Eight-year-old Eathen Harris was suspended from school after writing on his shirt with a permanent marker and then sniffing it. April 3, 2008.
Posted on 04/04/2008 4:55:11 AM PDT by Libloather
3rd Grader Suspended for Sniffing Shirt with Permanent Marker
By SEAN TOBIN, Reporter
Last Edited: Friday, 04 Apr 2008, 4:08 AM MDT
Eight-year-old Eathen Harris was suspended from school after writing on his shirt with a permanent marker and then sniffing it. April 3, 2008.
WESTMINSTER - Eight-year-old Eathen Harris says it happened in writing class last week. That's when he colored a stripe on his shirt with a permanent magic marker.
But, it's what this 3rd grader did after he colored that landed him in hot water.
"I smelled the marker," Harris said.
But, what this 8-year-old doesn't know is why he was suspended as a result.
"They just suspended me for a day. They didn't even tell me what was wrong," Harris told Fox 31 News.
The teacher reported Eathen for misbehaving. His punishment, from the principal, a three day suspension.
Eathen's dad, James, thinks the punishment was too extreme. "Automatically assumed that he was huffing a marker. He is in third grade he's 8-years-old. And, I think that's a ridiculous assumption.", said James Harris.
Upset, the elder Harris, went to the school to voice his concern about his son's punishment. When he did, the suspension was reduced from three days to one.
Harris says that still wasn't enough. "I told them it was absolutely ridiculous. The child didn't know better," said Harris.
Harris Park Principal Christopher Benisch stands by his decision. He feels that these markers can present a serious safety issue if misused.
"I think I had a teachable moment.", Benisch said.
Principal Benisch said that Eathen's suspension was for repeated sniffing of the marker on his shirt, even after he was told to stop.
"We really want to send a clear message to that student and the other students that we're responsible for that. This is a real true danger.", Benisch said.
Smell
Despite their toxicity, the aroma of pages fresh off the Ditto machine was a memorable feature of school life for those who attended in the ditto machine era. A pop culture reference to this is to be found in the film Fast Times At Ridgemont High. At one point a teacher hands out a dittoed exam paper and every student in the class immediately lifts it to his or her nose and inhales.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditto_machine
Excuse me, but markers are clearly marked as “non-toxic” now days. They even come in flavors just so kids will smell them. If it’s soooo bad, then teachers shouldn’t be allowed to have markers within 1000 ft. of school property.
Everyone did that when I was in school. It wasn’t to cop a buzz. It was because the ancient ditto machines made a product with a pleasing and distinctive smell.
I had a major mimeo-jones going in grade school.
I love the smell of mimeograph in the morning.
Love, love, love the smell of permanent markers and gasoline too.
Geez. What would they do to the kid if they found he had eaten some Play Dough?
How ridiculous. Some markers come scented even. But even so, this is so over the top.
JD?
He would’ve been tased for that.
Thing is, they didn’t even tell the kid why he was being suspended. Or counsel him. How the hell is that teaching him a lesson? I think this idiot principal was on the lookout for an object lesson.
Gasoline doesn’t smell too bad but permanent markers give me a screaming headache.
It is time for James Harris to remove his boy from government school.
Our Marxist dominated government schools have a plan. That plan it to emasculate little boys and turn them into metrosexual weenie wusses.
Teachers shouldn’t be allowed to BE within 1000 ft. of school property............
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The principal was looking for an opportunity to emasculate another little boy and turn him into a metrosexual weenie wuss like himself.
WOW! I thought I was the only one who loved that smell!! Thanks for the memory!
Better for authorities to spend their time harassing this kid, who clearly was a maniac, than to go after kids with weapons who might be a real threat.
Enough sarcasm for now.
Does anyone remember the black, brittle, pourous packing material that (I think) Apple computers came in? It reeked of sulphur when you broke off a piece. We called it ‘fart rock’ in elementary school, for obvious reasons.
Does this mean they are going to start locking up dogs now?
More liberal insanity.
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