Kid Almost Suspended for Bringing Tiny Toy Gun to School

by Brett Singer (Subscribe to Brett Singer's posts) Feb 5th 2010 9:00AM

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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

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Comments (93)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Mihir 2-05-2010 @ 9:52AM

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.

Simzee 2-05-2010 @ 4:23PM

The school should be embarssed. (sp)

Greg 2-05-2010 @ 5:43PM

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

Dawn 2-05-2010 @ 6:03PM

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.

Cofey 2-05-2010 @ 8:12PM

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.

Taylor 2-06-2010 @ 12:30AM

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.

buffers 2-09-2010 @ 8:44AM

The gun didn't shoot anything. It is one piece, solid plastic. Doesn't shoot at all.

PinkThenRed 2-05-2010 @ 11:57AM

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.

karen ellis 2-05-2010 @ 2:12PM

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.

George Hoskin 2-05-2010 @ 5:06PM

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.

Dad 2-05-2010 @ 11:41PM

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

Vincent 2-05-2010 @ 3:48PM

I can't beleive we are letting these stupid asses teach our kids.

Katia 2-05-2010 @ 4:20PM

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 '

JYW 2-05-2010 @ 5:52PM

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.

Karen 2-05-2010 @ 2:35PM

That is one mean looking mom, I might carry a 2" gun myself if I had a mom that looked like that

neil 2-05-2010 @ 2:34PM

The Principle should be suspended for being a moron. Stupid cow.

neil 2-05-2010 @ 2:40PM

i meant Principal, oops.

gary 2-05-2010 @ 3:39PM

NICE SAVE EINSTEIN....I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR F'N BIRTHDAY PAL!!!

jesbak 2-05-2010 @ 2:43PM

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?

Will 2-05-2010 @ 4:09PM

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.