‘Toaster Pastry Gun Freedom Act’ proposed in Maryland

[sailingaway]

A Maryland state senator has crafted a bill to curb the zeal of public school officials who are tempted to suspend students as young as kindergarten for having things — or talking about things, or eating things — that represent guns, but aren’t actually anything like real guns.

Sen. J. B. Jennings, a Republican who represents Baltimore Harford Counties, introduced “The Reasonable School Discipline Act of 2013″ on Thursday, reports The Star Democrat.

“We really need to re-evaluate how kids are punished,” Jennings told The Star Democrat. “These kids can’t comprehend what they are doing or the ramifications of their actions.”

“These suspensions are going on their permanent records and could have lasting effects on their educations,” he added.

A nationwide flurry of suspensions seemed to reach an absurd level recently when Josh Welch, a second-grader at Park Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, was suspended for two days because his teacher thought he shaped a strawberry, pre-baked toaster pastry into something resembling a gun. (RELATED: Second-grader suspended for breakfast pastry)

“I just kept on biting it and biting it and tore off the top of it and kind of looked like a gun,” the seven-year-old told Fox News.
“But it wasn’t,” he astutely added.

As Reason’s Hit & Run blog noted, Park Elementary School officials later offered counseling to other students who may have been traumatized by the pastry.

Senate Bill 1058 restricts the disciplinary options Maryland public school officials can use for any student who “brings to school or possesses” an image of a gun or an object that might look like a gun but isn’t one.

Students could also form their fingers in the shape of a gun without fear of reprisal.

The bill also includes a section mandating counseling for school officials who fail to distinguish between guns and things that resemble guns. School officials who fail to make such a distinction more than once would face discipline themselves.

Another provision of the proposed law would keep incidents involving non-threatening objects and images from going on a student’s permanent record. Elementary school-age students would be especially protected.

The bill also does not change any law or guidelines concerning actual violence or students who bring actual weapons to school.

http://news.yahoo.com/toaster-pastry-gun-freedom-act-proposed-maryland-090424950.html

[sailingaway]

off twitter:

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/742992510.jpg?key=1134763&Expires=1362975298&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=YWEdNNymoc22PT05ayNzBXdmVyqiCZliztxpAZTh Glsruli5ZlE~IbxMoedXZ9jL5ngrEiFU4wvX0Ys4IF5HzZKZId ewhzkOz~ICHkKgInshCR74OyVyPV0G-pSENjv~W48vM-1vvcHY~051TiG9mpFdMA7-ohuG0rIxdELvBOg_

[RockEnds]

The bill also includes a section mandating counseling for school officials who fail to distinguish between guns and things that resemble guns. School officials who fail to make such a distinction more than once would face discipline themselves.

This is the best part of the bill.

[presence]

A Maryland state senator has crafted a bill to curb the zeal of public school officials who are tempted to suspend students as young as kindergarten for having things — or talking about things, or eating things — that represent guns, but aren’t actually anything like real guns.


Sen. J. B. Jennings, a Republican who represents Baltimore Harford Counties, introduced “The Reasonable School Discipline Act of 2013″ on Thursday, reports (http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_d0d2f350-8838-11e2-95c9-001a4bcf887a.html) The Star Democrat.


“We really need to re-evaluate how kids are punished,” Jennings told The Star Democrat. “These kids can’t comprehend what they are doing or the ramifications of their actions.”


“These suspensions are going on their permanent records and could have lasting effects on their educations,” he added.


A nationwide flurry of suspensions seemed to reach an absurd level recently

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/10/toaster-pastry-gun-freedom-act-proposed-in-maryland/#ixzz2NCUEDQm2




















hmmm

Y U NO post in education forum?

I duped your other thread too in that forum:

High School Student Disarms Gunman…Gets Suspended?

Save on double post moderation if moderator uses correct subforum when posting, no?

[VoluntaryAmerican]

It's a shame this story hasn't really picked up nationally. Zero tolerance policies are horseshit.

[sailingaway]

I think we should make an actual action campaign in Maryland to bombard the legislature with support for this bill.

[VoluntaryAmerican]

I think we should make an actual action campaign in Maryland to bombard the legislature with support for this bill.

I would help with this. I recently wrote an op-ed about this same subject, but no luck getting it published yet. Not really on the radar of NJ papers.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Xl0Qry-hA

Side note: This topic reminds me of this song.

[sailingaway]

well, I just created a thread for it as an action alert, and I did tweet it.... I'm not in Maryland so....

[Anti Federalist]

well, I just created a thread for it as an action alert, and I did tweet it.... I'm not in Maryland so....

Good job.

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

+repped rockends for what she pointed out...



“We really need to re-evaluate how kids are punished,” Jennings told The Star Democrat. “These kids can’t comprehend what they are doing or the ramifications of their actions.”


Have to say they are still missing something here.

We really need to re-evaluate how kids are TREATED. The ramifications of a pop tart gun should be not eating it fast enough. What the fuck else should a kid be comprehending, really?

[Carson]

This is the best part of the bill.

The bill also includes a section mandating counseling for school officials who fail to distinguish between guns and things that resemble guns. School officials who fail to make such a distinction more than once would face discipline themselves.


Thanks RockEnds. I missed that.

[tangent4ronpaul]

+repped rockends for what she pointed out...

Have to say they are still missing something here.

We really need to re-evaluate how kids are TREATED. The ramifications of a pop tart gun should be not eating it fast enough. What the fuck else should a kid be comprehending, really?

This kid should be put into CPS's permanent care and the parents arrested!

I mean really - he was eating a POP TART??? That's not on Michele Obama's approved list! Kid shoulda been chomping on a carrot or some celery or something.

:rolleyes:

-t

[tangent4ronpaul]

Bill text posted:

http://jbjennings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/SB1058_Text.pdf

-t

[Kotin]

This is the best part of the bill.

Lol that's pretty awesome.. This bill is hilarious though

[tangent4ronpaul]

"A 6-year-old boy was suspended from the James McGee Elementary School in Pasco, Wash. for talking about his toy Nerf guns with classmates. The Pasco School District decided to overturn the suspension on Thursday after speaking with the child's parents." . . .

Suspension of Wash. state child who talked about toy Nerf guns overturned
http://www.examiner.com/article/wash-state-overturns-suspension-of-child-who-talked-about-toy-nerf-guns?cid=PROD-redesign-right-next

6 year old in Silver Spring suspended for pointing finger like a gun
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-02/local/36211637_1_school-officials-student-disciplinary-offenses

On Friday, a 9-year-old boy in Detroit brought cupcakes to Schall Elementary School for his birthday. Both the boy and his parents were reprimanded for a decoration on the cupcakes that the school principal found to be inappropriate—little green Army men.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/9-year-old-gets-trouble-bringing-cupcakes-army-figures-them-school

(2011) Oklahoma schools: Mid-Del first-grader Patrick Riley was disciplined after pointing his finger like a gun.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=19&articleid=20110120_19_0_OKLAHO186303

Disciplinary records have been wiped clean for an 8-year-old boy in Prince William County who pointed his finger like a gun after another child pretended to shoot him with a bow and arrow, according to the family and a lawyer.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/03/zero-tolerance-guns-schools-newtown

-t

[Barrex]

I often wondered how the fuck is it possible that you have so many laws. This explains it.

Punishing kids for making forms and shapes from their food is #/()%#()... making a law that will regulate it is $&/%"/&%!".


What is next? I really hate when people fingernail scratch across chalkboard. "The Most Annoying Sound In The World" Law.

[RockEnds]

Lol that's pretty awesome.. This bill is hilarious though

It is. I don't usually support legislation that mandates counseling, but let's face facts. These people need help. :cool:

[tasteless]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/BE2_wv7CYAA05DK.jpg-large.jpeg

from lew rockwell

[WM_in_MO]

I often wondered how the fuck is it possible that you have so many laws. This explains it.

Punishing kids for making forms and shapes from their food is #/()%#()... making a law that will regulate it is $&/%"/&%!".


What is next? I really hate when people fingernail scratch across chalkboard. "The Most Annoying Sound In The World" Law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cVlTeIATBs