Another example of Zero Tolerance or justified results?
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9234)
United States
November 25, 2008 8:47am CST
OK, the title on this story is a bit misleading because the behaviors involved MORE than just "the gas we pass". However, I do think the punishment far exceeded the crime. Hell - when I was in school, it took so much more than this to even get detention! Police were never called (unless the problem was assumed to be racial - end of the Civil Rights Era - and that was only once). Kids were handled by school authorities and the parents, with few exceptions, accepted the punishments given to their kids. I think this was a bit excessive. 
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/84-11252008-1627094.html
He was being annoying, yes. He was being disruptive, yes. But, criminal??? Don't the schools want to exert ANY authority any more??? They'd be well within their rights to suspend, apply detention, or even expel - but ARREST??? Give me a break!! 
What do YOU think?
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/84-11252008-1627094.html
He was being annoying, yes. He was being disruptive, yes. But, criminal??? Don't the schools want to exert ANY authority any more??? They'd be well within their rights to suspend, apply detention, or even expel - but ARREST??? Give me a break!!
What do YOU think?4 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Hi jerz~I think that this truly is ridiculous! What is wrong
with the schools these days? This kid is not doing anything
criminal! I agree with you! Maybe he should have been
suspended. But, arrested! This is clearly a waste of taxpayers
money and the police departments time! Arresting a 13 year
old for being disruptive in class! That is so unnecessary!
It the school continues to do things like that then when
they really need the police to help they are not going to
be there! I'm surprised that they didn't site the school
for some kind of annoyance call. This clearly could have
been handled easily by the school itself. It by no means is
a criminal offense!
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I would have had him sit with an adult outside of the classroom and when he was done "passing gas" because it wasn't funny anymore, then he could come back into the classroom..
I think the schools are too afraid to disipline anymore...Detention would have been a start..
As far as shutting off the computers I would have made him sit aside from everyone and had him write out the assignment or whatever it was that they were doing on the computers..
Calling the police was excessive..not sure if that will teach him a lesson or not..
I'm sure his parents won't be thrilled..I know I wouldn't have if that had been my child...
@isikopeacejohn (109)
• Uganda
25 Nov 08
I think those who do wrong deserve punishment; but teaching how to do right comes first. Hi...
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Arrested?? That is not right at all. Now if the kid was fighting or pulling a weapon out I could see...but passing gas and also shutting down computers?!?! No way. Send him to the office, call the parents and take care of the problem with the child between the kid, the parents and the school officials not the law.
