Kindergartner suspended for having knife

[sws4420]

LEXINGTON, S.C. -- A 5-year-old kindergartner brought a folding pocket knife to school and faces expulsion, officials said Tuesday.

The Saxe Gothe Elementary School student tried to use the knife to open his sealed lunch in the cafeteria on Monday, said Mary Beth Hill, spokeswoman for Lexington County School District 1.

The student never threatened anyone at the school, and officials believe he was unaware he did anything wrong, Hill said.

State law says it is illegal to bring any weapon onto school grounds, but the child is too young to face any criminal charges, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said.

According to district policy, the student was suspended immediately, pending an expulsion hearing, Hill said.


http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=535220&category=Strange%20News&BCCode=STRANGENEWS&newsdate=11/15/2006

[MedicCook]

Is expulsion really needed? Here is an amazing idea for the school system. I know this will be a stretch though. How about TEACHING the child why it is wrong to bring a knife or other weapons into school. Holy shit!! Could that work? I do not want to put any pressure on the school district and it's teaching staff now.

[sws4420]

I'd bet that his dad or someone else in his life has a pocketknife and uses it on everything similarly to what he did. Expulsion is stupid.

[MedicCook]

I agree. If this was a middle school kid with a history this might be a different story, but this is a 4-5 year-old kid. He does not know this is wrong and if they do this to him it may have long term negative effects on him. Zero tolerence is one thing, but you have to look at each case individually.