Toy soldiers run afoul of school's weapons ban

[Hazcat]

By MICHELLE R. SMITH (AP) – 16 hours ago

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Christan Morales says her son just wanted to honor American troops when he made a hat decorated with an American flag and small plastic Army figures.

But the hat ran afoul of the district's no-weapons policy because the toy soldiers were carrying tiny weapons.

"His teacher called and said it wasn't appropriate because it had guns," Morales said.

Morales' 8-year-old son, David, was assigned to make a hat for the day when his second-grade class would met their pen pals from another school. She and her son came up with an idea to add patriotic decorations to a camouflage hat.

Earlier this week, the Tiogue School in Coventry sent the hat home with David after class. He wore a plain baseball cap on the day of the visit instead.

Superintendent Kenneth R. Di Pietro said the principal told the family that the hat would be fine if David replaced the Army men holding weapons with ones that didn't have any.

"The issue for us was, can it be done in a way that didn't violate the zero-tolerance for weapons?" he said. "Nothing was being done to limit patriotism, creativity, other than find an alternative to a weapon."

Di Pietro said the district does not allow images of weapons or drugs on clothing. For example, it would not allow a student to wear a shirt with a picture of a marijuana leaf on it.

The principal "wasn't denying the patriotism," he said. "That just is the wrong and unfair image of one of our finest principals."

Morales said her son was inspired to honor the military after striking up a friendship last summer with a neighbor in the Army.

Banning the hat "sent the wrong message to the kids, because it wasn't in any way to cause any harm to anyone," she said. "You're talking about Army men. This wasn't about guns."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMXgWX1my2TrMvxt5JNxRShwyzBwD9GD56SO0

Another 'zero tolerance' policy for those with zero intelligence!

[fightingquaker13]

I've used this quote before. It offended a few board members. I will ask their forgiveness when I use it again. No disrespect to God intended, but it goes like this:
"Jesus Christ Pyle! You have got to be shitting me!"
Bring me me toy soldiers without guns? M'lette, can we please have the beating head against the wall smiley? Zero tolerance? I'll tell you what I have "zero tolerance" for, its stupid policies like these. When did discretion and common sense go out the window? Are we all sheep now? It makes me ashamed of my chosen profession, and that pisses me off.
 My favorite quote:

Di Pietro said the district does not allow images of weapons or drugs on clothing. For example, it would not allow a student to wear a shirt with a picture of a marijuana leaf on it.

The principal "wasn't denying the patriotism," he said. "That just is the wrong and unfair image of one of our finest principals."


Here is one of our finest principals. Its called the First Ammendment moron! If the Founders wrote the words "Congress shall make no law" what makes you think some podunk county school board should be immune? Arrogant little men, compensating for something plastic surgery, viagra, and vacuum tubes bought over the internet can't fix. Honestly, if I were that kid's dad I would be in jail for head slapping these fools.
FQ13 who feels better now. Rant over.  

[crusader rabbit]

When the Quaker is right, I'm right there to echo his "rightness."  Except for the blasphemy, I am right there with him on this one. 

I will only add that ignorance is a cureable condition.  Stupidity is not.

[Hazcat]

I just wonder if they have any pictures of Minutemen, civil war or other soldiers (with guns, GASP!) in the history books at that 'school'.  Or if they make sure no one is carrying a new MA quarter with a minuteman embossed on it.  How about the encyclopedias...any gun pictures in there?

As I said "zero intelligence"!

[sledgemeister]

For FQ: 

Heaven help if these little darlings ever played "cops and robber" or "cowboys and indians" in the school yard and pointed a loaded finger at each other and yelled bang.
When did "0" tolerence become total "stupidity".

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

Something to remember. 

Their goal with this is not to keep guns out of schools, it is to keep the thought of guns out of the minds of children. 

[Timothy]

Ironic as the city of Providence, nay, the entire state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is run by the mafia who live and die by the gun.

We see far too much of this in the Northeast.  A child was suspended a few years ago for a spent .22 case found in the pocket of his shirt.  He'd been shooting with his Dad the day before and it probably just landed there after being ejected from the firearm.

[ericire12]

For FQ: 

Heaven help if these little darlings ever played "cops and robber" or "cowboys and indians" in the school yard and pointed a loaded finger at each other and yelled bang.
When did "0" tolerence become total "stupidity".

Welcome to America! ..... No need to show your papers.

[sledgemeister]

Welcome to America! ..... No need to show your papers.

Your not isolated it seems its a pandemic these days reaching most if not all westernised countries, apparently we must have to feel not only feel guilty about not being a shit hole rat bag county but atone for the sins of the misfits by dragging our way of life down to their cess pit level.

[graywolf]

IMHO..the reason Zero Tolerance is used in Our schools...so school boards, administrators and teachers do not have to make any judgments or decisions on anything where common sense would prevail.  This gives them more time to tackle the headier issues of the day like whether to deny their athletic teams to go to Arizona in protest over their immigration policies or whether its OK to allow a teacher to put pictures of the the Presidents of the United States, but exclude to George W. Bush or to have pre-school programs that extol the virtues of a President by singing songs about him.  However, the real people to lay this all on are We The People!  We elect and sit on the school boards that make these limp wrist decisions and policies.  And the sooner we collectively get off our butts and start getting involved the sooner this horse hockey will stop!