Posted on 02/11/2014 6:47:32 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
CHICAGO, Il.— Criticizing Chicago school officials for being overzealous, misguided and incapable of distinguishing between an impotent toy and a dangerous weapon, The Rutherford Institute has come to the defense of an 11-year-old boy who was suspended from school after he voluntarily turned in a non-firing plastic toy gun that had been forgotten in his jacket pocket. Caden Cook, a sixth grader at Fredrick Funston Elementary School, was suspended for allegedly violating the school’s weapons policy against dangerous objects, in addition to being ordered to undergo counseling, and subjected to intimidation tactics, interrogation, and dire threats by school officials—all without his mother being present. Rutherford Institute attorneys have asked that the suspension be rescinded and all references to the incident be removed from Caden’s permanent school record.
“This case speaks volumes about what’s wrong with our public schools and public officials: rather than school officials showing they are capable of exercising good judgment, distinguishing between what is and is not a true threat, and preserving safety while steering clear of a lockdown mindset better suited to a prison environment, they instead opted to exhibit poor judgment, embrace heavy handed tactics, and treat a toy gun like a dangerous weapon,” said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State. “In the process, school officials sent a strong, chilling message to this child and his classmates that they have no rights in the American police state.”
Frederick Funston Elementary School introduced a random “pat down” to its security and screening procedures at the beginning of this school year. All students are physically separated from their bags and randomly chosen for a manual “pat down” before going through the metal detectors. Students’ bags are also separately searched at random. On Friday, January 31, 2014, sixth grader Caden Cook was waiting in the school line to be patted down when he realized that he had mistakenly left in his sweater pocket a toy plastic gun which he had played with the previous night while he was out with friends and family. Realizing his error and that the toy was a prohibited item on school grounds, Caden alerted the security personnel to his predicament, explaining that he had accidentally brought the plastic toy to school and relinquishing the toy to school security personnel. Instead of recognizing that Caden was attempting to do the right thing and acknowledging the mistake, school officials allegedly subjected the 11-year-old to intimidation tactics, interrogation, accusations of lying, and threats. All of this was done in the absence of Caden’s mother and without her having been informed of the incident. Upon her arrival, Caden’s mother was berated and criticized for allowing her son to use toy guys.
In coming to Caden’s defense, Rutherford Institute attorneys point out that Caden’s conduct does not rise to the level of serious disruptive behavior, given that he immediately alerted school officials to his accidental transgression and voluntarily turned in the toy once he realized his mistake, even prior to entering the screening area, nor does the plastic toy gun constitute a dangerous object by the school’s standards or anyone else’s.
Hopefully he learned a lesson. Today’s governmental authorities cannot be trusted. They are not our friends.
At this point I would either withdraw my child and find a good parochial school (finances allowing)or I would home school. The public school is terroristic.
> The Rutherford Institute has come to the defense of an 11-year-old boy who was suspended from school after he voluntarily turned in a non-firing plastic toy gun that had been forgotten in his jacket pocket.
Thanks 2ndDivisionVet. The parents (or parent) should sue the school’s face off.
many public schools just don’t educate very well anymore
they are afraid to do any (moderate, reasonable) discipline, for starters
That was the 'message' the school system wanted sent...
Being punished for voluntarily turning in the toy gun will teach him a life lesson that no good deed goes unpunished—so don’t expect him ever again to do a good deed. From now on, he will take a cynical view of life.
this is shock indoctrination.
not you former public school.
my old elementary school doesn’t let kids play kickball or dodge ball anymore. just “skills” development.
Government authorities should never have been trusted or considered “our friends”.
That *is* the problem. Too many Freepers are enamored of the idea of “good government”.
Don’t count me among them.
A toy plastic gun is more dangerous than a sharp pencil?
They are bullies. most likely made him cry then really piled it on him
to satisfy their urge to hurt somebody, even an 11-year old. Sociopathic.
Well I am sure most involved in the school hierarchy are indeed complete idiots you must give credit for a brilliant policy to someone.
Brilliant as in cunning that is. See what you have here is an institutional push to condition parents and students to fear gun ownership.
Think about it. This no tolerance policies for weapons and firearms are so over-the-top that it causes a huge explosion of negativity to the individual who violates such an edict. Lawyers are involved, news agencies descend on the alleged perp and his family and the student is expelled from school which of course singles out the lawbreaker and separates him from his schoolmates and as such he has become an example of socially unacceptable behavior as well as it shows what will happen if others engage in the same actions.
No this plan was not put in place by bumbling idiots who thought they would be helping society. Yes those idiots support and enact the policy but this whole issue is an effort to destroy the 2nd Amendment through long term conditioning. People who grow up in a school system that has such harsh policies will grow up to fear guns.
And if you get the majority of people in the USA to fear guns then the 2nd Amendment can be erased with ease. And that ultimately is the goal of zero tolerance.
“........he voluntarily turned in a non-firing plastic toy gun that had been forgotten in his jacket pocket.”....
Yepper, the 11 year old kid was a “real threat” to them.
What a bunch of dumb asses who are put in charge of our schools so they can brain wash the kids. Home schooling needs to be mandated across the country. Why not, since being un-employed is a great opportunity to spend with your family as stated by the gubmint idiots themselves.
The lesson learned here: Don’t admit to a mistake, don’t turn it in. Just try to not get caught.
As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
Do you agree that the time period in which conservatives “trusted” government and believed government employees were “their friends” is an anomaly which ought never to be repeated?
I don’t know. That’s a rather convoluted premise and I’m not sure I can agree with it.
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