Actually, in response to Mr. Harvard, he was asked to bring the box cutter
to our house by his father--to get old stickers off his car. He simply
forgot to take it out of his bag and it dropped out during class. He is an
artist, as is his mother, and it is a standard tool--again, readily
available in his art class. So if it's a "weapon," it shouldn't be
allowed there either.
The ten days is only while he awaiting trial for expulsion. I am
originally from Massachusetts, so I hear what you're saying about
Cambridge and the general Hah-vahd area. But are you seriously arguing
that a tool that was not in any way
used or threatened to be used as a weapon IS a weapon? There was no
assault, no threatened assault, and there have been over a hundred kids
kicked out of this "charter" school for similar offences--like shooting
water pistols. Granted, there were the burglers, the vandals, and the
heroin addicts too. I just think it has gone too far. Your comments smack
of sexism and ignorance and possibly an administrator's point of view. I
hope that you don't have any children of your own. Your stereotype of
parents is appalling. This kid has been the victim of violence (check out
Atlanta figures), but never the instigator--even the administrators grant
that. He was caught skipping gym class, that's about it. When I was in
High School, and it wasn't THAT long ago (graduated 82), kids were given a
chance to turn around when they made a mistake. I'm just saying that our
society is becoming more fascist and more repressive, and that there will
be reactions to that. I'm surprised to hear the tone you express on this
listserv.
Heidi L. Nordberg
hnorde@learnlink.emory.edu