6-year-old expelled over Cub Scout utensil

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The Scouter in me feels constrained to point out that, as excited as this kid was, he wouldn't (or shouldn't) have been allowed to carry that or any other knife at any Scout functions. Before a knife can be carried, the Scout must earn his whittling chip, which is typically earned as a Bear Scout (third grade) and which demonstrates that he knows how to use a knife safely.

Speaking as a Den Leader, I understand that feeling, but the Whittling Chip can be earned at any CS Rank. It just happens to be a requirement of one of 24 Bear Achievements and Bears don't even have to earn it to achieve Rank because they only need to earn 12.

But you are right, a CS cannot carry a pocketknife, including one in a multi-tool, to a designated Scout event without first earning Whittling Chip.

Speaking as a mom, I was a Nervous Nelly when my Den worked on Whittling Chip and never would have attempted it with my Tigers. The first thing my son did when he opened his knife was to cut himself. A bandaid took care of it.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by aopirose

Speaking as a Den Leader, I understand that feeling, but the Whittling Chip can be earned at any CS Rank. It just happens to be a requirement of one of 24 Bear Achievements and Bears don't even have to earn it to achieve Rank because they only need to earn 12.

Right. That's why I said "typically." though perhaps I could have chosen a better word. In my experience, Bear is when a den will do it -- often as the first step toward Bear ("yay, we're old enough to use knives now"). But you're right, it can be earned at any stage.

I'm pretty sure that since this guy had just joined, though, he hadn't earned it yet.

The first thing my son did when he opened his knife was to cut himself.

Yours too, huh?

[DrPhil]

Really? It's still a knife? You mean, it didn't magically transform into a unicorn because of the context? That sucks.

Years ago, my friend mistakenly left her butter knife that she uses to slice bagels at work in her bag as she went to the airport. It was detected by the powers that be. Instead of detaining her as a potential terrorist and damning her to hell, the airport authorities used their discretion. They took the object and gave her a stern talking to/warning that scared the shit out of her. Then sent her on her way. Message.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

vast difference between kids then and kids now.

Incorrect.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I can't help but sit here and think, IF this kid had cut another kid with this knife, then the news media and bulletin boards all over the country would be lamenting over the fact that someone knew this kid had a knife at school and nobody did anything about it.

No one is advocating that the school does nothing about it. Kids shouldn't have potential weapons in school, even if it is unintentionally a potential weapon.

It's a difference in opinion over what the school should've done.

I say the school should've taken the knife (duh), called the parents, talked to the kid and the parents, and given the kid a warning with the next offense being suspension (or whatever).

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Really? It's still a knife? You mean, it didn't magically transform into a unicorn because of the context? That sucks.

Years ago, my friend mistakenly left her butter knife that she uses to slice bagels at work in her bag as she went to the airport. It was detected by the powers that be. Instead of detaining her as a potential terrorist and damning her to hell, the airport authorities used their discretion. They took the object and gave her a stern talking to/warning that scared the shit out of her. Then sent her on her way. Message.

And?

Schools have different liability concerns.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

And?

Schools have different liability concerns.

And shut up.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Ok...exactly how thick headed and blind are you?

I'm not upset over 'those kind of kids' I actually find it funny that you had the STONES to even post that little ditty after the bullshyte you put KSig and Kevin through last weekend over that post you knee jerked over and everyone and their gran'ma had to explain the context TO YOU.

Having a hard time now trying to explain 'those types of children' hmm?

Doesn't feel so good now does it?

Any ol' ways...moving from your irrelevant rants to another.


Yes. Rules are in place to be followed...rules are also in place to be interpreted which is WHY rules tend to CHANGE.


and this...

School systems need to stop being so political and allowing parents to run over them. Many parents are just NOT going to accept or admit that their child is wrong in certain instances...

Just as some schools need to be fair and not think that every little child that walks in the door and makes ONE mistake (that can easily corrected by education and not punishment) will make that child a hardened criminal.

Read the article.

He. Did. Not. Know.

He is SIX.

No, I'm not having a hard time explaining my terminology. I made it clear in that other thread that from now on, none of you need to get offended when I use such terminology since you pitched a fit over the way I reacted to it. So that isn't me being hypocritical. I am now doing what YOU and others said was perfectly fine. So YOU have no grounds to complain. If you had the intellectual prowess you THINK you have, you would have realized that.

In response to your statement about acting as though the child is a hardened criminal because of one mistake...I don't think anyone is saying this child or any other child who has one incident is a hardened criminal. The point is that it is far too risky for school officials to start making allowances on a case-by-case basis. How fair would it be for them to determine that one child needs a "talking to" and that another child needs severe punishment? If you have one rule that covers it all, at least you don't allow much room for abuse of discretion.

And if you would stop trying to come against me so hard and use your head you would realize that.

Finally, with respect to your comment that he did not know? What's your point? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Even at six school officials can make a child understand that they cannot bring guns or knives to school. Furthermore, his mother knew, yet she is responding as though this is just truly shocking. Perhaps she should have confiscated the knife in her own home only allowing him access to it when he is supervised. Wait, I'm sorry, that's asking for a parent to do their job as a parent. My bad.

You're pathetic.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

And shut up.

1. Have I shut up yet when you "command" that I do so? Um no.
2. Your response speaks volumes. You don't know what the heck you are talking about and to compensate you resort to "shut up" with no additional comeback. How witty and original.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

1. Have I shut up yet when you "command" that I do so? Um no.
2. Your response speaks volumes. You don't know what the heck you are talking about and to compensate you resort to "shut up" with no additional comeback. How witty and original.

1. Shut up.
2. Do you know how ironic this is? As with every other thread you participate in, things are cool until you get butthurt and annoying. You're much more stupiderererer than any other GC thread hijacker. LOL.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

1. Shut up.
2. Do you know how ironic this is? As with every other thread you participate in, things are cool until you get butthurt and annoying. You're much more stupiderererer than any other GC thread hijacker. LOL.

It's funny, but I usually stop reading a thread in this forum when I see certain people post, for I know the train wreck is to come.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by gamma

Did you ever go on camping trips with you scout master? Did he tell you that you were special?

MMITY?

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

It's funny, but I usually stop reading a thread in this forum when I see certain people post, for I know the train wreck is to come.

You're not the only one. But some days, I have just have to watch the train wreck.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

It's funny, but I usually stop reading a thread in this forum when I see certain people post, for I know the train wreck is to come.

And it's really stupid because we alllllllllllllll agree that the kid shouldn't have the damn knife at school. What the hell is deepimpact butthurt over?

If it makes her feel any better, Obama still has his Nobel Peace Prize.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No one is advocating that the school does nothing about it. Kids shouldn't have potential weapons in school, even if it is unintentionally a potential weapon.

It's a difference in opinion over what the school should've done.

I say the school should've taken the knife (duh), called the parents, talked to the kid and the parents, and given the kid a warning with the next offense being suspension (or whatever).

And I think that's what I was trying to say earlier. We don't know if that didn't happen the first two or three times this kid took the knife to school. We have no way of knowing whether this is a pattern for this kid...

I think we ALL (I do it too) are quick to make judgments on how other people should react in situations when we have only heard one side of the media hyped story and the other side is bound to confidentiality so they can't tell their story. I'd agree that, if things happened exactly as presented by the mom and kid, then the punishment was extreme.

I was a little concerned about the kid's own statement "It's a dumb rule" because I'm wondering if he thinks it is dumb to ban knives from school or if he thinks it is dumb to be expelled/suspended for doing so.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

No, I'm not having a hard time explaining my terminology. I made it clear in that other thread that from now on, none of you need to get offended when I use such terminology since you pitched a fit over the way I reacted to it. So that isn't me being hypocritical. I am now doing what YOU and others said was perfectly fine. So YOU have no grounds to complain. If you had the intellectual prowess you THINK you have, you would have realized that.

In response to your statement about acting as though the child is a hardened criminal because of one mistake...I don't think anyone is saying this child or any other child who has one incident is a hardened criminal. The point is that it is far too risky for school officials to start making allowances on a case-by-case basis. How fair would it be for them to determine that one child needs a "talking to" and that another child needs severe punishment? If you have one rule that covers it all, at least you don't allow much room for abuse of discretion.

And if you would stop trying to come against me so hard and use your head you would realize that.

Finally, with respect to your comment that he did not know? What's your point? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Even at six school officials can make a child understand that they cannot bring guns or knives to school. Furthermore, his mother knew, yet she is responding as though this is just truly shocking. Perhaps she should have confiscated the knife in her own home only allowing him access to it when he is supervised. Wait, I'm sorry, that's asking for a parent to do their job as a parent. My bad.

You're pathetic.

Woman please...nobody pitched a fit except you.

Because you think everyone on GC has an agenda towards you...

And after reading your last post...well throwing spitballs against a brick wall explaining why your opinions are fails per each post is useless, so let's K.I.M.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

And it's really stupid because we alllllllllllllll agree that the kid shouldn't have the damn knife at school. What the hell is deepimpact butthurt over?

If it makes her feel any better, Obama still has his Nobel Peace Prize.

Oh I dunno, maybe because 7 or 8 of us agree and she is the odd one out and we won't let her have the last word...so why don't we all shut up and let her so she has something to feel good about today, hmmm?