Kindergartner Suspended Over Bubble Gun Threat

[hrsepwrguy]

A 5-year-old girl was suspended from school earlier this week after she made what the school called a "terrorist threat."

Her weapon of choice? A small, Hello Kitty automatic bubble blower.

The kindergartner, who attends Mount Carmel Area Elementary School in Pennsylvania, caught administrators' attention after suggesting she and a classmate should shoot each other with bubbles.

"I think people know how harmless a bubble is. It doesn't hurt," said Robin Ficker, an attorney for the girl's family. According to Ficker, the girl, whose identity has not been released, didn't even have the bubble gun toy with her at school.



The kindergartner was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation during her 10-day suspension, which was later reduced to two days. The evaluation deemed the girl normal and not a threat to others, Ficker said.

The girl's family is considering a lawsuit against the school to get the blemish - all because of bubbles - off their daughter's record.

"The mother has tried to get the girl in another school since this time, and they won't take the little girl because of this mark on her record," Ficker said.

The suspension comes one month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which has created a heightened sense of alert at schools across the country.

The Mount Carmel Area School District told ABC News, "We are confident that much of the information supplied to the media may not be consistent with the facts… The Mount Carmel Area School District takes the well-being and safety of students and staff very seriously."

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/kindergartner-suspended-over-bubble-gun-threat-174618051--abc-news-topstories.html

[margypops]

wow cant you and other parents put in a complaint.. sounds very unfair

[brice1967]

Yup.  That's about what it amounts to.  This goes with it.  We get a lot of snow.  We have a 42 mile, one way commute to town/school.  One real bad storm had the roads all jacked up and we arrived at the school right as the tardy bell rang.  My son got detention.... here's the kicker.  Buses were still unloading and none of those students got detention because "the roads were bad".  

(The buses routes are within 10 miles of the school and those kids were excused, we live 42 miles away, beat some of the buses there and the bus kids got excused while my kid got punished....)  

[margypops]

ow one min late and 2 days detention that sounds tough,but then you may aswell miss the first period and ask Mom to write a note

[brice1967]

Schools.... We've got a great tardy policy here at our high school.  Basically, if you are 1 minute late to first period class, you are put on "in school detention" for 2 days.... on the other hand, if you miss first period with a parents permission, no problem.  Basically, they are advocating absence.  

[nursegirl6572]

OMG, I think some of this over the top reactionary stuff is ridiculous.  I hate that now the Halloween parties have strict rules, NO fake weapons may be brought into school on Halloween.  I could MAYBE (MAYBE) see fake guns, but everything else?  It's so dumb...most of the costumes are made by the weapons!

Same with the newer dietary restrictions.  NONE of the kids' parties at school can involve a food item with the first ingredient of sugar...so no more cookies, cupcakes, etc.  Nothinig like hummus dip at the Valentine's party!  UGH!  

Hey, I'm ALL for teaching kids about eating healthy, but to now allow those treats at a kids' party, at least a little bit of it?  Totally stupid IMO.  Instead, they all get treat bags loaded with candy, which they're not allowed to eat at school...so they just go HOME and stuff their face.

Too many things are being taken to extremes.

Let kids be kids!!!

[specialmom]

Hm.  I just thought of something.  I wonder if my boy's semi automatic NERF guns are going to be banned.  Uh oh.