MARYLAND - A six-year-old boy was suspended after making gun gestures with his hand during school. He's in the first grade at White Marsh Elementary in Talbot County.
"At that young age it's very traumatic to get suspended from school I'm sure and it could effect them you know whether they want to go to school or not," says Tuscarora High School teacher Dan Neulend.
This incident happened shortly after another six-year-old boy from Silver Spring was suspended under similar circumstances. The school district said his gestures were "threatening."
Parents say this may be going too far.
"Some kids you know will get in trouble but it's how you handle it," says Melanie Dorsey, a parent herself. "For first graders to be suspended I think that should've been handled a different way."
Many schools are staying neutral about the suspensions, but they say they can understand the sensitivity when it comes to safety.
"I understand the concern that teachers and administrators have over school safety I think what everyone wants is for our schools to be as safe as possible," says Michael Doerrer, Frederick County Public Schools Director of Communications.
"We look at everything so independently here when we look at a situation regardless of the grade level," says Larkin Hohnke, Frederick County Public School. "We just take it one situation at a time. We investigate that and really make our decision based on that individual."
"We have an all hazard approach; weather events, utility crisises, man made crisises such as the one in Connecticut, so we try to cover anything that might effect the safety of our students," says Clifton Cornwell, Coordinator of School Security with Frederick County Public Schools.
The boy from Silver Spring was able to get his suspension reversed and his school record cleared through an attorney.
"The young people, who to them it's really all games and they don't understand what it could imply when they're older, and so it's too bad that they have to suspend these kids without talking to them having their parents explain to them."
We reached out to White Marsh Elementary where the boy was suspended, but so far the school has not made any comments.
"At that young age it's very traumatic to get suspended from school I'm sure and it could effect them you know whether they want to go to school or not," says Tuscarora High School teacher Dan Neulend.
This incident happened shortly after another six-year-old boy from Silver Spring was suspended under similar circumstances. The school district said his gestures were "threatening."
Parents say this may be going too far.
"Some kids you know will get in trouble but it's how you handle it," says Melanie Dorsey, a parent herself. "For first graders to be suspended I think that should've been handled a different way."
Many schools are staying neutral about the suspensions, but they say they can understand the sensitivity when it comes to safety.
"I understand the concern that teachers and administrators have over school safety I think what everyone wants is for our schools to be as safe as possible," says Michael Doerrer, Frederick County Public Schools Director of Communications.
"We look at everything so independently here when we look at a situation regardless of the grade level," says Larkin Hohnke, Frederick County Public School. "We just take it one situation at a time. We investigate that and really make our decision based on that individual."
"We have an all hazard approach; weather events, utility crisises, man made crisises such as the one in Connecticut, so we try to cover anything that might effect the safety of our students," says Clifton Cornwell, Coordinator of School Security with Frederick County Public Schools.
The boy from Silver Spring was able to get his suspension reversed and his school record cleared through an attorney.
"The young people, who to them it's really all games and they don't understand what it could imply when they're older, and so it's too bad that they have to suspend these kids without talking to them having their parents explain to them."
We reached out to White Marsh Elementary where the boy was suspended, but so far the school has not made any comments.
Comments
this is sick a bunch of paraniods guess the good days of the past r gone because of these twisted pukes
dave h.
January 19, 2013 at 10:48 pm
My grandaughter had this happen to her a few years ago when she was 6. In West Virginia
of all places. No more cops and robber, cowboy and indians. This is way out of hand. 6 year olds are KIDS, give them a break. Stupid Adults!
allen m.
January 19, 2013 at 4:27 pm
Another form of brainwashing by overreaction
william d.
January 19, 2013 at 8:52 am
This is just sad. WAY TO FAR. Man some people need to take a chill pill. Is it tragic that the kids were killed in CT.? YES will suspending 6 year olds solve that? NO. Will baning so called Assault Weapons fix the problem? NO. will allowing parents to discipline there children fix the problem? It sure would help or if at least some parents would man up and not let there children run there lives.
Chris M.
January 19, 2013 at 7:50 am
