Guns in School - Kids Going Crazy

Okay, I was being sarcastic with the title.  All you need to do is a quick search online to see all the  stupid reasons kids are getting suspended these days. When I say stupid I mean like burping in class or hugging a friend.

Just this month a second grader from a school in Maryland was suspended for eating his PopTart into the shape of a gun. A seven year old boy playing with his food. I honestly don't see how this is a realistic threat to anyone. Who is he really going to hurt with his PopTart?

I'm a baffled with the lack of common sense in the public school systems here in the United States. Kids are getting suspended and even arrested for doing normal kid behavior. Stupid stuff, yes, but normal.

A teenage boy suspended for burping during gym class. Really??? That is annoying and rude, but seriously why couldn't the school just give him detention? 

In Pennsylvania, a kindergartener was suspended for bringing in a bubble blower to school.   She was originally suspended for 10 days, but the later reduced the suspension to 2 days.  Are bubbles now a deadly weapon?

The zero-tolerance policies of some of our nation's school systems are ridiculous. I completely understand a zero tolerance policy concerning weapons in school, but toys are not real weapons, fingers pretending to be guns are not real weapons, and even drawings are not real weapons. These policies leave no room for common sense which seems to be missing in the many school administrators lately.

In the past, I've worked in an elementary school as a recess monitor, so I know not all kids are the same. Some are inherently bad. Even little kids can be "evil", but most are just normal kids wanting acceptance and attention.

Even hugging a friend can get your child sent to the principal's office. Really! As a recess monitor, we were told the kids aren't supposed to touch each other AT ALL. No holding hands, hugging, pats on the back. Little girls on the playground couldn't hold hands to play ring around the rosie. No playing touch football or freeze tag. It was truly sad.

Please learn what the policies are for your child's school and speak up. Be involved and most importantly - let kids be kids!