Kids|October 12, 2009 3:51 pm

Zachary Christie: First Grader Suspended? Does He Look Dangerous to You?



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ZacharyChristie Zachary Christie: First Grader Suspended? Does He Look Dangerous to You?Zachary Christie is a six-year-old who was so excited about joining the Cub Scouts that he brought a camping utensil that can serve as a knife, fork and spoon to school.

Zachary’s school suspended the first grader and he might be going to reform school!

His school says Zachary violated their zero-tolerance policy on weapons, and Zachary was suspended.  This sweet little Cub Scout is also facing 45 days in the district’s reform school!   School officials say they had no choice and had to suspend him because, “regardless of possessor’s intent,” knives are banned.

Zachary Christian’s case is one more example of how common sense is thrown out the window in our schools!

According to the New York Times, Zachary is being home-schooled while the family tries to overturn his punishment.  Debbie Christie, Zachary’s mother, started a web site (helpzachary.com) to try to gain support for her son:

Zachary wears a suit and tie some days to school by his own choice because he takes school so seriously. He is not some sort of threat to his classmates.

This case is completely insane!  I understand that kids can’t bring knives to school but COME ON!  What do you think about Zachary? Does this kid look like a danger to you?

pixel Zachary Christie: First Grader Suspended? Does He Look Dangerous to You?
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Author: Lolita Carrico is the founder of the Gloss Network for Women. Lolita has been featured as an expert on hundreds of media outlets like Redbook, Parents, The Washington Post, ABC News and FOX News, discussing topics such as parenting, relationships, career and balancing it all. Follow her on Twitter @lolita
  • patrick

    that is so not right its a fork and a spoon WOW!?
    i support you 110%. i support you zachary
    they have no common sense

  • john

    its almost to dumb to be true

  • http://www.mygloss.com Lolita Carrico

    Seriously? Suspended and possibly reform school for bringing in a spork? If this is how the administration at our schools interpret the “rules” — it’s no wonder our schools are in the shape they’re in. The people in charge are idiots.

  • John Breland

    And you wonder why kids aren’t learning….

    How can they when the schools are run by idiots and fools?

  • frank ferret

    He could be terrorist.Keep an eye on that dude.

  • brucer

    OMG, he just LOOKS like a future terrorist. I’d Gitmo the little fiend right now!

    Seriously, if even one of those moron administrators have jobs a month from now, the folk in that community are even dumber than the admins. And don’t gimme crap that “they’re just following the law”. Even the law requires some common sense.

    Freaks.

  • Dee Reich

    Unreal! I’m not rendered speechless very often, but this takes it! The principal and the school board should be ashamed! What kind of message is this sending to the poor boy? Wouldn’t common sense have dictated that if there was an issue with the item, it should have been addressed to the parent in the form of a mature conversation and not punishment?

    He did NOTHING WRONG and Zachary, you have my support, all the way!

  • chad smith

    That’s ok, little man….just tell em you’re a muslim excercising your right to freedom of religion. Better yet, tell em you’re gay & that you’re attempting to infiltrate & dismantle the evil Christian Cub Scouts…they’ll welcome you back with open arms then.

    Seriously…where do we find these idiots running our public schools? Are we setting up job fairs at the special olympics now? Or has the job market for burger flippers become so competitive that those qualified are having to seek employment at public schools?

  • AnaHadWolves

    Chad Smith, your comments are distasteful, disgraceful and disrespectful. In one breath, you slam a religion that is obviously not yours; in another breath, you slam gay people. Finally, you trot out that old and very tired “I’m-a-Christian-and-we’re-so-persecuted-by-everyone” line.

    You’re probably a right-wing, intolerent, Republican. Wait…just saying the word “Republican” automatically gets you the words “right-wing” and “intolerent”.

    I agree with you that the result of Zachary’s misstep was unfair and bone-headed, but, taking that as an opportunity to slam Muslims and gays and those who are not Christians is out of line…but, not unexpected in today’s America.

    You really should apologize, but, I’m betting you don’t have the class so to do.

    • G Pat

      AnaHadWolves,

      Have you not noticed that everyone mentions the lack of common sense? Let the man have his say.

  • deb

    You people fail to realize that it isn’t just a spoon and fork. There’s a knife attached too. That is a weapon. Maybe this kid wouldn’t use it to hurt anyone. What if some other kid got hold of it? I don’t think that the child should have been suspended. But the knife should have been taken and he should receive some sort of consequence. And as far as looking dangerous – most people don’t. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t. And, if the school has a zero tolerance policy, then that policy needs to be adhered to.

  • maris

    Agree with Deb. A knife is a knife is a knife. He wasn’t suspended for bringing a spork he was suspended and given reform “detail” for bringing a KNIFE to school. So really, what does a dangerous kid look like? A 6 year old has never had a temper tantrum? Never acted out or hit, shoved someone?? It only takes ONE act to hurt someone. ZERO tolerance = ZERO TOLERANCE. Perhaps this could have been avoided if mom checked his bag prior to school?? Agree with the school board for sticking with their policy of zero tolerance but perhaps 45 days of reform school is harsh. It does need to be addressed and there are consequences that should take place but as with anything it should be catered to the individual.

  • Lee

    Yes it has a knife which is a TOOL not a weapon. Knives that are weapons are very different. I garauntee you that a pencil is FAR more dangerous than the blade on a Boy Scout knife. Not to mention scissors, baseball bats ect. All things to be found at schools.

    You will have to incarcerate me before I send my children to public schools these days. This kind of nonsense simply galvanizes many parents to the need for homeschools.

  • Kris

    A knife isn’t realy a knife is a knife is a knife. The Christina School Code of Conduct defines a knife type weapon as “knives with a full blade measuring three or more inches or a switch-blade knife”. By looking at the fork in the photo above I find it hard to believe that the knife part would meet this definition. But, to realy make any judgement we need to know more about the knife. Is it a butter knive (rounded) or a steak knive (pointed)? Is the blade longer than 3″? I want to know more, so that I can draw my own educated conclusion.

  • http://myspace dana

    this is so wrong even though this is on the code of caonduct you suppose a little first grader to actually understand what this code of conduct means. he may know his abc’s but it’s not the same with reading these big words on the code of conduct.

    Zachary i point you a 900%

    Zachary it’s okay

  • robin

    One more reason to think that humans are a threatened specie in this country
    One has to be asleep to believe that living this country is anyone’s dream.

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