"....but then I'm an old foggy!"
Me too, and I have not forgotten that, other than girls, I remember the kind of stuff that was on my mind in Junior High.
We had a geography teacher who had been shot down in Europe. He had an inert .50 cal. round on his desk that he allowed the students to pass around during class. He also talked about the injuries he had sustained as he was pulled out of a burning a/c.
I'm just sorry that the parents of this youngster must have missed a lot of opportunities.....you know, those "cringe" times when your tiny one comments on someone's wheelchair, or appearance or disability and you have the opportunity to teach what true sensitivity really means...
The principal was right....I expect schools to RE-INFORCE good manners...not to have the primary responsibility to teach them!