Student brings knife to Ann Arbor's Forsythe Middle School
A sixth-grader at Ann Arbor's Forsythe Middle School has been suspended pending an expulsion hearing after he brought a 3-inch folding knife to school Monday morning, authorities said.
The 12-year-old showed the knife to several students and made threats with it, but later told school officials he was joking, an Ann Arbor police report said.
When asked if he had a knife, the student turned it over to a teacher, the report said.
The case has been forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office for review for possible charges in juvenile court.
Liz Margolis, the district's spokeswoman, said the district is following its policy, which calls for the student to be removed from school pending a hearing. State law mandates expulsion from school if a student brings a knife with a blade that is 3 inches or longer.
Education reporter David Jesse contributed to this story.
Comments
linuxtuxguy
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:53 a.m.
Grade, there are plenty of legitimate uses to have a knife (even at school). letter opening, cutting tape (even scotch tape can be hard to remove), cutting designs in paper in ways that would be difficult with scissors, biology class dissections, shop class, home ec... the list goes on and on. I say teach RESPONSIBLE knife use. Don't vilify the knife. It is very rare that I don't use a knife at least once during any given day.
Rosie
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:15 a.m.
I agree with the idea that the threat should be the area of focus in a case like this. Certainly young kids don't think/know what is appropriate in a situation like this and we must do a thorough investigation. If we simply told Johnny not to do it again and sent him on his way we might regret it later. Think of all the tragedies that have happened at schools in the last two decades, Columbine for example. If we don't handle these matters with an appropriate amount of seriousness we could have a much more serious situation occur later that could have been prevented with early intervention.
Grade
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 9:49 p.m.
I don't understand why anybody would have the need for a knife at school no matter what size it is.
emu2009
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 4:37 p.m.
I would have to agree with linuxtuxguy in that the issue is more so the threats than the knife itself. A 12 year old is more than capable of having a small pocket knife and being responsible with it. When the 12 year old starts threatening others then there is an underlying problem. Who's to say that this kid hasn't been bullied or something and felt a need to defend himself. There could be so many reasons that he did this. I think the district should investigate before expelling the child. That's the trouble with zero tolerance policies, they don't take into account all circumstances.
happyone
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 3:08 p.m.
For Pata! I am sorry to offend you I thought I had A right to my opinion as for my child he/she does not attend a2 public schools at all and there is a good reason for that! I also am happy for you that you went to forsythe but you know as well as I that A lot has changed since we attended middle school! my child attend's SOUTH LYON school's and has never done better...but I thank you for your concern:}
11GOBLUE11
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 3:05 p.m.
If we weren't such a litigious society, I think common sense would prevail much more often than it does.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:37 p.m.
Braco linuxtuxguy! Target the behavior not the tools. Knives are arguably one of man's first tools after sticks and stones. I use one everyday, so do many others. Just another example of extreme policies to the detriment of all thanks to a few who make poor choices.
linuxtuxguy
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:28 p.m.
I don't see a problem with a kid bringing a small knife to school. (I was in cub scouts, and it was routine to carry one around.) I DO have a problem with that same kid making threats with the knife. THAT is where the line should be.
David Jesse
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:25 p.m.
Here's the Ann Arbor school district's policy on weapons: http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps.forparents/parents.studentrr0506/state_suspension__expulsion_laws. The local school board's hands are generally tied by state law on these issues. Here's a link to a story I did while at the News about zero tolerance: http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/08/the_dilemma_of_expulsions_they.html
racerx
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:22 p.m.
To "happyone", what school does your children attend that is better than A2 Public Schools in this area? Even if there was a better school district this one incident would not warrant an overreaction based upon the current information presented. I have a 12yr. old who just played a basketball game at Forsythe, I attended Forsythe. It's pretty sad that these zero tolerance polices are enforced as such, when simply, at times, at this age of development of children it's nothing more than simple boasting or bragging. Lighten up. Same could be said of "peanut allergeries" and the policies for something that isn't proven but everyone suffers. What if a family can only afford P&J? I digress, off track. Give the kid a hearing. Get more facts. Gawd, even my 12 has a Swiss Army knife that is less than 3". It has a toothpick and a light on it. It's more novelty than weapon!
theodynus
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:18 p.m.
A 3 inch knife is a normal size pocket knife (not much larger than a swiss army knife). I've had a knife that large since I was in kindergarten. Twelve year old kids say and do stupid things. People used to understand that. Now shooting your mouth off gets you expelled and referred to the local prosecutor's office. Do you think that makes him less likely to be a threat to society in the future? I once brought road flares to school joked to some friend that it was dynamite for show and tell. I got called to the principle's office and what did he do? Told me to keep them in my bag and not bring them back to school. Here I am, 20 years later, sitting in front of my desk at work, without a trail of bodies in my wake. I hope the authorities in this case use some common sense and don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
ftaylor74
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:07 p.m.
Too bad the district doesn't have a policy like this when its one of their bus drivers that assaults a child.
happyone
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 1:50 p.m.
It is so very sad that A 12 year old would have access to A 3 in fold out knife but this is why I am so very glad to have pulled my child out of this school district for A better education although I know not everyone has this opportunity :[
darknyt
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 1:31 p.m.
Its sad to see what children do for attention nowadays. Although the attention he needs is a sore rear end. Then a good Ward Cleaver talkin to.