Student suspended for using a Glock pen?

[Jerk]

Here is the scoop:

My son was home Thursday evening doing his homework when his ink pen died. He asked if I had one he could have. I reached into the pen holder on my desk and grabbed a pen and gave it to him. He continued his homework as usual. The night passed normally, everyone goes to bed, and Friday rolls around.

So, my phone rings Friday afternoon. It's the vice principal from my son's school saying that he needs to discuss a serious situation about my son. When I asked him what was going on, he tells me that a pen bearing a Glock logo is forbidden by school policy and that I need to come and pick up my son because there is a manditory 3 day suspension because of the violation. Apparently, one of my son's teachers saw him writing with the pen during an assignment.

While I have the VP on the telephone, I retrieve my son's student handbook. Flipping though it, I see that weapons, replica weapons, pictures of weapons, and weapon images on keychains or other items are forbidden. The pen I had given him was one I picked up at a law enforcement firearms competition last year - which bore only the Glock logo, but not an image or rendition of a firearm. Nowhere does it say that a firearm company logo is restricted by school policy. I explain this to the VP.

So, the VP gets his handbook and looks through it. He was in agreement that the pen did not directly violate the policy, but that the Glock name was commonly known to be a firearm and therefore it technically was in violation. Then, the VP even makes a statement to the fact that I am a local LEO and I should know the proper application of the rules.

I found this to be the most hilarious interpetation of school law yet. I engaged in an argument for a short time about the suspension and how the pen did not violate the posted rules as understood by anyone reading it. The VP would not budge on his position and referred me to the school system's superintendant's office.

So, my son is at home and I have an appointment at the school superintendant's office tomorrow. I will try to be diplomatic, but this situation is clearly not covered by the rules by the VP's own admission. Maybe I am wrong here, but this just seems very unfair and exceptionally liberal.

How would you deal with this situation? http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_question.gif

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=664786&page=1

[sanantoniosooner]

I'd shoot him.

[Rogue]

Your son deserves an apology from the VP.
And you should be compensated for having to take off work.
You inform the super that you son will be in school the next day, suspended or not, until the school proves to you that the rule was violated because it is not covered in the handbook.

I should be compensated for the day of education my taxes paid for that you son didn't get! Now I get to live in a society that isn't as smart as it should be.

Sue everybody! :D

[Harry Beanbag]

Show the VP what a real Glock looks like so he'll know the difference next time.

[1stTimeCaller]

I know a guy that would be getting some type of traffic/parking ticket every day.

[soonerinabilene]

Take three days off. Take your son to Vegas. When he goes back to school, and all the kids make fun of him for being suspended, he can tell stories of strippers and hookers, and provide photo documentation of his adventures, and then he can ask those p*ssies how school was the last three days.

[Boomer.....]

Sounds like you handled it the way you should have. Don't back down!

[Sooner_Bob]

Wow. Talk about taking a firm stance on a policy. I wonder what the history is at this particular school or community. I wonder if they also have a ban on wearing camo.

[sanantoniosooner]

Sounds like you handled it the way you should have. Don't back down!
It's not actually his kid.

I'm sure he appreciates the pat on the back though ;)

[SoonerJack]

If they're going with the spirit of the policy vs the letter of the policy, then I can see their point. However, the letter of the policy says image.

I wouldn't back down. I can't wait to see how this turns out.

[85Sooner]

I'd shoot him.


Dittos, with a replica Glock.

The School systems are out of control. Seriously though, I would contemplate Home School. Our Schools are a joke fo r the most part.

[sooneron]

I would think that since this wasn't a direct violation of policy that the school would just confiscate it and make the kid take it home at the end of the day. I have always felt that keeping a kid from learning was a stupid punishment. Unless of course, that kid is some sort of violent risk to himself or others.

[sanantoniosooner]

Dittos, with a replica Glock.

The School systems are out of control. Seriously though, I would contemplate Home School. Our Schools are a joke fo r the most part.
What an over-reaction.

[OUDoc]

A lot of school systems seem to be filled with little dictators who enjoy wielding power in their tiny scholastic empire.

Don't get me started on school bus drivers.

[sanantoniosooner]

A lot of school systems seem to be filled with little dictators who enjoy wielding power in their tiny scholastic empire.

Don't get me started on school bus drivers.
JANITORS!!!!!!

[sooneron]

JANITORS!!!!!!
http://www.filmfashion.nl/stills/breakfastclub10.jpg

They read your notes!!

[Viking Kitten]

I'd have an attorney give the ol' principal a call. Schools get really freaked out when they hear the word "lawsuit."

I happen to know the legal director of the ACLU here in OKC is very pro Second Amendment. I'd give him a call.

[jk the sooner fan]

its obvious our schools neither teach nor know the concept of "common sense"

critical thinking should be a class required for all students....and educators

[sooneron]

This sorta reminds me of my wife's 2nd cousin, he lives in our town. His parents were called to pick him up from school on Halloween b/c he was dressed as a pimp. :rolleyes:

[OUDoc]

My son has used a Viagra pen at school. DRUGS IN SCHOOL!

[sanantoniosooner]

common sense went out the window when schools started getting sued over every little thing on the planet.

Not that I don't agree to an extent.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

What an over-reaction.

seriously? I am sad to inform you, public edumacation sucks today. Mainly because administrators get paid too much money and have no balls. They write policies to cover their *** on everything, but have no guts to do things the old administrators used to do. They lost the sheriff taylor in them because they are afraid to get sued.

[jk the sooner fan]

i think the actual teaching is ok - depending on where you are

but the administrators screw it up more than is necessary

[Viking Kitten]

Maybe schools should quit doing stuff that merits legal action (like this).

[sanantoniosooner]

seriously? I am sad to inform you, public edumacation sucks today.
What

ever

It has problems, but as an individual you can do quite well in the system if you are inclined.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

As long as you don't get caught up in the overly extremed rules they have implemented...

Oh and to add, I don't disagree with you on you statement. You just have to know how to dance really well.

Used to be, you'd get licks, talked to or your parents called in. Things would happen then, and they were dealt with swiftly and it was over. Too afraid to be sued has created alternative schools and such.

EDIT: Oh and Block scheduling is the devil...;)

[TopDaugIn2000]

what the hell kinda teachers allow students to use PENS on their homework anyway?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


PENCILS people, PENCILS

[sooneron]

seriously? I am sad to inform you, public edumacation sucks today. Mainly because administrators get paid too much money and have no balls. They write policies to cover their *** on everything, but have no guts to do things the old administrators used to do. They lost the sheriff taylor in them because they are afraid to get sued.
Hmm, sounds just like corporate 'Merica. Face it, due to litigation and finger pointing, everything sucks these days.

[Curly Bill]

As a public school worker type, this sounds like a ridiculous decision on the school's part. I would go in with the mindset that if they don't back down and offer an apology for being stupid and just generally lacking in common sense, I would in fact consult an attorney. Our schools are supposed to help our children learn how to think, and they do something as thoughtless and stupid as this.

SAD...SAD...SAD...

[Hamhock]

Dittos, with a replica Glock.

The School systems are out of control. Seriously though, I would contemplate Home School. Our Schools are a joke fo r the most part.


personally, i give each of my kids 3 swats if they are not concealing a weapon.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Hmm, sounds just like corporate 'Merica. Face it, due to litigation and finger pointing, everything sucks these days.

I'd agree with that in a non pessimistic hopeful for the future attitude.

[MamaMia]

I've been around firearms in a moderate fashion all my life, so if the Glock name was commonly known to be a firearm then why didn't I know what it was? I think the vice principal should be suspended for being a jerk.

[jk the sooner fan]

you didnt know glock was a gun?

you've been out of the business quite awhle then is what i'd say

[Hamhock]

I've been around firearms in a moderate fashion all my life, so if the Glock name was commonly known to be a firearm then why didn't I know what it was? I think the vice principal should be suspended for being a jerk.


you've probably been around firearms in the context of hunting. Remington, browning, etc. Glock doesn't make a shotgun or deer rifle. They are more tactical type weapons.

[MamaMia]

you didnt know glock was a gun?

you've been out of the business quite awhle then is what i'd sayNope, I don't recall that name, however after experiencing two back to back gun type situations, I elected to avoid dangerous cases that would put me in peril, leaning more toward insurance fraud and such. :D


you've probably been around firearms in the context of hunting. Remington, browning, etc. Glock doesn't make a shotgun or deer rifle. They are more tactical type weapons.Yes, sort of.

[Sooner_Bob]

A lot of school systems seem to be filled with little dictators who enjoy wielding power in their tiny scholastic empire.

Don't get me started on school bus drivers.


http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/29/images/NP_pinbus_450.jpg



Sit down and shut up!!!!











:P

[Osce0la]

They wouldn't let me wear this shirt to school:
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/3f/180px-Tool-logo-early.jpg
:confused:

[NormanPride]

Maybe schools should quit doing stuff that merits legal action (like this).

I'd definitely agree on this situation, but for every one of these there are twelve other cases of parents threatening to sue because their kid got an F, or little Suzy felt scared around another student.

[TexasLidig8r]

A pen with this on it?

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/740/76784.JPG

[Hamhock]

A pen with this on it?

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/740/76784.JPG


a xylophone?

[yermom]

a xylophone?

Glockenspiel

[Jerk]

He gave this update (and conclusion, I suppose):


Originally Posted By Odingaard:
Well, the verdict is in...

I arrived at the superintendant's office at about 8:45am. He was already in his office and readily met with my Uncle Bill (my attorney), my son, and myself. He seemed to be rather nice and agreed that the suspension was uncalled for because the pen was not a physical or graphic representation of a weapon. He admitted that it was a bad judgment call on the VPs part which should have been thought over a little more; especialy since my son does not have a disiplinary record. He apologized for the problem and told us that my son could return to school and that the disiplinary would be removed.

I took my son to school and met with the VP. This guy is about 30 years old and looks like a poster child for gay bathhouses. He did apologize lightly, but did not seem overly happy about it. Apparently the superintendant called him about 5am this morning and told him to 'make it right'. Our meeting very short. The VP ran off and left us with a receptionist. She apologized; returned the pen and gave us the disiplinary that removed from his record. I made sure by looking in his record folder while in the office that it was gone. I have all three copies of it now (white, yellow, and pink) - so there is not another copy of it in existance.

I returned the Glock pen to my son to use until it dies. At which point the pen becomes inoperable, I will be giving him another Glock pen. As far as I am concerned, he can use Glock pens forever...

Uncle Bill (my attorney) is weighing the options, but he believes since the disiplinary was removed, the pen returned, and an apology given that a lawsuit against the school system would probably be tossed out. He's checking on some things this afternoon to see just how a suit in this situation might could be successful.

As petty as this might seem, I am happy that the pen was returned, an apology was offered, and the disiplinary action was overturned. I did not feel like putting my family on display in front of the media and turing my life into a freak show. I got the outcome I wanted, as did my son.

Thank you all for your support and advice in this matter! Arfcommers are truly great Americans.

[Sooner_Bob]

good deal . . . glad it worked out for the guy.

[Viking Kitten]

Cool. Glad the family got the appropriate resolution. The great thing about living in America is that when people (like the vice principal) won't listen to reason, we turn not to violence but to the rule-of-law.

[sooner_born_1960]

I misunderstood the opening post. I thought this was your son, Jerk. Now that I see it is actually some faceless third party, I don't care as much as I did before.

[85Sooner]

Did ja shoot him?
I would have


Denny Crane

[NormanPride]

It's disappointing that the guy is still looking into legal actions. He got everything that he wanted, and the VP even backed down (rare).

As an aside, unless the VP was brand new, I think 30 is too young. There are always exceptions to the rule, but I've always thought education is one profession where extensive experience should be the only way one progresses up the food chain.

[TexasLidig8r]

a xylophone?

Glock enspiel.

[TexasLidig8r]

first time to post... double post.. brain fart... word salad...

[LosAngelesSooner]

That VP was an idiot. I'm glad the whole thing was overturned.

Of course, I also don't think the dad should continue to be antagonistic by giving his kid "Glock pens to write with for the rest of his life."

He won. The right decision was made. I'd just relish the victory and then let it go.

[Stoop Dawg]

That VP was an idiot. I'm glad the whole thing was overturned.

Of course, I also don't think the dad should continue to be antagonistic by giving his kid "Glock pens to write with for the rest of his life."

He won. The right decision was made. I'd just relish the victory and then let it go.

Exactly. This guy is what is wrong with our society. The situation is resolved but he still wants to see if he can get some $$$ from the school. Then he's going to dis-respect the school's wishes by continuing to use the pens.

The school admitted fault and resolved the issue from it's end. This guy should do the same (resolve the issue, not admit fault). Instead, he's had his ego busted so he wants to push things further.....

[Frozen Sooner]

So, who wants to lay odds that this all actually happened?

I'd also make a comment about a guy who uses Norse mythological imagery for a user name and posts on AR15 websites, but I don't want to bring up a stereotype.

[SicEmBaylor]

Will the ****yfication of America never end?

Christo, you people give me a hard time but this sort of crap drives me nuts. Kids can't even play cops/robbers or cowboys/indians without getting suspended.

I forget where it happened but there was some kid who made a "gun" with his fingers and was suspended from school for it. I absolutely HATE school administrators. They're such useless tool bureaucrats...down to the person.

[SicEmBaylor]

So, who wants to lay odds that this all actually happened?

I'm assuming that it is, but even if it isn't then how could you be surprised? It's highly plausible. They'll suspend a kid for even using the word "gun" these days.

[Frozen Sooner]

I'm assuming that it is, but even if it isn't then how could you be surprised? It's highly plausible. They'll suspend a kid for even using the word "gun" these days.

It's actually not very highly plausible at all to anyone who regularly talks to educators.

OSS is handed out extremely rarely, particularly to kids with no disciplinary history. A kid brought an actual gun in to one of my friends' classroom and was only given a 3 day OSS. Somehow I doubt anyone handed out an OSS for a pen with a corporate logo.

I'm not saying it necessarily didn't happen, I'm just not buying it based on an anonymous message board post with no corroborating evidence.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

Why do you hate SoonerProphet?

[Whet]

Geez, what about the Glock folding shovel.... Is that also a forbidden item, as well? (how can the VP distinguish between a Glock firearm and Glock entrenching tool insignia on the pen?)

Glock Shovel (http://www.glock.com/english/index_acc.htm)
GLOCK

ENTRENCHING TOOL

The innovative field spade for the 21st
century with many intelligent details.
The surface-treated spade blade can be
locked in three positions for different uses.
The spade can be easily turned into a
shovel or a hoe. The hardened
saw blade in the handle can be quickly
mounted if required. Folded up, the
GLOCK field spade can be easily
accommodated in any field backpack
or vehicle trunk. A must for any
outdoor professional

[sooner_born_1960]

Now Mike, we've read your first-person accounts without demanding corroboration.

[Frozen Sooner]

Now Mike, we've read your first-person accounts without demanding corroboration.

Well, yeah, but if you want proof that KFC wings suck you can just go buy some.

[NormanPride]

Well, yeah, but if you want proof that KFC wings suck you can just go buy some.

See, it's statements like these that give the entire town of Casper, CO food poisoning.

[TUSooner]

No shooting!

STAB HIM IN THE FACE WITH A BIC PEN

[XingTheRubicon]

None of that ever happened, just an idiot stirring up other idiots. "Your taking awaaaay my riiiiights!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Jerk]

None of that ever happened, just an idiot stirring up other idiots. "Your taking awaaaay my riiiiights!!!!!!!!!!!"

You don't know anything about the people there, except what you've dreamed up in your little head. Nice generalization. How "tolerant" and "open-minded."

[SleestakSooner]

I'm assuming that it is, but even if it isn't then how could you be surprised? It's highly plausible. They'll suspend a kid for even using the word "gun" these days.

Yeah my days of strolling through the airport singing the intro to Blue Moon have been over for a long time.:rolleyes:

[PrideTrombone]

I absolutely HATE school administrators. They're such useless tool bureaucrats...down to the person.

Most of 'em are just coaches who had one too many losing seasons. :)

[Soonrboy]

I absolutely HATE school administrators. They're such useless tool bureaucrats...down to the person.


and I'm a school principal..hahahahahahah...my job doesn't deserve the respect of a sicem...hhahahahhaahahhahahahahaha...how will I ever sleep tonight..hoohhhhooaoahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aa.


Other than that, I agree with everyone else. Vice-principal over-reacted. I'm sure I've over-reacted to crap before, in fact I know I have. Thank god no one has written an article about it...yet. If one more kid looks at me like, "and what the hell are you going to do about my mouthing off", you may be reading about me in the paper.

[OzarkSooner]

Take the pen back up there, stab the V.P. with it and say, "See there, Glocks don't kill people, ink pens do."

SARCASM!!!!

;)

[bluedogok]

Geez, what about the Glock folding shovel.... Is that also a forbidden item, as well? (how can the VP distinguish between a Glock firearm and Glock entrenching tool insignia on the pen?)

Glock Shovel (http://www.glock.com/english/index_acc.htm)
GLOCK

ENTRENCHING TOOL

The innovative field spade for the 21st
century with many intelligent details.
The surface-treated spade blade can be
locked in three positions for different uses.
The spade can be easily turned into a
shovel or a hoe. The hardened
saw blade in the handle can be quickly
mounted if required. Folded up, the
GLOCK field spade can be easily
accommodated in any field backpack
or vehicle trunk. A must for any
outdoor professional
Nope, no HO's allowed.

[Viking Kitten]

Will the ****yfication of America never end?



Did he really post that?

[sanantoniosooner]

Did he really post that?
He IS the posterboy for it.......

[SicEmBaylor]

and I'm a school principal..hahahahahahah...my job doesn't deserve the respect of a sicem...hhahahahhaahahhahahahahaha...how will I ever sleep tonight..hoohhhhooaoahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aa.


Other than that, I agree with everyone else. Vice-principal over-reacted. I'm sure I've over-reacted to crap before, in fact I know I have. Thank god no one has written an article about it...yet. If one more kid looks at me like, "and what the hell are you going to do about my mouthing off", you may be reading about me in the paper.

Present company excluded. ;)

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Reminds me of a catch phrase Mrs. THA uses. Whenever we come across a story when some perp assaults a well meaning stand up person, she always says, "Nothing that a Glock in the purse won't fix" which has been shortened to "Glock in the purse"...