A public system gone awry

[Catholicity]

I found this article in the New York Times and its apparent that even the writer believes that this is a product of a system gone awry. There is simply zero common sense in some places it seems. Two examples in this particular school district of big brother gone crazy. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/ed...iscipline.html and more good reasons to support homeschool

Edited this was from 2009 FYI but its still relevant

[Sparko]

they should ban pencils because someone could use them to stab someone else in the eye.

[seanD]

Still doesn't top the kid that got suspended for eating a poptart in the shape of a gun.

[Cerebrum123]

I found this article in the New York Times and its apparent that even the writer believes that this is a product of a system gone awry. There is simply zero common sense in some places it seems. Two examples in this particular school district of big brother gone crazy. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/ed...iscipline.html and more good reasons to support homeschool

Edited this was from 2009 FYI but its still relevant

Back when I was in junior high, and I reported kids slamming the doors of bathroom stalls they suggested perhaps the dumbest thing to "fix" the situation I can think* of. They suggested removing the stall doors entirely.

Ended up having permission to use the bathroom in the nurse's office., but still.

Public schools are a nightmare, and have been as long as I can remember. Seems to be getting worse all the time.

*The only reason such a "solution" ever entered my mind is because they were dumb enough to suggest it.

[Catholicity]

they should ban pencils because someone could use them to stab someone else in the eye.

Oh those are banned mental hospitals because they've had people self mutilate with them They also ban certain types of disposable silverware rather than just chemically or physically restrain the people crazy enough to attempt such stunts or staff the place well enough to keep a watch on them because they don't want to "pay" for it. OUr tax dollars at work people....

[Sparko]

books are dangerous too!

[myth]

I think the problem is that a lot of individual people are afraid to accept civil liability for deciding that an individual student is not a risk (think lawsuit after the same kid gets a slap on the wrist and returns to cause mayhem). In general, I like default punishments like the zero tolerance policies...but there's got to be a safety built in for unique situations. Perhaps there could be a default punishment, but if the parents appeal there could be some sort of disciplinary hearing. A group (school board, group of principals, council of both administrators and teachers, etc) could hear testimony and have the power to overrule the default process. There's got to be a route for common sense to prevail.

[Jedidiah]

I think the problem is that a lot of individual people are afraid to accept civil liability for deciding that an individual student is not a risk (think lawsuit after the same kid gets a slap on the wrist and returns to cause mayhem). In general, I like default punishments like the zero tolerance policies...but there's got to be a safety built in for unique situations. Perhaps there could be a default punishment, but if the parents appeal there could be some sort of disciplinary hearing. A group (school board, group of principals, council of both administrators and teachers, etc) could hear testimony and have the power to overrule the default process. There's got to be a route for common sense to prevail.

A tiny drop of common sense (not so common any more) should solve the problem. That it fails reveals the rot in the core, the failure of the once great United States.

[Sparko]

i say give the kids scissors and tell them to run with it!!

[One Bad Pig]

i say give the kids scissors and tell them to run with it!!

You'd think with the fervent teaching of Darwinism that there'd be a movement to remove all the warning labels and let natural selection take its course.

[rogue06]

books are dangerous too!

I was actually taught the proper methods for using both pencils and books as weapons

We were told that with the proper attitude and a little training virtually anything can be used as a weapon.

[rogue06]

You'd think with the fervent teaching of Darwinism that there'd be a movement to remove all the warning labels and let natural selection take its course.

Nope. Not rising to the bait.

[Sparko]

I was actually taught the proper methods for using both pencils and books as weapons

We were told that with the proper attitude and a little training virtually anything can be used as a weapon.

sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can destroy your entire life.

[Carrikature]

I'm not sure how this is remotely an argument for home schooling.

[Jedidiah]

I'm not sure how this is remotely an argument for home schooling.

An argument for home schooling is not needed. The public school system provides all the argument needed.