Rough Road Ahead for New York Eagle Scout as School District Won't Budge on Pocketkni

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

As a 17-year-old Eagle Scout continues to wait out a one-month suspension from his upstate New York high school for having a 2-inch pocketknife locked in a survival kit in his car, the U.S. Military Academy says the missed school days could pose a big problem when it reviews his application.

Pressure is mounting on a Troy, N.Y., school board to overrule Matthew Whalen's suspension from Lansingburgh High School, which was issued because of a zero tolerance policy that is facing increasing opposition from parents and education advocates.

Whalen, a senior, says he stocks his car with a sleeping bag, water, a ready-to-eat meal and the small knife, which was given to him by his grandfather, a police chief in a nearby town.

But Lansingburgh High has a zero-tolerance policy for weapons, and when school officials discovered that Whalen kept his knife locked in his car, he says, they suspended him for five days — and then tacked on an additional 15 after a hearing.

On Wednesday, West Point's director of admissions told Foxnews.com that Whalen's suspension alone wouldn't be a "show-stopper" and "didn't appear to be a big issue" for the youth, though it will appear on his record as the military academy considers his moral and ethical fiber.


I have 2 questions......why was this kids car searched and then why was his suspension increased from 5 days to 20?? What am I missing??

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Based on the local news
2-inch pocketknife nets suspension for upstate Eagle Scout | LoHud.com | The Journal News

Another student told officials he had been carrying a knife.

From the reading, seems like he just admited when asked he has a pocketknife on his car.

Then from this School Chief Sticks By 'Zero Tolerance' Ruling for Eagle Scout - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Lansingburgh Central School District Superintendent George J. Goodwin, 55,
...
Whalen was initially suspended for five days by his assistant principal — but then had another 15 tacked on by Goodwin following a hearing to decide his fate. Though Goodwin was not present at the hearing, he told Fox News he listened to a tape of the proceedings, and decided to extend the suspension.

I guess put in the car, drive the car to school, locked it is the same as bring it to school.

Not very clear is this
1. Is this Knife clear define as weapon by the school. Since look like the county police does not think so
2. Is this clear told the student and parents?
3. Not sure about the overall area, but is 20 day a established punishment or not. From OY, Demise seems to say 20 days is the rule, so there is no intention try to set a special example

The student may or may not be in danger loss his West Point application, but mostly is depends on if he can catch in Academic. Right now, he get 90 min tutor per day, so it may have some effect. On the other hand, when a door shut, there may have many open, so it will test his integrity.

A actual history story. Not very good in English, so hopefully, it does not loss in my translation.

A old China king once make a rule, that ANYONE that has the tool to make wine will be considered as same try to make personal wine, and will be punished.

One day, he and one of his cabine member watch the people walking around the front street, his cabine member told him, "Look here comes a man and woman, and they intended to make love in public, which should be punished". The king was very surpised, and ask, "How did you know?" The answer was "Since they own the tool to make that crime, so the same principle of owning the tool for making wine are applying". The king laughted very hard and stoped that law.

That said, I can understand the need to make sure the school be a safe zone. And need some way to reduce the possible danger of someone just play some tool and have no idea what it is and cause a mass disaster. However, most of the time, the question is not on should or shouldn't, but what is the punishment and how do you make sure people not just get punished. It does not look good if it is some rules that can be easily violate.

Jya-Ning

[pranas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pranas]

Sounds to me like a vice principle playing god. She has the power to ruin a young person's life and she intends to use the regulations to help her do this.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Not very clear is this
1. Is this Knife clear define as weapon by the school. Since look like the county police does not think so
2. Is this clear told the student and parents?
3. Not sure about the overall area, but is 20 day a established punishment or not. From OY, Demise seems to say 20 days is the rule, so there is no intention try to set a special example

His punishment ends at 21th Oct, yesterday.

found another link (UPDATE: suspended Eagle Scout gets some answers - WTEN: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports -) This is on 14th

The military academy he's wanted to attend since first grade has told Matthew not to worry.

...
The Lansingburgh Central School District has a zero-tolerance policy on weapons. The Code of Conduct prohibits any kind of weapon at school, as well as anything that reasonably could be considered a weapon.
...
Part of the reason for the district's strict policy is an incident that happened on Mar. 13, 2002 outside of the high and middle schools. A freshman stabbed an eighth grader using a knife he had in his pocket once school let out.

...
As for Matthew, it's been a tough lesson to learn. He admits he'll have to read school policies more carefully in the future, but he also says he hopes districts will learn that zero-tolerance policies don't help everyone and that punishments should fit the offense. Still, Matthew says now that he's been in touch with West Point, he's relieved to have the chance to explain his situation. It appears as though all hope is not lost yet.

"I'd say I'm about 80 percent a go," Matthew says, "so I feel good about it."

So, yes, the school clear defines the knife is not allowed. And yes since the other student reported, so the school clear told student and parent (although based on what my kids get from school, I am pretty sure it can be overlooked most of the time).

And sounds like 20 day is established punishment. In this case, he does not get immune (read like the 5 days from school is either a temp. period for final decision, or because the school know him well and willing to give him some leeway, if that is the case, then it revert back to 20 days later)

Look like he can hold his ground. Will have to wait until West Point makes decision which will be way pass this semester.

Jya-Ning