Boy suspended for cookie eating

Gimme a break. They should have known not to leave a cookie jar laying around at school. The kids should have known to leave it alone too. I'd say making them go home and bake a batch to bring in would be sufficient punishment!

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I would have gotten my head ripped off, and likely been removed from a few games, but this does seem a bit extreme.

But, with schools these days and their "zero tolerance", common sense isn't allowed. Last time I checked, being an idiot teenager was still normal.

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It was a 'cookie'. The punishment should fit the crime. have each boy bake a batch of cookies to give the original cookies' owner.

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Well, technically speaking, it was theft -- they took something that did not belong to them, without asking. C'mon, they were in an area of the school where they usually have to PAY for food, at a time when there shouldn't have been anybody there. Unless it is normal that people bring in cookies and just leave them for whoever, they knew darn well they were taking something not meant for them.
That said, however, suspension and being kicked off the team does seem a bit extreme. Detention, and having to sit out a game or two, seems more appropriate. Or, as other people have mentioned, having them bake a batch of cookies each to give to the owner...that is even more appropriate (particularly if they have to make them from scratch!).

Also note, though...the article says the container was "knocked over," and he didn't take the cookie until he was trying to put them back. This sounds to me like more than just one went missing!

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I live in the same area and it has been suggested that more than a cookie was disturbed in the cafeteria. There is talk of some minor vandalism as well.

I am not sure I believe that a school would give this harsh a punishment for a cookie. I suspect that there is more to the story than we are hearing at present.

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I found these quotes in the article interesting:

"Maitland, who said her son has been in trouble at school before, appealed the suspension and was granted a hearing for today -- two weeks after he was held out of school. Maitland said at least one other student was suspended as a result of the incident.

Superintendent Fred Morton IV said he could not discuss specifics but said he reviewed the case's circumstances and found the school's decision reasonable.

'We are not going to suspend a kid for eating a cookie,' he said."

I'm hesitant to judge the school, since they can't really tell their side of without violating confidentiality laws. It does sound like maybe they went into the cafeteria to fill the water cooler and there was some roughhousing (since the container was "knocked over") as well as some cookie eating. I will say, though, that they need to provide hearings on disciplinary action a lot faster than two weeks after the event happens.

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The punishment is a little extreme for the crime

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Good grief, that is SO STUPID! Don't leave them laying around or put a sign up!

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I think the "No tolerance" rule by itself is a bit extreme. Kids are kids, not adults. They are going to make mistakes but the punishment should fit the crime. This one does not. I have 3 children myself and have seen how fast a school would rather send a child home than do a little extra work.

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