acted menacingly with it that might have been grounds but I truly believe that schools reaction was uncalled for. Based on others reactions to this story I think many individuals believe that simply confiscating the item would have been sufficient. Further more if weapons are such a threat at Stanton Island PS 52 why isn’t it enforced equally? I realize that the Department of Education prevents guns on school property to protect people, but a certain amount of common sense and discretion should be used. I don’t see why the principal saw this as something to be concerned about and even then why to react so harshly.
What some people need to consider is where to draw the line between safety and paranoia. Schools continue to limit children’s freedom and its starting to get out of hand, whether it is over a simple Lego toy or the right to talk about God. The sad thing is most of these kids are too young to understand and be able to speak for themselves so its left up to the teachers and parents to treat them fairly and with courtesy and not take advantage of them. It’s stories like this that sadden me, I don’t understand why adults can’t look at kids sometimes and go, “it’s okay they’re a child and legitimately didn’t know better.”
Check out the articles on MSNBC, CBS, the United Press International and for yourself and make your own judgments but it appears to me that someone over reacted.
So, why did the school administration freak out over something so small. If the gun had caused some harm or appeared to be realistic or if the boy had acted menacingly with it that might have been grounds but I truly believe that schools reaction was uncalled for. Based on others reactions to this story I think many individuals believe that simply confiscating the item would have been sufficient. Further more if weapons are such a threat at Stanton Island PS 52 why isn’t it enforced equally? I realize that the Department of Education prevents guns on school property to protect people, but a certain amount of common sense and discretion should be used. I don’t see why the principal saw this as something to be concerned about and even then why to react so harshly.
What some people need to consider is where to draw the line between safety and paranoia. Schools continue to limit children’s freedom and its starting to get out of hand, whether it is over a simple Lego toy or the right to talk about God. The sad thing is most of these kids are too young to understand and be able to speak for themselves so its left up to the teachers and parents to treat them fairly and with courtesy and not take advantage of them. It’s stories like this that sadden me, I don’t understand why adults can’t look at kids sometimes and go, “it’s okay they’re a child and legitimately didn’t know better.”
Check out the articles on MSNBC, CBS, the United Press International and for yourself and make your own judgments but it appears to me that someone over reacted.
Many people tend to be irrationally afraid of guns because they know nothing about them but what the media tells them. I suppose no one ever told them that a gun won't just jump up and start shooting people, even if it's a real one and not a >2" plastic toy.
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