8-year-old suspended for sniffing marker

[Ravi]

WESTMINSTER – Adams School District 50 is defending its decision to punish a third grader for sniffing a Sharpie marker.

Eight-year-old Eathan Harris was originally suspended from Harris Park Elementary School for three days. Principal Chris Benisch reduced the suspension to one day after complaints from Harris' parents.

Harris used a black Sharpie marker to color a small area on the sleeve of his sweatshirt. A teacher sent him to the principal when she noticed him smelling the marker and his clothing.

"It smelled good," Harris said. "They told me that's wrong."

Eathan's father, John Harris, says the school overreacted for treating Eathan as if he was huffing, or inhaling, marker fumes.

"I think it's outlandish," John Harris said. "It's ridiculous."

Eathan shyly shook his head "no" when a reporter asked if he knew about "huffing."

Benisch stands by his decision to suspend Harris, saying it sends a clear message about substance abuse.

"This is really, really, seriously dangerous," Benisch said.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=89333

 

[Angel Heart]

Another sign that our schools are broken and need an overhaul.

 

[Ravi]

I liked this part:

Despite the medical evidence, Benisch promised to draw an even clearer line on markers.

"We've purged every permanent marker there is in this building," he said.

 

[doeton]

right...how many tens of thousands of schools are there in the U.S.?

one principle makes a rash decision (brought on by the idiotic war on drugs culture)

and public schools get indicted for it?

 

[Ravi]

Schools have become crazy zones when it comes to fear of drugs and fear of loons with guns.

 

[Angel Heart]

I agree they have. The solution I see the admin will never let happen. It requires truly putting parents in power.

I would like to see something like what Head Start has. Ever hear of Head Start Policy Councils? Head Start is ran through joint governance. Each program has a board that is made up of professionals but they also have a Policy Council that must have at least 51% current parents. We make all choices made must cross our table and have a vote. Choices like, who's hired or fired, budget, work orders, and many many more.

Give power to the parents! The public schools have been trying to pull power from the parents. Many in the system view parents as no more than who babysits them while they are out of school. That parents couldn't possibly know what's right for their child. I have seen this first hand. Not all of them but it seems to be the majority.

 

[Ravi]

That may be true to a certain extent but parents can disagree on how things are run...for instance, most of the security measures at my kids school are to me a big waste of money and not needed but most of the parents are very happy about it.

 

[doeton]

active engagement of parents and majority rules both seem like good ideas.

 

[manifold]

This doesn't really bother me all that much. A warning probably would have been enough, but I wouldn't exactly call a 1 day suspension particularly severe. I'd wager that his parents were mostly pissed off because it meant they'd have to babysit him for a day.

 

[doeton]

originally 3 days...reduced to 1 after parents complained

 

[jillian]

This doesn't really bother me all that much. A warning probably would have been enough, but I wouldn't exactly call a 1 day suspension particularly severe. I'd wager that his parents were mostly pissed off because it meant they'd have to babysit him for a day.

No. They were pissed, legitimately, because the school did something really stupid. There was no justification for suspending the kid. Those markers DO smell good and all that had to happen was to tell the kid that spending the day sniffing the ink on his shirt could make him sick. I'd think that would have been sufficient.

 

[KungFusion]

WESTMINSTER – Adams School District 50 is defending its decision to punish a third grader for sniffing a Sharpie marker.

Despite the medical evidence, Benisch promised to draw an even clearer line on markers.

"We've purged every permanent marker there is in this building," he said.



More anti-drug hysteria. Soccer moms and conservative tight-asses rejoice. This is your legacy!

 

[manifold]

No. They were pissed, legitimately, because the school did something really stupid. There was no justification for suspending the kid. Those markers DO smell good and all that had to happen was to tell the kid that spending the day sniffing the ink on his shirt could make him sick. I'd think that would have been sufficient.

I kindly respect your right to voice your opinion.

 

[Ravi]

No. They were pissed, legitimately, because the school did something really stupid. There was no justification for suspending the kid. Those markers DO smell good and all that had to happen was to tell the kid that spending the day sniffing the ink on his shirt could make him sick. I'd think that would have been sufficient.

According to the article it wouldn't have even made him sick.

 

[jillian]

According to the article it wouldn't have even made him sick.

I dunno... I'd have told him it could make him sick.

But the school's response was really stupid.

 

[jillian]

I kindly respect your right to voice your opinion.

Heh... thanks.

Thing is, if you have kids, you sometimes deal with stupid people who make decisions that can determine your chlid's future.

For example, the little dude who got suspended... you know what happens if his parents try to get him into a good intermediate school?

They aren't going to accept him... because of a "discipline" issue. How's that for messed up? Can you blame the parents for being angry?

 

[Ravi]

I dunno... I'd have told him it could make him sick.

But the school's response was really stupid.

I have a feeling if they hadn't made a big deal out of it he would have eventually stopped sniffing on his own.

I finally gave up eating paste.

 

[jillian]

I have a feeling if they hadn't made a big deal out of it he would have eventually stopped sniffing on his own.

I finally gave up eating paste.

Good on ya!

Eating paste could have hurt your social life in college.

 

[manifold]

Heh... thanks.

Thing is, if you have kids, you sometimes deal with stupid people who make decisions that can determine your chlid's future.

For example, the little dude who got suspended... you know what happens if his parents try to get him into a good intermediate school?

They aren't going to accept him... because of a "discipline" issue. How's that for messed up? Can you blame the parents for being angry?

Yup, kid's blacklisted for life now. Might as well start teaching him how to clean toilets.

 

[manifold]

I have a feeling if they hadn't made a big deal out of it he would have eventually stopped sniffing on his own.

I finally gave up eating paste.

Too bad you didn't make the same leap in regards to lead paint chips.