A great background for a dart board.
Posted on 10/16/2009 10:56:47 AM PDT by broken_arrow1
Call him Mr. Zero Tolerance.
The upstate New York school superintendent who suspended an Eagle Scout for 20 days for keeping a 2-inch utility knife locked in his car is unwilling to speak to the teen's family or bend in his ruling.
Lansingburgh Central School District Superintendent George J. Goodwin, 55, said in a written statement that his district "has an established policy of zero tolerance with respect to the possession of weapons of any kind on school property or in school buildings."
But nowhere in the school district's rule book, which is published online, is there any mention of a "zero tolerance" policy, leading some to question whether Goodwin, in fact, was compelled to suspend the youth.
Seventeen-year-old Matthew Whalen, a senior at Lansingburgh High School in Troy, N.Y., says he got in trouble over a survival kit he keeps in his car that includes a sleeping bag, water, a ready-to-eat meal and the small pocketknife, which was given to him by his grandfather, a police chief in a nearby town.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Mr. George J. Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Lansingburgh Central School District 576 Fifth Avenue Troy, New York 12182
Lansingburgh High School 320 7th Avenue, Troy, NY 12182 (518) 233-6806
http://www.lansingburgh.org/
A Message from the Superintendent
On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire staff of the Lansingburgh Central School District, I invite you to share our growing sense of pride in the achievements of our schools. The education of our children is a most exciting challenge. Our entire educational program is designed to meet that challenge. The Lansingburgh Central School District offers a wide variety of services and programs in an always supportive environment.
Our school district is a relatively small one, therefore our students are given a sense of belonging often missing in larger districts. This publication, which describes our community facilities and programs, will provide you with an overview of our district and its relationship to the Lansingburgh community.
George J. Goodwin Superintendent
The 645,892nd reason to homeschool
Government schools are evil.
This superintendent needs to be arrested for having a deadly weapon in his car.
I’m sure he has a tire iron.
How’s THAT for zero tolerance, ya bastid?
Arrogance. They name is government employee.
I think I’ll give the moron Mr. Goodwin a call
Also, unfortunate for the super, that the person who GAVE the kid this knife is his grandfather....and also is the local police chief.
I'm thinking that a few of these administrative idiots are going to learn what the term really means.
Nothing illegal, mind you. But "36 in a 35", and "you didn't come to a full stop" ....spring immediately to mind.
Not that I'm advocating abuse of police powers at all. Just specific enforcement to the letter of the law. That's all. "Zero Tolerance", as it were.
A great background for a dart board.
What distinguishes an ordinary ‘tool’ from a weapon?
Perhaps the intent of the design and manufacture?
Or perhaps the fuzzy mind of a liberal superintendant?
I’m holding out faith that there has to be more to this story. I pray that no one who has that much power is so grossly incompetent.
Dr. Supernintendo. Do the kids have scissors, sharpened pencils, access to flamable lab equipment, legs or arms as all of those can be dangerous. You must be a frickin MORON!
THat is the first thing my husbad said when he heard about this case. “What about the jack handle in the trunk?”
This man is an embarrassment to public school teachers everywhere.
Has it become a requirement in today’s America for all educational Superintendents to be a horse’s patoot?
Yes, and that is why George Will once said that the only hope for education is to destroy all the schools of education that create these monsters.
That’s actually an excellent point. Zero tolerance means zero tolerance, right? Tire irons (or even a jack handle, which EVERY car typically has) are potentially deadly.
By their definition, pens and pencils are weapons. So are the utensils in the cafeteria, art room tools like scissors...
These policies are arbitrary and parents need to sue to have them struck down.
Justice = Goodwin + feathers + tar + rail
BTW, this Eagle Scout is the recipient of a heroism award from the BSA because he saved his aut’s life by administering CPR when she had a seizure.
Having been through a similar situation with one of my boys — I do not think there is anymore to this story than a arrogance on the part of the Superintendent.
LIL
I think you hit on it.
well a lib and a patoot
have we ever found out who this little 2” knife locked in a survival kit and locked in a trunk was found?
“Cower”?
This is the only way to stop the evil indoctrination of our kids. The lunatics are running the asylum.
Super-Socialist Super-tard George J. Goodwin doesn’t seem to be answering his phone these days. However, I got through on the listed High School phone number and filed a complaint.
My son is a Boy Scout, which is the great last bastion of good will and honor in the F-d up country!! I let them know that in no uncertain terms.
Burn down the phone lines!!
BUMP
A vehicle can also be used as a weapon.
Apparently, the scout was asked if he was carrying any weapons on his person, and he replied no. Then they asked him if he had anything in his car, to which he honestly replied yes. ...so much for honesty.
I had a high school coach, that went through our underwear in our lockers, while we did laps, we had to wear jock straps, and if he found brown spots on anyone’s breifs...lack of personal higene, we had to go home. They need to check this guys underwear, I but he has a smudge...send him home, there ought to be something he has done that they could throw the book at him.
"I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for some intelligence on the part of administrators to use discretion and judgment in their daily decisions," said Bryan Whalen. "Otherwise, what are we paying them for?
"You could have a trained monkey or a computer sitting there just spitting out right and wrong and never any gray areas. That's just not the way the world works," he told Foxnews.com.
I would like to see the school super suspended without pay until an investigation into his competency can be completed.
Since the article included my exact sentiments, I need say no more.
We need to find some cop willing to do this to a few school officials.
A tire iron is a deadly weapon. Yes, “it’s a tool”, but so is a pen knife. Heck, so is a RIFLE for that matter.
Zero tolerance is zero tolerance, bucky.
Great point. A tire iron is a far more dangerous weapon than a 2 inch pocket knife. So is a baseball bat. Heck, the car itself is a much deadlier weapon.
Mr. Goodwin is prime evidence that the possession of multiple degrees and lengthy education is NO indication of any brains or common sense.
From Ace of Spades HQ
“Taking down an Eagle Scout, National Guardsman and potential West Point student, is winning the liberal educator trifecta.”
Anyone with power can say "yes" but those with no power can only say no. I've seen it hundreds of times in all walks of life and so has every FReeper here.
He's the supply clerk who will not give you what you need because of a missing form or an incomplete signature or the absent stamp. All the while he has this little smirk showing you "who the boss is".
Think about it and look at this spineless little twit.... look at his face. He sees a boy that is an Eagle Scout and going (hopefully) to West Point. The young man can camp, hike, build things with his hands, shoot, climb and give first aid.
the superintendent of the school can cross his legs well, fill out paperwork, attend mindless meetings and chuckle about how "hard he works"... bwahahahahahahaha...
The young man is full of life and the old turd is jealous. Nothing anybody can say will change his mind, he's too wrapped up in his little fiefdom. The best thing to do is RIDICULE HIM!!!! Point the finger and just laugh at him...
The little self important twits of the world can handle verbal abuse, written abuse and the "slings and arrows" but they can't handle ridicule.
He's a superintendent of a public school.... wow... whoop dee doo!!!!! I hope he can find more of those locked up knives in kid's trunk... since I'm sure that this Eagle Scout was a gang banging thug....
Books can be an effective weapon.
I also think it’s ridiculous that they confiscate pen knives when entering gov’t buildings, etc.
What about a 4th degree black belt?
You gonna take his pen knife so that everyone in the building is safer?
You gonna handcuff him and put him in leg irons to enter the building?
wow
He is to be admired. The Super should be fired.
He is just being stubborn now since he was exposed as an Idiot
“I have no weapons in my car” would be honest! The purpose determines what it is.
West Point has stated they are ignoring this.
Even if he’s not a homo, that face has “punch me” written all over it...:)
I still want to know who turned this kid in or how they found such a small knife locked up in his car.
This boy was targeted = he was specifically called in to the office and grilled re having a weapon/knife on him....and continued to ‘in your car?”
When shown that ‘lethal’ 2” pocket knife, ZAP!
I’m wondering if this jerk had it out for the Eagle Scout, whose dad is in the military and whose granddad is the police chief.
I smell more than pompous ignorance here -
Betcha the punks in Che T’s don’t get bothered
The one question that has not been answered, at least to my knowledge, is what started this whole thing? Why was this kid singled out and called into the principal’s office and questioned about weapons? What made them question him about his possession of a knife in the first place?
Who or what instigated this whole thing?
If he was a “gang banging thug”,
he’d be classified as an “at risk youth”,
and given a pass.
Some jealous, powerless little gay nerd, probably.
I am not sure who is the most stupid, The Superintendent, the School Board or the State Board of Education. This is lawsuit driven, so we must also include the Trial Lawyers. PURE INSANITY, maskerading as an education facility.
No, he’s a homo.
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