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?
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