How should this be handled ?

Well it depends on being punishable actually. If the rules in a student handbook specifically say no knives of any sort other than plastic then she could be faced with something like a detention or something not so serious if it was her first time breaking any rules, but a FELONY No. That shouldn’t be allowed and the parents should take blame for allowing it.

It shouldn’t be handled period. The girl didn’t do anything. It was only for her lunch, and besides, she’s only 10 years old. If anyone’s to blame here, it’s the parents.

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This is even more of a reason for you to watch every move of this child. It would seem to me that she has the know how to not do something a dumb as this by looking at her record so why be so stupid. If she was black she would have been expelled and they would have had to fight to get her back into school no matter the reason.

And it is never the kids that had bad records that shot up the school, it was the ones that everyone thought was ok until they did something so out there that everyone starts to wonder.

Gain Wisdom

Felony charges are a bit harsh since she didn’t have any intent to harm anyone. I do think that suspension is appropriate (maybe it should have only been 5 days or so, 10 is a little excessive) because in any school I have ever been to, it has been clearly stated not to posess guns, knives, bombs, etc., and I agree that the parents should have used their common sense and realized that it probably wouldn’t have gone over well. But, I can see their point that by making an example of this girl, others are now more aware of this and it probably won’t happen again.

First, one must ask the girls parents, what the hell where they thinking to not inform there child of what the hell is going on in the world. Why would a ten year old think that it was ok to take a knife to school at ALL. Most ten year old know better than to do this. However, I don’t think she should get such a charge, but I do think she should get a harsh school sentence, to show her and other students that in no way should you ever bring any kind of things to school unless it has been approved by the school. What if she fell and cut herself, or bumped into another student and injuried or kill one of them, all for her to cut a steak.

She needs to be taught a great lesson from this, but not by the criminal system, but by the school and her parents for sure. Or she needs her head looked at to see why she would do something so foolish.

Gain Wisdom ONE!

“Attempted to enter this under: Education and School - but it would not allow”

It’s showing under that category.

I think that the world and school have taken some things TOO FAR, a felondy charge is way out of line, especially if the lil girl did not try to use it inappropriately.. But.. on the flip side.. what the heck are her parents doing sending a steak knife to school with her in the first place?? They should know better that those kinds of things are not allowed in schools… And… they should NOT even be letting their 10 year old use those kinds of utensils, they are dangerous!! And.. They should have cut her steak for her ahead of time when they were making her lunch.. Poor girl.. She didn’t know any better.. She shouldn’t have to face these consequences!!!

12/27/07 - Update:

The girl, whose name has not been released, was arrested after teachers at Sunrise Elementary School saw her use a 4 1/2-inch knife on a steak. She was also suspended from school for three days.

After reviewing her school record and interviewing her, investigators with the Department of Juvenile Justice recommended that the State Attorney’s Office not prosecute the child. The attorney’s office agreed.

“She has an excellent school history, no disciplinary problems, good grades and nothing whatsoever to suggest she was a troubled child,” Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said.

Errr…technically anything can be a weapon…if you are just that creative! haha…I think she is innocent

I agree with Neon Shards!!!

OK, it is only a fenoly if in the school rules it spacifically says “NO weapons to harm anyone!” but if they clearly DO NOT state that any weapons (ex: steak knife) are allowed on school campus. But it is a little weird that a student would go so far just to cut steak???

Hmm… I’m just thinking “why wasn’t it cut up before she went to school?”

I think it is a bit ludicrous- I mean, if she hadn’t eaten that part of her lunch, would anyone have known she had it on her? I can understand from the point of view that the school needs to ensure the safety of other students, and if another child went into her bag and got a hold of it… could have gone badly. I don’t understand why she’s charged with a felony- I think it was an honest mistake.

When you think about it, shouldn’t we prevent children bringing their hands onto school grounds? because they can be used as weapons as well…

This is a very cultural question. In America the cultural norm is to cut up food at the beginning of the meal and then eat it with a fork in the right hand (hope that’s what you have experienced - it’s certainly what I observed when living there and from my current American friends). In Europe we encourage children to hold their knives in their right hand throughout the meal and their forks in the left hand for spearing the food. It’s just cultural, and in other places people eat with the right hand only, or with chopsticks etc.

But I think that the point is that in Europe this issue wouldn’t have been so big. A steak knife could clearly be a dangerous weapon, and the parents shouldn’t have sent it, but at home in France most 10-year olds would use a steak knife without any problems. We were eating with American friends here a few years ago and my 8 year old son got up from the ‘kids’ table’ to ask our host for a knife. Our host was quite intrigued that he knew how to use a knife and wanted to use one.

Well, this child and her parents are American so your cultural standards apply. But it’s just interesting to look at the global picture. I think that a felony charge was an over-reaction in any country. As a teacher, I’d just have quietly confiscated it and asked the parents to think of alternatives in future.