The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: twyacht on October 13, 2009, 06:51:39 PM
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At 17, he has passed Army Basic Training, Eagle Scout, Honor Student, West Point Applicant.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,565520,00.html
New York Eagle Scout Suspended From School for 20 Days for Keeping Pocketknife in Car
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
By Maxim Lott
Matthew Whalen, right, says he was suspended from high school for four weeks because he kept a 2-inch pocketknife in his car. He completed an Army basic training course this summer.
A 17-year-old Eagle Scout in upstate New York has been barred from stepping foot on school grounds for 20 days — for keeping a 2-inch pocketknife locked in a survival kit in his car.
Matthew Whalen, a senior at Lansingburgh Senior High School, says he follows the Boy Scout motto and is always prepared, stocking his car with a sleeping bag, water, a ready-to-eat meal — and the knife, which was given to him by his grandfather, a police chief in a nearby town.
But Lansingburgh High has a zero-tolerance policy, and when school officials discovered that Whalen kept his knife locked in his car, he says, they suspended him for five days — and then tacked on an additional 15 after a hearing.
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NY State does not even classify this as a weapon...
Video at link. More to article also.
This is BS.
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Well that's just stupid.
So how did school officials find out he had a knife and why did they want to know in the first place?
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I'd like to know more about this. having a knife in the car is very common, I have a cheapie in every car I own. its part of my emergency kit.
there has to be more too this.
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I'd like to know more about this. having a knife in the car is very common, I have a cheapie in every car I own. its part of my emergency kit.
there has to be more too this.
He was interviewed on Fox & Friends this morning. I think he was set up, or some jealous loser "ratted" him out.
Back in my HS days, the "good ol boys" had their .22 and single shot 12g in the window rack of their dads pick up, IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT!!!
Carried a Buck knife in a leather belt holder everyday, NO BODY CARED!!!..
My how times have changed... >:(
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It wasn't a weapon so why are they harrasing him?
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It wasn't a weapon so why are they harrasing him?
This goes far beyond the 6 year old, this is one of America's greatest kids,... The PC crowd that infest our public schools and the mindset of of the BHO theme song MMM, MMM, MMM,, is taking its toll on the best kids that still rise to the top.
Someone should just backhand a few of these folks, but that wouldn't be PC either... :-\
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They tell everyone to be tolerant of other people and their religion, ethnicity, sexual preference and everything else, but they have a zero tolerance policy. Tolerence for everything and everybody except this kid. That's hypocritical isn't it?
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This goes far beyond the 6 year old, this is one of America's greatest kids,... The PC crowd that infest our public schools and the mindset of of the BHO theme song MMM, MMM, MMM,, is taking its toll on the best kids that still rise to the top.
Someone should just backhand a few of these folks, but that wouldn't be PC either... :-\
This has nothing to do with PC. There is no political agenda. It concerns three things, power hungry bureacrats unwilling to trust their subordinates to make rational choices, a great fear of legal liability and loss of face if there is an incident and page 34 of the handbook didn't already lay out a solution and a fear that whiner parents will complain if some students are treated differently because teachers had discretion to see that all kids aren't interchangeable. It matters not the ideology, it is the nature of bureacrats and petty authoritrians everywhere. CYA, maintain your authority and quash any perceived challenge to it. The issues might be different (beer or tattoos say) in a conservative district, but the mindset is the same.
FQ13 who learned to be a libertarian in high school for a reason
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One question FQ, where are the decisions based? If it's not ideological what the hell could it be. The liability issue goes out the door with the janitor mopping the floors.
It matters not the ideology, it is the nature of bureacrats and petty authoritrians everywhere. CYA, maintain your authority and quash any perceived challenge to it.
Bureaucrats HAVE an ideology, that's the point. He passed Army Basic Training, Honor Student, Eagle Scout, has a bug out bag in his car, (thank you Mom & Dad), and some one ratted him out, or was jealous of his immense potential.
Than the appeals board stated the intent of this student was not malicious, but they gave him ANOTHER 15 DAYS!!!
WTF???
They are either blinded by their ideology, or are really that stupid and not deserving of their job.
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"They are either blinded by their ideology, or are really that stupid and not deserving of their job."
Both, and like FQ says follow the play book to the nth degree, merit does not enter this equation.
Hopefully West Point or Annapolis finds it amusing and a benefit. The xtra 15 days sounds like they want to make an example, as usual.
Parents, go to school council meetings, and vote these kind of people out, if they are appointed, vote the appointers out, and make sure the new appointers know why they have been elected. >:(
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They are either blinded by their ideology, or are really that stupid and not deserving of their job.
And here you've said it all. The solution to any problem now seems to be a zero tolerance policy. Drugs? Mandatory minimums even if the mules get more time then the kingpins. Crime? Three strikes laws that equate stealing a sinckers bar with homicide? In schools its worse. Drug fears? Clear plastic backpacks (a real joy for 13 year old girls that time of the month I'm sure) and mandatory drug tests and strip searches, as well as suspensions for advil and cold pills. Weapons? Well Colombine was bad, so lets suspend this kid for 20 days and maybe blow his ride to the Point if the Army doesn't see this stupidity for what it is. That'll work. It's about giving administators way too much power and making them think they will be sued for anything that goes wrong. It breeds control freaks. You are right, it IS political in that the buck stops with the school board. I hope this kid puts his month off to good use helping to get anyone of them that is up for reelection in the next month voted out of office. That would be justice.
FQ13
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>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
"That's all I have to say about that." -Forest Gump
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It's about giving administators way too much power and making them think they will be sued for anything that goes wrong. It breeds control freaks. You are right, it IS political in that the buck stops with the school board. I hope this kid puts his month off to good use helping to get anyone of them that is up for reelection in the next month voted out of office. That would be justice.
FQ13
It sounds like we agree after all.
Good kid getting screwed, learning a lesson us "grown ups" have figured out the hard and disappointing way.
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But rules are rules! ::)
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This has nothing to do with PC. There is no political agenda. It concerns three things, power hungry bureacrats unwilling to trust their subordinates to make rational choices, a great fear of legal liability and loss of face if there is an incident and page 34 of the handbook didn't already lay out a solution and a fear that whiner parents will complain if some students are treated differently because teachers had discretion to see that all kids aren't interchangeable. It matters not the ideology, it is the nature of bureacrats and petty authoritrians everywhere. CYA, maintain your authority and quash any perceived challenge to it. The issues might be different (beer or tattoos say) in a conservative district, but the mindset is the same.
FQ13 who learned is still trying to figure out just what the f..k a to be a libertarian is in high school for a reason
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That is exactly PC. And yes it is ideology - why do you think knives are banned in the first place?
Philw, what was that Aussie phrase for people like FQ? I forgot it already . . . :'(
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This is the perfect example of laws and rules being put inplace and take away the right of discretion for the enforcer of the same laws and rules. Ridiculous. This is a good kid. Hope it opens some eyes about how this is getting out of hand and how some laws and rules are ignorant.
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And you wonder why there are more and more kids being home schooled
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Thing is as I read it he DIDN'T break any rules. The school code says possessing or displaying a weapon. The cops have stated that a 2 inch knife is not a weapon.
So what 'rule' did he break?
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Thing is as I read it he DIDN'T break any rules. The school code says possessing or displaying a weapon. The cops have stated that a 2 inch knife is not a weapon.
So what 'rule' did he break?
Right wing extremist.
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Right wing extremist.
Yeah, I guess I'm just a dumb red neck too stupid to pick up on the "nuance". ::)
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Yeah, I guess I'm just a dumb red neck too stupid to pick up on the "nuance". ::)
I think that is how they look at anyone who does not live in L.A. or NYC
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I think that is how they look at anyone who does not live in L.A. or NYC
Absolutely, we are much too 'provincial'.