You know, none of us were there, and we can speculate all day long as to what REALLY happened. My thoughts, and my opinions- sometimes, the "administration" can and does go high and right on some things... I draw my thoughts from what I saw- that the child had been warned previously not to do this, and still the behavior continued, AND... in this day and age, where guns and violence seem to be the preferred method of conflict resolution (perhaps neck and neck with litigation), and children are being bullied at unprecidented rates, to the point of suicide in YOUNG kids, the school HAD to act. If they had already spoken to the child, and his parents, what is next? Seriously? The child did not correct the behavior, and the parents did not correct the behavior.
I hope this is never my kid, on either end of the conflict, but I'll tell you what... if it were my kid being the perpetrator, that one day suspension would be the most miserable day of his six year old life. He would KNOW that it was the result of not following the rules and not doing what the teacher told him to do. If it were my kid on the receiving end- the one being "shot" at (and he felt threatened), I would be the parent demanding the school take some action.
Children who are not held accountable grow into teens and adults with no sense of personal responsibility. In my line of work, I have had many many young people working for me, and it is easy to pick out the ones who grew up in homes where it was never their fault when things went bad.
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:
You're assuming he was being threatening. He didn't say to the girl "if I had a gun I'd kill you". For all you know they were playing cowboys and Indians at recess and he continued into the classroom.
Granted he should have knocked off the playing while in class I think accusing the child of being "threatening" is silly.
Quoting STVUstudent:
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:
Ofcourse its playing! Do you have a son?
Quoting STVUstudent:
Wasn't one of the kids from Columbine considered "skinny and meek"? A six year old is old enough to understand that threatening to shoot someone isn't funny, and isn't playing. With little kids being influenced by gangsta culture, it is the parent's responsibility to model and reinforce and enforce appropriate behavior...
Yes, I have a son. He is five and in kindergarten.
The first time is playing. When you have been told that it is unacceptable behavior and continue to do it, it stops being play. Granted, the kid did not have a gun, but he was clearly telling the girl that if he HAD a gun, he would shoot her. The really sad thing is, too many kids have access to guns, and until something like this happens to people you know, kids this young don't understand that this is permanent.
The kid got a one day suspension and a notation on his school record for violating school policy and repeating paterns of violent behavior. For this, the parents hire a lawyer?
I stand by my opinion- threatening to shoot someone isn't funny and isn't playing.
