2-inch-long TOY Gun

[philw]

An irate Staten Island mom blasted a grade school principal Wednesday for treating her son like a pint-sized Plaxico Burress after he brought a 2-inch-long toy gun to school.

"This principal is a bully and a coward, and needs to be held accountable," said Laura Timoney, 44, after her teary fourth-grader was nearly suspended for playing with the tiny toy at lunch.

"The school should be embarrassed. This is a common-sense issue."

Patrick Timoney, 9, was terrified when he was yanked into the principal's office to discuss the teeny-weeny plastic "weapon."

"The gun was so little," the boy said. "I don't understand why the principal got so upset. I was a little nervous. They made me sign a statement."

Patrick and a friend were playing with Lego figures in the school cafeteria on Tuesday when he pulled out the faux machine gun and stuck it in the hands of his plastic police officer.

Boom! Trouble ensued, with Patrick's mom getting a phone call from Public School 52 Principal Evelyn Mastroianni saying her son had somehow gone from straight A's to the NRA.

"I was in disbelief," the still-fuming mother said. "Why didn't anyone step up with an ounce of common sense and put an end to the harassment of my child?"

Timoney said her boy loved the toy figure because her husband is a retired police officer.

The elder Patrick Timoney, a former 72nd Precinct cop, couldn't believe his son was nearly busted over something so obviously inauthentic.

"It's a 2-inch gun," he said. "She went overboard. She should have said, 'Put the toys away,' and that would have been the end of it."

After a meeting between the principal and the parents, the boy was spared any disciplinary action. City school officials said Patrick agreed to leave the "gun" at home.

"I'm never bringing a toy to school again," said Patrick, whose favorite subject is math.

Laura Timoney remained upset. Her son, a typically eager student, asked to stay home yesterday because he thought the principal was mad at him.

The mother said she expects an apology and may sue.

"The toy gun is not the issue," she said. "A lack of common sense is the issue."

Several parents at the school felt the principal overreacted, including Kim O'Rieley - whose son was playing with Patrick in the cafeteria.

Her boy's Lego man was toting a tiny ax, which the principal deemed less threatening.

"It's ridiculous," said O'Rieley, 36. "He felt so bad for his friend. They're taking things way too far ... No one is saying guns are okay.

"Come on, it's a Lego."



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/02/04/2010-02-04_big_trouble_over_this_tiny_toy_mom_fuming_at_a_lack_of_common_sense_as_son_buste.html#ixzz0enfZAyfR

[Paraguy]

Pens are used to write ransom notes, they should take them away from kids, too!  I think even "Zero tolerance" still means you can use your brain to handle a situation.  How about saying, if you saw a real one you should 1. Stop 2. Don't touch 3. Walk away 4. Tell a grown up.  Isn't that what a good educator and someone who cared about kids would do?  What a Maroon!

[philw]

Zero Tolerance rules are for the ignorant who are too lazy to think for themselves


Grab your ankles guys. This is only going to get worse

[tombogan03884]

Zero Tolerance rules are for the ignorant who are too lazy to think COWARDS WHO REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY  for themselves


Grab your ankles guys. This is only going to get worse

FIFY   

[Pathfinder]

Quote from: philw on Today at 05:50:45 PM
Zero Tolerance rules are for the ignorant who are too lazy to think COWARDS WHO REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY  for themselves

Grab your ankles guys. This is only going to get worse

FIFY   

The principal is nothing more than a leftist/statist demanding complete authority and control. This is not about ignorance or laziness or even cowardice - this is about people abusing what has been in American history a hallowed institution (even if unconstitutional) for their own power aggrandizement. People like her need to be removed and provided with about 10' of hemp - and a streetlight.

Tom, if you can't keep it together, I will have to find someone to replace you on the ticket! Or do you need a teleprompter? ? ? ?         

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

CAN NO ONE IN GOV"T SCHOOLS (insert profanity) THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX??

Geez.......Those No. 2 Ticonderoga pencils can be sharpened to the point of being a lethal weapon also......

They may have to ban them and switch back to crayons.....

[PegLeg45]

Pens are used to write ransom notes, they should take them away from kids, too!  I think even "Zero tolerance" still means you can use your brain to handle a situation.  How about saying, if you saw a real one you should 1. Stop 2. Don't touch 3. Walk away 4. Tell a grown up.  Isn't that what a good educator and someone who cared about kids would do?  What a Maroon!

+1

And don't forget, they need to ban forks too...that would obviously solve the childhood obesity epidemic....

[tombogan03884]

From Pathfinder
Tom, if you can't keep it together, I will have to find someone to replace you on the ticket! Or do you need a teleprompter?

Good grief, I'm planning to chase them all out of the country or hang them, what more do you want ?
As for the tele prompter, it would not do any good since I won't have even notes to put on it. That's something Hitler Definitely had right.

[Pathfinder]

From Pathfinder
Tom, if you can't keep it together, I will have to find someone to replace you on the ticket! Or do you need a teleprompter?

Good grief, I'm planning to chase them all out of the country or hang them, what more do you want ?
As for the tele prompter, it would not do any good since I won't have even notes to put on it. That's something Hitler Definitely had right.

I was miffed at your casual non-reference to rope in this case, simply ascribing her actions to cowardice and failure to take responsibility. It may well be cowardice, providing her a nice "wall" to hide behind, but never forget - it is about the power and control. We have to keep that message in the forefront of people's minds.


BTW - got'cha    

[Fatman]

Yep, yep, common sense be damned.  I was doing my job (armed) in a hospital and one doctor pointed at my hip and in that elitist tone of voice said, "Is that necessary in a hospital?".

Eyeballed him, smiled and replied, "Yeah! If I didn't have the holster and belt my pistol would hit the floor."