10--year-old arrested for cutting her lunch with a knife
Categories: Teens & tweens, Education
In yet another example of zero tolerance run amok, a 10-year-old girl in Ocala, Florida is facing felony weapons charges for bringing a steak knife to school.
"She did not use it inappropriately. She did not threaten anyone with it. She didn't pull it out and brandish it. Nothing of that nature," explained Marion County School Spokesman Kevin Christian.
No, she was using it to cut the steak she brought for lunch. A few alert teachers noticed the utensil and confiscated it before calling authorities. "Anytime there's a weapon on campus, yes, we have to report it and we aggressively report it because we don't want to take any chances, regardless," Christian said.
Report it, sure. Suspend her for a few days, okay. But charge her with a felony for possessing a weapon on school property, even though she clearly had no intention of using it as a weapon? I just don't understand how this benefits anyone in any way.
"She did not use it inappropriately. She did not threaten anyone with it. She didn't pull it out and brandish it. Nothing of that nature," explained Marion County School Spokesman Kevin Christian.
No, she was using it to cut the steak she brought for lunch. A few alert teachers noticed the utensil and confiscated it before calling authorities. "Anytime there's a weapon on campus, yes, we have to report it and we aggressively report it because we don't want to take any chances, regardless," Christian said.
Report it, sure. Suspend her for a few days, okay. But charge her with a felony for possessing a weapon on school property, even though she clearly had no intention of using it as a weapon? I just don't understand how this benefits anyone in any way.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
Mike 3-08-2008 @ 2:34PM
People should remember that a child who would fly off the handle to the point of stabbing someone would bring his/her own knife, even if he/she did not plan to use it that day. He/she would get into fights regularly and have it just in case. The Korean kid mentioned earlier is an example.
What we must do is separate violent and impulsive children from others.
Do the pro-zero tolerance people think background checks should be required for steak knife purchases. Should they be banned from restaurants?
It is really strange that people would not react to a mall stabbing by suggesting felony charges for someone who has a steak knife in his/her lunch box at a mall.
We need to stop making school into an alternative universe. It causes much more harm than good.
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Meagan 12-18-2007 @ 4:27PM
I agree that this is an over reaction, I gotta wonder though, what were her parents thinking in putting a steak knife in her lunch box? Doesn't everyone realize at this point that knives make schools freak out? In all fairness maybe she packed the lunch herself. For that matter, since when do kids get steak for lunch?
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Glenn 12-19-2007 @ 2:37PM
I had to follow the rules in school, so she should have to follow them too. Granted, we weren't allowed plastic knives, but we found ways to cut our food. She won't get the full felony charge anyway. She'll admit guilt and probably get community service.
George 12-19-2007 @ 3:34PM
SHOCKING!!!!!!! Shocking, I say that this girl would bring a steak knife to school and use it in an appropriate way. I think we need to set an example and stand this young girl in front of wall of School Administrators and form a firing squad. The nerve of this young girl to endanger the lives of all her fellow classmates by daring to use the proper utensils to eat her lunch. (tongue planted firmly in cheek)
Ida 12-19-2007 @ 3:56PM
They don't get steaks for school lunch! Dummy. She brought it from home. And she and her mother were not thinking in terms of hurting anybody or any crime at all. But, she should have cut it up at home or ate it as "finger food."
Meagan 12-19-2007 @ 4:15PM
I didn't suggest that it was a school lunch, that's why I asked what her parents were thinking. When I brought lunch to school I got bologna sandwiches or lunchables. Dummy yourself.
david 12-20-2007 @ 10:26AM
Ocala must be doing very well for itself (no peanut butter or bologna).
Jim 12-19-2007 @ 6:39PM
Whatever happened to "common sense" (on the part of the teachers and administration). This is not, nor ever was, an issue of a weapon being brought to school! The child brought a perfectly proper eating utensil to school for the purpose of employing it to cut her lunch. Academia and the Judicial System need to get their heads on straight.
michael 12-19-2007 @ 7:10PM
forks make good wepons lets ban them to oh and pencils and pens make great stabing weapons got stabbed by both when i was in school back in the 70's
Lisa 12-20-2007 @ 9:14AM
Yeah ok.... no knives we get it, but lets face it people if this child really wanted to cause harm to her teachers or fellow students by way of stabbing there are many ways to do so right there in the school already with no need to bring a knife... shall we do away with pens, pencils, and scissors ..... lets give the kids some chalk and a chalk board... yes the knife should have been taken and the parents called... but with no improper use of the knife it should have ended there....no need for the police... we sure need no terrorists in this country, they can sit back and laugh at us in our extreme parinoia we are our own worst enemy.... this serves only to make us look ignorant.
Have a great day!
doug davenport 1-15-2008 @ 12:59PM
when are the peopel going to say enought how much moor law can we stanb
purplesabrina 12-19-2007 @ 9:15AM
My 13 year old brother was expelled a couple of years ago (in FL) for accidentally bringing a pocket knife to school. As soon as he realized it was still in his pocket, he went to the front office to hand it over to them, so he wouldn't get in trouble. They expelled him.
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toni 12-18-2007 @ 5:05PM
i think the whole zero tolerance policy is needed but COME ON....when there is a glitch such as this it should be counted as such. the poor little girl on FELONY charges because of eating lunch?! my son has taken left-over steak to school (or a pork chop) because he loves meat but the first time i started to pack a knife he was like "Mom...I cant take that!" thank goodness HE was paying attention or he could be in felony trouble as well. though, his school pays attention to the facts so i'm not sure they'd call the police over a knife at lunchtime!!
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jaypward 12-19-2007 @ 2:29PM
Zero tolerance= no thinking + no discretion
Sparkles 12-19-2007 @ 6:47PM
Why would anyone in this day and age (or any other) think it is OK for a child to bring a steak knife to school???
YES the teachers used poor judgement in calling the police...but come on, where were the parents? Knives are not now, nor have they ever been, allowed in any school.
Henry 12-19-2007 @ 7:32PM
Zero tolerance means zero responsibility! There is no need for zero tolerance. Have we suddenly gone stupid? It used to be that we were expected to use good sense and judgement. Who the hell decided that we no longer can be responsible enough to use good judgement? Here is another example of taking away freedom for alleged safety. A very poor exchange.
Eddie 12-18-2007 @ 5:10PM
She should have stabbed her accoster. This is unbelievable, unacceptable and completely irresponsible on the part of the school administrators. I'm usually not a litigious person, but I 100% support a lawsuit against everyone who touched this horrible situation, as it was clearly mishandled on so many levels.
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Greg Rankin 12-19-2007 @ 2:35PM
I couldn't agree more! I understand the zero-tolerance philosophy, but give me a break! A felony charge? She's 10 years old! Frankly, if someone had accosted my child like that I'd be the one facing felony charges because someone's ass would get a serious kicking!
Laura 12-19-2007 @ 2:56PM
It doesn't matter what she had for lunch, it doesn't matter that she is a little girl.
The rules clearly state that no knives are allowed on campus and all the people who cry out that she should be let go would be crying the other way had she supposedly brought the knife to "cut her lunch" and had, in reality, brought it to attack another person. Then your quotes would likely be more like, "Who brings a knife to school to cut their lunch...blah blah blah" or "Why didn't anyone notice she had a knife... Whah Whah whah".
You do the crime, you do the time. Besides, she isn't going to jail, and to ask the teachers to take the risk of being caught not complying with law saying they have to report... what if they look the other way for other more serious infractions??? Isn't that what happened at Columbine!
april 12-18-2007 @ 5:39PM
What happens when someone bring a steak knife to school with their lunch, but does intend on using it to harm someone else? How do you know before it is too late? And even if you confiscate the weapon (before they have a chance to try use it), if they aren't punished, what is going to deter them or someone else from trying the same thing again?
Yes, we need to look at each situation separately (and thus I don't really like zero-tolerance policies), but if they excuse this incident, then they are setting a bad precedent. I'd understand being more lenient if this was a plastic knife, or even a butter knife, but come on, a steak knife, that should definitely never be at school. Felony charges are probably a little harsh, but I do think they need to take this issue seriously. Also, just because she was charged, doesn't mean she will be convicted, I think that is where the subjectivity can come into play in this case.
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