I think this was a huge over-reaction by the school.
But the basic problem is that society no longer trusts people to make sensible choices. We second guess everything anyone does.
Consider a HS student who is considered “odd”. One day he comes and shoots up the school. Afterwards, everyone says “there were signs”, and “it’s not a surprise”. And everyone goes ballistic because this should have been stropped before it happened.
So schools initiate policies. Any sign. Any sign at all. Someone saying “I shoot you”. Someone pretending to have a gun. No matter what — the school has to jump into action and “take steps”. If a school employee fails to do so, they lose their job and their pension. The lawyers are out in full force.
And THAT is how a 6-year-old with Down Syndrome get persecuted for pointing her finger.
We don’t trust people to make good decisions and so we force people to make stupid decisions.
“......The lawyers are out in full force ......”
The consequences of at least 60 years graduating lawyers far in excess of what the economy actually needs !
When I was a college senior I ran out of fingers & toes counting the number of times I heard someone say when asked the question what are you going to do, ‘Dunno! ... I guess go to law school!”. When mine were in college they head the same thing.
Yes you have the left pegged correctly. Leftist policy is to take any choice or decision away from the individual. In this case, a teacher or principal.
I have heard it said before that if we let them (the left) have their way, then if one person sh**s their pants we will all have to wear diapers.