Hot on HuffPost Parents:
PHOTO: Virgin Mary Figure Appears With Child Battling Leukemia
Babble.com: 8 Parenting Lessons To Learn From 'Arrested Development'
Kid Almost Suspended for Bringing Tiny Toy Gun to School
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True
Patrick Timoney, 9, holds the small plastic gun that almost got the fourth grader suspended. Credit: Nicholas Fevelo, New York Daily News
School safety is important, but some are saying an elementary school principal overreacted when she saw one of her students playing with a tiny toy gun in the cafeteria.
Mom Laura Timoney went ballistic when she received a call from her son's school. Staten Island fourth-grader Patrick Timoney was in tears, the mad mama told the New York Daily News, because he was being threatened with a suspension by P.S. 52 principal Evelyn Matroianni.
His crime? Possession of a 2-inch toy gun, which Patrick had placed in the hand of a Lego police officer during a lunchtime toy break.
Patrick's father, a retired police officer who shares his little boy's name, tells the Daily News that he has "no problem with the rules" but doesn't see why the tiny gun caused such a big problem.
In this video report from the newspaper, Patrick and his family describe the incident.
"The toy gun is not the issue," Laura Timoney tells the Daily News. "A lack of common sense is the issue." Timoney adds that she wants an apology and might sue the school.
New York City Department of Education spokesperson Margie Feinberg tells the Staten Island Advance that "Toy guns are not allowed in schools," and that NYC schools have a no-tolerance policy in place for fake firearms. Even little ones.
After a meeting was held between parents and school officials, it was decided that Patrick would not be suspended over the wee weapon.
When it comes to punishments, size really does matter.
Related: Trouble in Toyland
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
- Does the dc superior court represent the irs in a civil filing or does the irs have attorneys?
- The owner of the property or debit creditor can relieve the person(s) of the debt,(a employment position or (court) is not ownership
- Do people ever get a civil trial this is too many dismissals with out a response from defendants
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Kid Brings Gun To Elementary School
Kid Brings Gun To Elementary School
-
NRA Calls For Armed Guards In Schools
The National Rifle Association announced Friday it believes the way to prevent another tragedy is to have armed security guards at schools.
The executive vice president of the gun rights group, Wayne LaPierre, argued laws that create gun-free school zones leaves kids vulnerable and defenseless.
He questioned why there are armed guards at banks, airports, office buildings, sports stadiums and around politicians… but not at schools.
-
Missouri Lawmaker Wants Parents to Notify Kids' Schools If They Own Guns
Missouri State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal wants to make it mandatory for parents to notify their children's schools if they have guns in the home.
-
Karate Kids Learning To Fight Off School Shooters
One martial arts instructor teaches kids how to fight back. The twist, the students learn how to disarm toy guns and tecniques to fight back against the worst case scenario; a gunman in their school.
Find out how the instructor at AKD Karate prepares his students for real life dangers.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 5)
2-05-2010 @ 9:52AM
Mihir said...it really all comes down to whether or not the child brought tiny bullets for the tiny gun to school. fired at close range range, those tiny bullets could leave a tiny welt or bruise a tiny bit of someone's ego.
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 4:23PM
Simzee said...The school should be embarssed. (sp)
2-05-2010 @ 5:43PM
Greg said...Its an immoral and pathetic excuse and attempt to go after the students esp when real guns.. with BB pellets.. .22 cal bullets can
do actual damage instead of a piece of plastic with no bullets and no operating parts.... people for the sake of humanity!!.... this is a
molded piece of plastic packaged and sold with toys that are meant for their use... its one thing to bring a cap gun with orange
painted barrel and caps but its a completely different thing entirely to bring a police officer with a less then .000001 oz friggin piece of
****ing plastic!! I applaud the mother for stepping up to the plate to go after this principal and the school board **** if it were up to
me i would go after the entire new york board of education and enforce training classes for teachers, principles and what not to
distinguish the difference between a real pistol and a piece of plastic that was made in china... and if it were up to me I would
have my child home schooled rather then subjected to an ethically and morally corrupt school system **** bent on ignorance and stupidity
2-05-2010 @ 6:03PM
Dawn said...Simzee your absolutely correct, they should be. However that would require the adults to have working grey matter and schools have become a blantant testimony to lack of it. Not the students the teachers and administration. Our state is leading the way for teachers who are sleeping with their students. The courts are giving them a slap on the wrist and letting them walk. One of our teachers "Deborah Lafave was considered "too pretty to go to jail". Isn't that just precious? Kids are held to a higher standard of accountablility than the adults who are charged with their education. I have become so disgusted with the American public school system that I have taken it upon myself to homeschool my granddaughter. Schools have turned into nothing more than gang hangouts and adult playgrounds.
2-05-2010 @ 8:12PM
Cofey said...This goes to show how we are going overboard and is drowning in stupidity. Our poor children are being traumatize by all this mess. Other countries are probably laughing at us. We forget what is important.
2-06-2010 @ 12:30AM
Taylor said...Come on people he could have jammed it in someones eye or nose or someone could have swollowed it and gotten hurt.....well the same could be said for that #2 pencil he probably has in his bag too.
2-09-2010 @ 8:44AM
buffers said...The gun didn't shoot anything. It is one piece, solid plastic. Doesn't shoot at all.
2-05-2010 @ 11:57AM
PinkThenRed said...Just tell him he can't bring the toy to school, make a phone call to the parents to inform them of this rule and be done with it. No guns means no guns anyone can grasp that concept. However, I can see how you really wouldn't think of such a small toy that goes with a Lego figure as anything of a threat because of it's size. You could break it in half with your fingers. It would probably skip by most people's radars. Threatening suspension means there is a choice in the matter, it's not a done deal. Shouldn't the principal have tried to communicate with the parents and child before attempting to bully them into compliance, remember this was a Lego toy figurine's gun.
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 2:12PM
karen ellis said...I had the same problem when my son was in the 5th grade. He took his brother's little G.I. Joe gun to school and the principal was going to expel him. I understand the "no weapons" rule but sometimes they go overboard. My son was eventually suspended for three days and we never got the gun back.
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 5:06PM
George Hoskin said...Your school is run by an unmitigated moron who has done more damage by expelling your kid than just about any action I have seen by a school "administrator". I am thankful I went to school when disciplinary actions were for actual harmful acts such as vandalism and brutality. My 3rd grade teacher kidded my when I brought in my Lone Ranger 2 blade knife to show her by repeatedly pronouncing Silver (the horse) as Sliver. Hell, boys were expected to have pocket knives. This wuss world revolts me. Sorry for your kid.
2-05-2010 @ 11:41PM
Dad said...Here's a novel idea. Why not deFederalize the schools? You, seperation between State and School...and then they could be staffed not by the liberal no-nothings that swarm over our kids like cockroaches....but we could then have staff and teachers, such as I had, who can tell the difference between a miniature leggo gun...and a real one! "If you are not a liberal by the time you are 21 you have no heart...if you are still a liberal by the time you are forty...you have no brain!" ....Winston Churchill
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 3:48PM
Vincent said...I can't beleive we are letting these stupid asses teach our kids.
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 4:20PM
Katia said...I is all about following rulles, when are we goign to teach our kist to follow rules. If it is 1" or if it 10 '
2-05-2010 @ 5:52PM
JYW said...The status of the educational world has reached the same low levels aa the political world. The primary problem is that the folks of today have forgotten the role of COMMON SENSE and rational thinking in their pursuit of their lives.
The smartest of peoples that are devoid of common sense will never be able to conduct themselves in a manner that is anything but poorly.
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 2:35PM
Karen said...That is one mean looking mom, I might carry a 2" gun myself if I had a mom that looked like that
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 2:34PM
neil said...The Principle should be suspended for being a moron. Stupid cow.
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 2:40PM
neil said...i meant Principal, oops.
2-05-2010 @ 3:39PM
gary said...NICE SAVE EINSTEIN....I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR F'N BIRTHDAY PAL!!!
2-05-2010 @ 2:43PM
jesbak said...Seems to me the problem is that our teachers, and administrators have LOST THEIR MINDS ! Where is the common sense? Obviously, the rules were to keep kids from bringing dangerous toy guns that COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR REAL ONES as well as BB guns, Pellet guns,or real guns... etc etc etc.... but come on folks are these the teachers of our children? Are they going to continue to cry wolf over such idiotic nonsense? What in hell will they do when something dangerous really is brought to school? Maybe the cops will be so fed up, that they don't respond.....has common sense completely escaped us, or maybe these teachers and administrators need some serious help..from Dr Phil?
Reply
2-05-2010 @ 4:09PM
Will said...There is no common sense in the schools anymore.And don't expect these educators to think for themselves,that's why they have zero-tolerance policies.