A “reprieve” for Zachary

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 14, 2009 02:21 AM

The good news: Zachary, the 6-year-old cub scout who faced 45 days in a reform school for disruptive students because he brought his pocket fork-spoon-knife tool to lunch, won a “reprieve” from his local school board last night.

The bad news: There is no reprieve from the zero tolerance stupidity and common sense deficit that plague the nation’s schools. It’s the curse of idiocracy.

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Posted in: Education

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  1. #1
    On October 14th, 2009 at 3:08 am, rocketman said:

    ***
    Six year old Cub Scouts are noted for attacking their schoolmates with knives, forks, and spoons! Just don’t let them find any 2×4′s in the area.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  2. #2
    On October 14th, 2009 at 3:34 am, Phiber0p said:

    This is such complete BS! Zero tolerance is the policy these idiots have to implement due to the Zero common sense they have. It makes it easy on those lacking the brain power to determine intent and or punishment, to just declare an across the board policy like that.

  3. #3
    On October 14th, 2009 at 4:34 am, CharliePATpk said:

    Of course I am relieved to see Zachary’s expulsion was overturned.

    But what of the 17 year old Eagle Scout who may lose his chance at West Point for an equally intolerant zero-tolerance rule?

  4. #4
    On October 14th, 2009 at 5:40 am, radio relay said:

    Yet another note in the annals of lunacy. Good thing “Switchblade Zach” was discovered and disarmed before he was able to make mince meat out of his mince meat!!!

    Will people of the future get a good laugh at the liberal freaks we have allowed to hijack out schools, and society?

    Anyone ever hear how many years in the slammer the four year old got for hugging his day care teacher a couple years back?

  5. #5
    On October 14th, 2009 at 6:30 am, graysonret said:

    Amazing that this school actually thinks this 6 year old could reason out an attack on a student(s) or teacher (s) with his pocket utensil. I don’t know about this child, but the 6 year olds I do know, haven’t yet figured out that they are alive yet. Back when I went to grade school (back with the dinosaurs), a lot of kids had knives…and guns. Of course, I went to school, before the libs destroyed our culture and moral values. The correct thing to do was to confiscate the tool, and return it to him at the end of the day, with a warning.

  6. #6
    On October 14th, 2009 at 6:56 am, Ralph Gizzip said:

    The only way this changes is if concerned parents that possess common sense take over their local school boards. It’s the school board that sets policy and hires a superintendent.

  7. #7
    On October 14th, 2009 at 7:53 am, deedledee said:

    I watched the local news about this and they showed another mother get up and ask about her son in the same district. Other kids were bullying him and dropped a pocket knife in his lap, but despite the circumstances the district still gave HIM a maximum penalty. His name was Kyle and if the mother’s story is on the up and up I wish it could become national to give that boy some support.

  8. #8
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:08 am, FruNobulux said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 5:40 am, radio relay said:

    Will people of the future get a good laugh at the liberal freaks we have allowed to hijack out schools, and society?

    I expect they will shake their heads in dismay as they analyze the cause of the death spiral of this once-great civilization.

  9. #9
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:17 am, ricnrolle said:

    what’s next, sharp pencils, no pens . oooooh that crayon looks dangerous.jeez

  10. #10
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:29 am, SomeOtherSteve said:

    Thirty years ago, I got into a fight during lunch. The other boy and I were whisked away to the Assistant Principal’s office. We sat in there for a few minutes. It was just a stupid kid fight. The Asst. Principal knew it. He asked us if we were still mad at each other. We weren’t. We had blown off our steam. He had us shake hands and go off to class. The other boy and I never had any problems with each other.

    Are today’s teachers and principals so dumb that they should not be allowed to do their jobs like they did 30 years ago? I think that’s a good question to ask your schoolboard if they have a zero tolerance policy.

  11. #11
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:34 am, John Deaux said:

    It’s a good thing these people aren’t spreading their lunacy. Oh, that’s right. They teach our children.

  12. #12
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:43 am, misterbee241 said:

    When I was in high school back in the 60′s every guy carried a folding pocket knife. Some of the girls in cosmetology class carried razors. Most guys had guns in their cars because they went huntiing after school.
    In elementary school in the 50′s the week after Christmas seemed like Wild West week. Every guy brought his toy gun to school (westerns were very popular on tv then) and it was Gunfight at the OK Corral practically every day. The teachers didnt care as long as we were on time for class.

  13. #13
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:45 am, misterbee241 said:

    To my knowledege, nobody I went to elementary school or high school with killed anybody. We’re all divorced but we never killed anybody. There were no school shootings either. If you had a problem with somebody, you could either see the coach and settle it in the gym or have a private time behind the dugout.

  14. #14
    On October 14th, 2009 at 8:47 am, tre said:

    My Buck Odessey lock blade with a pocket clip is the handiest thing I carry. I use it nearly every day.

    When I was a boy, getting your first pocket knife was a rite of passage. Every boy in class had one.

    My, how we’ve changed. And not for the better.

  15. #15
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:02 am, desertdweller said:

    At least ONE member of the local school board better have said something like, “This policy is absolutely ridiculous!

    But whomever might have said it was likely ridiculed and shamed, and threatened with thuggery (violence -gasp!) if they went public.

  16. #16
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:09 am, sbw999 said:

    A sharp pencil could do more damage. Zero tolerance, or zero IQ? Give me a break.

  17. #17
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:10 am, Ron said:

    I know the 17-year-old from upstate New York said he’s not thinking of suing, but I wish he’d reconsider. Those administrators and school board members need to be slapped up side the head with a great, big, expensive judgment. What really kills me is they decided to pile on the initial idiotic ruling with an additional penalty. Anybody wonder why parents are taking their kids out of public schools? It’s because of crap like this! And a lot more.

  18. #18
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:16 am, ex-expat said:

    His mother put it well; that there should be zero tolerance, but there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ respsonse- i.e., teachers need to use the intelligence they are supposed to have ibn dealing with each case.

  19. #19
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:16 am, Lindsay said:

    The poor child probably brought it in for “show and tell.” I am very surprised the national terror level was not increased over this tyrant.

  20. #20
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:34 am, graysonret said:

    http://www.abcactionnews.com/mostpopular/story/Teen-turns-burrito-into-deadly-weapon-cops-say/uC64nGQYO0af_yPA9ahJIw.cspx

    Now it will be burritos. Be prepared for your kids to be suspended and sent to reform school. Might have to show an ID to buy a burrito at Taco Bell, and have all Bells no closer than a mile from any school.

  21. #21
    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:46 am, mngirl said:

    I want the school board to question the “judgement” of the teacher that turned in a six year old for bringing camping utensils to school. That is the person who needs education in common sense, in addition to the Principal.

  22. #22
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am, wckelly60 said:

    What about those nasty pieces of paper? Paper cuts can put an eye out!

    Ever make a shiv out of a crayon?

    I wonder, if Zachary couldn’t use his spoon-fork-knife, what does the school cafeteria use for flatware?

  23. #23
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am, WarEagle82 said:

    This nonsense won’t change until we take back government from the politicians and return it to the people. And that won’t change until we take back the schools from the politicians and the unions!

    Take your kids out of public school now! We could bring this to an end in a year or two if conservatives would take their kids out of left-wing indoctrination camps that now pass for schools!

  24. #24
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:38 am, graysonret said:

    what does the school cafeteria use for flatware?

    Plastic…which can be chiselled down into very effective shanks.

  25. #25
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:50 am, Sichiban said:

    Always trust a bureaucrat to protect his rear end first. They didn’t get common sense. They just realized that it would hurt their chances of re-election if they continued to double down on punishing a six-year-old. These people have all the compassion of the IRS.

  26. #26
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:55 am, zyzzyg said:

    This is a good thing.

  27. #27
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am, WarEagle82 said:

    While Zachery’s “reprieve” may bring some a “warm fuzzy” the key facts are:

    * Schools long ago became indoctrination centers for little leftists are made!
    * Zachery did nothing wrong and therefore should not need a “reprieve!”
    * The school acted as if Zachery had committed multiple felonies.
    * The schools will continue to act this way as long as we permit it.

    It is well past the time when we demand that schools stop this nonsense and simply educate children!

    It is well past time when conservatives withdraw their kids from public indoctrination centers since it is obvious they aren’t schools any longer!

  28. #28
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

    I hope the scouts teach how to field dress small minded school board members.

  29. #29
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:02 am, RedDog said:

    Civil suits against the marxists on the school board will cure this kind of crap. Bureaucratic hooliganism is what will not be tolerated. Reform school pppfffft! The government flacks in this case should be publicly caned.

    I’ll pay for the airfare to bring in the Indonesian martial arts expert to do the duty.

  30. #30
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:03 am, cubbiegal said:

    My senior year-class of 1988-I used my mother’s old Girl Scout pocket knife as my keychain. The dean of Women was know as a tough lady. She knew about my “knife” and did absolutely…nothing to me over it.

  31. #31
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:26 am, The Master said:

    As idiotic as such a zero-tolerance policy is, I have no doubt that the schools are only doing what their lawyers and insurance companies are telling them to do. Imagine the lawsuits against the school that would result if some kid was injured by another’s knife in school.

    I’m certainly no fan of public schools, or the moron infestation that plagues them, but the blame for zero-tolerance policies like this should fall on ambulance-chasing lawyers, a broken tort system that allows ridiculous cases to proceed, and brain-dead juries that award huge verdicts in such ridiculous cases.

  32. #32
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:27 am, Southpaw said:

    “The bad news: There is no reprieve from the zero tolerance stupidity and common sense deficit that plague the nation’s schools.”

    I think this incident is a good thing, ultimately. School teachers and adminstrators across the country should realize by now that Americans are tired of knuckleheaded, kneejerk Political Correctness.

    Everytime a story like this comes out and makes it into the blogosphere and conservative media, the Zachs of this country will have millions of people behind them.

    We are fighting for cultural sanity in this country and we intend to win.

  33. #33
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:37 am, rightwingmom said:

    HOMESCHOOL!!!

  34. #34
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am, WarEagle82 said:

    The public schools in this nation are broken beyond repair. We need to see some “creative destruction” at work in the public school sector. The only way to do that is for conservatives to take their kids out of the public schools until the local governments get the message.

    Schools exist to serve the legitimate educational needs of the taxpaying citizens. They do not exist to serve the needs of the local government and school board and unions to produce future serfs and drones!

    We could send this message if 40% to 50% of parents took their kids out of the public school system for even a year. This could be the next front in the TEA Party movement!

  35. #35
    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:39 am, WarEagle82 said:

    Amen and mega-dittos!

    Our kids are being harmed by the idiots running the asylum!

    On October 14th, 2009 at 11:37 am, rightwingmom said:

    HOMESCHOOL!!!

  36. #36
    On October 14th, 2009 at 12:02 pm, plymouthacclaim said:

    Amen on the homeschooling!

    Zero tolerance policies and laws were supposed to cut down on crime, etc. Instead, it seems that they often punish the accidental offender more than the deliberate offender.
    What happened to the legal concept of mens rea ?

  37. #37
    On October 14th, 2009 at 12:30 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, after the teacher disarmed the boy did she at least give him a condom? I want to know more about this brainiac teacher and where she got her credentials.

  38. #38
    On October 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, Look for the ACLU to sue the Boy Scouts of America in 3 . . . , 2 . . . , 1 . . .

  39. #39
    On October 14th, 2009 at 12:47 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    Yeah, like a public school teacher in 2009 understands LATIN!

    Most of them probably think “mens rea” is that “special time of the month for men” or a stomach ailment that only affects men…

    On October 14th, 2009 at 12:02 pm, plymouthacclaim said:

    Zero tolerance policies and laws were supposed to cut down on crime, etc. Instead, it seems that they often punish the accidental offender more than the deliberate offender.
    What happened to the legal concept of mens rea ?

  40. #40
    On October 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    What about those nasty pieces of paper? Paper cuts can put an eye out!

    An episode of “Mythbusters” showed that, with a little paper, plastic, glue, and underwear elastic you can make a pretty darned effective weapon (see the video here). In fact, Mythbuster Jamie said it could take an eye out and possibly kill you if it did!

    Let’s see – kids have access to paper, plastic, glue AND underwear elastic at school. In fact, they wear underwear to school every single day. This must be address immediately, for it is clearly a violation of the zero-tolerance policy regarding weapons!

    :roll:

    And if this sounds ridiculous to you, liberals, guess what. IT IS. Zero tolerance policies are stupid.

    Especially when you consider these stories in light of the recent events at Vincent High School here in Milwaukee. From 620WTMJ.com (emphasis mine):

    MILWAUKEE – Police were called to Milwaukee Vincent High School Monday after numerous fights broke out and the school became a scene of pandemonium and disorder.

    “The kids were running freely, shoes all everywhere, clothes everywhere, blood all over the lunchroom tables, tables getting thrown,” described high school sophomore Deomni Kyles.

    According to police, there were numerous fights all over the building. A police lieutenant handling the response said that as soon as officers got one fight stopped, another would begin someplace else.

    It was out of control,” said high school senior Deasia Richardon.

    The school went into lockdown, but it didn’t work:

    However, even after the lock down began, students were seen walking in and out of the building.

    TODAY’S TMJ4 reporter Mick Trevey was brought inside the locked down building by school staff and observed students running around the hallways and screaming. School staff members tried to yell back at the students but were unable to gain control.

    So here we have a young kid who gets in serious trouble (along with numerous other, equally asinine stories about “zero tolerance”) for bringing into school what any rational person would not consider a dangerous weapon. In a major public school district in the nation, kids run wild and – even though some of them were eventually arrested – there will be no significant changes to policies. No stricter punishment or higher expectations. These kids will get a slap on the wrist and be back in the classroom to make more trouble, because this isn’t the first incident in an MPS school. There were four notable ones at Bradley Tech, another well-known MPS high school, three in 2008 (here, here and here), one in 2009.

    So, to this person, the message is clear: zero tolerance for relatively good kids who make a mistake, limitless tolerance for kids with chronic behavior problems who actually threaten and disrupt the school day. Yay, liberalsm!

  41. #41
    On October 14th, 2009 at 1:05 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 6:56 am, Ralph Gizzip said:

    The only way this changes is if concerned parents that possess common sense take over their local school boards. It’s the school board that sets policy and hires a superintendent.

    This. Every single one of should be working to take our communities back.

  42. #42
    On October 14th, 2009 at 1:54 pm, Bob69 said:

    To those who are surprised or angry…………..You got what you voted and spoke for………….considering you did either.

  43. #43
    On October 14th, 2009 at 2:01 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Another reason to learn to use chopsticks. In an emergency they make dandy shivs.

  44. #44
    On October 14th, 2009 at 2:18 pm, rightisright said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 9:46 am, mngirl said:

    I want the school board to question the “judgment” of the teacher that turned in a six year old for bringing camping utensils to school. That is the person who needs education in common sense, in addition to the Principal.

    that was the 1st thing I thought of when seeing the story…what kind of idiot is teaching our kids…no sense at all…as Fred Thompson says:”why do they call it common sense when it’s so uncommon”.

    Here’s the clincher for me, a direct result of the NEA, we are paying these educators(loosely used term) 6 figures so they don’t or can’t make a decision…jeeezz o pezzz o what has this country come to…bunch of whiny ass libs afraid to live and learn.

    This is one of many cases from what I’ve read the last few days…this young man of 6 yrs. of age was going to be thrown in with juvenile delinquents to learn what, to be a real problem for society. Can you imagine the damage to a child that age being thrown in the lion’s den…what a bunch dumb as@#$…and their setting the curriculum in our schools.

    I’ve heard all the false arguments about “this could have happened and or that could have happened”, but none of them did and let me tell you why. This young man was no raving maniac at 6 yrs. old, he was a loved, cared for, well adjusted child who’s parents took an interest in him, teaching him how to act and accept responsibilities even at his age. something that the teacher and principle and board members should have been exposed to in their lives.

    For any parents worried about the “could have happened” maybe you should raise your children in a protective bubble.

    Zero tolerance is zero thinking.

  45. #45
    On October 14th, 2009 at 2:22 pm, rightisright said:

    by the way, that was the best news if heard in along time…Zachery was freed from the clutches of imbeciles. Now onward with Zach’s education.

  46. #46
    On October 14th, 2009 at 2:41 pm, jwm said:

    Note-the ACLU and United Way both tried to force the Boy Scouts to accept gay non-parent Scoutmasters and lost that fight. It’s always a different story when bullies are confronted by people who are willing to fight for their beliefs.

    I’ll be impressed when the ACLU sues a school district for setting up a Muslim school paid for by tax payor dollars.

  47. #47
    On October 14th, 2009 at 3:29 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    The main point should be the following:

    One young boy didn’t have his life destroyed by a corrupt, self-serving institution paid for with tax dollars

    but

    the corrupt, self-serving institution remains completely and utterly unchanged and will repeat the same stupid behavior over and over again until we force them to stop this idiocy!

    Little Zachary’s parents won a skirmish but we are losing the war!

    Take your kids out of public schools! Fight for control of the school boards! But get your kids out of the insane environment FIRST! Don’t make them endure an environment that makes “1984″ look rational!

  48. #48
    On October 14th, 2009 at 3:46 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Little Zachary’s parents won a skirmish but we are losing the war!

    A war is a series of skirmishes. This is one victory; parents need to continue winning these skirmishes – no matter how trivial, irksome, or time-consuming they seem – and the victory will be ours.

    Two words my husband taught me: MASS DISOBEDIENCE. Perhaps sending kids to school with sporks en masse isn’t the best example, but when schools ban “Merry Christmas” or red and green, parents should unite so every kid goes to school looking like one of Santa’s elves, with Christmas carols ringing from their lips and iPods.

    That sort of mass uprising will help quell these bureaucrats gone wild.

  49. #49
    On October 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    Englishqueen01,

    Respectfully, making our kids cannon fodder in the daily skirmishes of this war is NOT the answer!

    Fighting the war on their terrain is NOT the answer!

    Getting bogged down in relatively petty skirmishes is NOT the answer.

    We need to destroy their ability to wage war against our values through our children! Mass action is the answer but the best mass action is to have all conservatives take their kids OUT of public schools!

    Fight to accomplish the strategic objectives and get sidetracked on peripheral issues. We need to destroy the unholy union of leftist government and leftist unions in education. Sporks and Christmas Carols won’t reclaim control of the institutions!

    On October 14th, 2009 at 3:46 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Little Zachary’s parents won a skirmish but we are losing the war!

    A war is a series of skirmishes. This is one victory; parents need to continue winning these skirmishes – no matter how trivial, irksome, or time-consuming they seem – and the victory will be ours.

    Two words my husband taught me: MASS DISOBEDIENCE. Perhaps sending kids to school with sporks en masse isn’t the best example, but when schools ban “Merry Christmas” or red and green, parents should unite so every kid goes to school looking like one of Santa’s elves, with Christmas carols ringing from their lips and iPods.

    That sort of mass uprising will help quell these bureaucrats gone wild.

  50. #50
    On October 14th, 2009 at 4:37 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Respectfully, making our kids cannon fodder in the daily skirmishes of this war is NOT the answer!

    And I disagree. Our children are going to inherit this world and – on a daily basis – liberals are out there, through our schools and universities and governments, trying to undermine our authority as parents. The only way our kids will learn to combat this is if we teach them WHY such policies are wrong and respectful, but effective, ways of resisting such nonsense.

    Expecting a collapse of the public school system is not the answer; in fact, causing such a mass exodus might further encourage legislators to make public school compulsory (don’t think they haven’t entertained that thought). I believe public schools have a role and purpose, but that it’s been lost in the politically correct BS that passes for “education” these days, at the hands of PC bureaucrats who are in it for personal gain and NOT to educate kids. Taking this war to them, on the turf of the schools, is exactly the answer.

    YOU pay tax dollars to support public schools. WE pay tax dollars to support public schools. Removing our kids will NOT end that funding. So we must make our voices heard.

  51. #51
    On October 14th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, Rorschach said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

    I hope the scouts teach how to field dress small minded school board members.

    Bet this kid could!

    But then you would have to ask why? The meat is rancid and the skin is ugly and smells like cat urine. What would be the point? It’d be almost as bad as this. (don’t click if you’ve recently eaten. You’ve been warned.)

  52. #52
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    I’ve been reading what the DUmmies have to say on this matter (so you don’t have to). For the most part they think the inflexible policy is stupid as much as any rational person would. But there are more than a few comments in the threads stating that the parents must be “right-wingers who staged the whole thing just to provoke a reaction”. I also read a few that stated rules are rules, he should be suspended and the parents should be, in some way, punished as well. Ah DUmmies, they are never a disappointment. LoL. What I have not seen yet, but am anxiously awaiting, is what they will say about the 17 year old eagle scout. You can bet that there will be just oodles of comments about the Scouts views toward gays, etc.

  53. #53
    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:42 pm, Blackstone said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    I also read a few that stated rules are rules, he should be suspended and the parents should be, in some way, punished as well.

    And you know what the punchline is? These same idiots are probably also in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens.

  54. #54
    On October 15th, 2009 at 10:31 am, englishqueen01 said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:42 pm, Blackstone said:

    On October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    I also read a few that stated rules are rules, he should be suspended and the parents should be, in some way, punished as well.

    And you know what the punchline is? These same idiots are probably also in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens.

    Maybe. But these are the same people who, when they (or their children) eventually break the rules (intentionally or accidentally) they’ll be decrying how unfair and unjust it is.

    The parents should be punished? So when the 15-year-old gang-banger shoots someone in a turf war are they saying the parents should go to jail, too?

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