New York Eagle Scout Suspended From School for 20 Days for Keeping Pocketknife in Car. Thoughts"?

Question

A 17-year-old Eagle Scout in upstate New York has been barred from stepping foot on school grounds for 20 days — for keeping a 2-inch pocketknife locked in a survival kit in his car.

Matthew Whalen, a senior at Lansingburgh Senior High School, says he follows the Boy Scoutmotto and is always prepared, stocking his car with a sleeping bag, water, a ready-to-eat meal — and the knife, which was given to him by his grandfather, a police chief in a nearby town.

But Lansingburgh High has a zero-tolerance policy, and when school officials discovered that Whalen kept his knife locked in his car, he says, they suspended him for five days — and then tacked on an additional 15 after a hearing.

The incident is similar to the case of Zachary Christie, a 6-year-old Cub Scout in Delaware who faces up to 45 days in his district’s reform school for bringing a scout utensil that can be used as a fork, spoon and knife to school. But for Whalen — who has received an award from the Boy Scouts of America for saving a life and completed 10 weeks of basic military training last summer — the stakes are much higher:

He is concerned that the blot on his school record could kill his dream of attending West Point.

R J · Accepted Answer

Wonder if they broke in his car to find it there.  Also can Chicago sue the railroad people as that is what those creeps killed that student with.

You got to laugh, too bad they don't allow the voucher program as the graduation rate is much higher and the life expectancy is longer.

nOt sue if you saw the article on the 6 year old para military Cub Scout who brought his little knife, spoon and fork deal tho school.  But he fooled them, they were going to send him to a reform school for 40 days, but he got out of it.

I noticed on tv that in his interview he was happy to be able to go to school, but no one caught that he was wearing a CAMOUFLAGE backpack. Got to watch those six year old para military guys. the kid you are talking about is also part of a para military group.

maybe they should put some railroad ties in their cars.

YOu might also think of this, in the schools where the bad stuff is going on the teachers probably will not say anything as they have already been threatened by the parents on PTA night.  think about it.

cmjackpot · Answer

It appears that common sense has gone by the wayside. My Lord, the knife was locked in the trunk of his car for heaven sakes! The heads of the school didn't think it was a horrible act and West Point has agreed to take him as a recruit in spite of the school's ruling. Obviously there are still some people left in this country who don't buy into the panic of being politically correct all the time. Hooray for them! Sounds to me like some petty, jealous, underachiever blew the whistle on him. So be it. This young man will more than likely succeed in life where the duds will remain incompetent as usual.

chuck_junior · Answer

Several things on this:

The "knife" involved was part of a larger survival kit kept in the trunk, and was tiny. He wasn't packing an Arkansas Toothpick.

Blanket/Arbitrary rules don't work without common sense applied. None was shown here.

West Point has already reached out to him and has stated that this won't be an issue in their consideration of his appointment to to their Academy. His father is an Army Captain.

Observations: Don't drive on school grounds DAR. You'll probably get arrested...for the flashlight...

These people are the ones teaching our kids?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?
They're MORONS.

Edit: The 6 year old is already back in school...since wednesday I believe.

Natasha b · Answer

The knife was 2 inches, the police said it wasn't a weapon so no criminal charges were filed.

West Point was contacted and they said it would have no bearing.


Now we need to keep the pressure on those 8 year old cub scouts, that's the real threat.

Thomas D · Answer

This is what both Parties get for pushing Zero Tolerance laws and taking common sense out of the system.

Alwaysright · Answer

unfortunatly zero-tolerance is 0.he is very lucky that is all he got.my lil bro in the 3rd grade was expeled for the remainder of the school year to be home tutored for bringing something similar to his school.they cannot bend the rules for 1 and not for all.

? · Answer

I basically have been given caught skipping as quickly as-and because i became so depressed, my counselor permit me go and gave me and my pal bus tokens to get abode. I skipped a minimum of two times a week nonetheless, for the reason that 10th grade. and that i graduated on time? i think of they only felt undesirable for me.

Anonymous · Answer

*sigh* That is the way it was the last few years at my high school only you would have been expelled permanently. The zero tolerance rules started after Columbine and are an over reaction.

Aegis of Freedom · Answer

And this is why my children will never set foot in the government indoctrination centers (public school). I love them too much, I would never subject them to that kind of child abuse.

Anonymous · Answer

Zero tolerance has gotten way out of hand,,,what ever happened to common sense?

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New York Eagle Scout Suspended From School for 20 Days for Keeping Pocketknife in Car. Thoughts"?

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