amandasgramma

when someone in the school I went to had banned objects (sling shots in those days), they were taken away....and given back at the end of the school year. You didn't see the total disrespect for schools that you see now. I believe students have lost respect for schools, teachers, administration ---they see the DUMB moves made.

amandasgramma

Me, too.......Unfortunately for the teachers my children had, I was the granddaughter of a teacher. I was allowed in the teacher's rooms, at school with the teachers and in many homes. I know when BS is being handed down. Good for you telling the school that.

lab fairy

I did that too. Then I went out and got three letters from prominent asthma specialists, went to the school board and let them have it. I can't figure out what shocked them more, that I was a teacher in their district, or as a parent I was willing to stand up for my child and several others in their schools. You should have seen their faces.

kbs

You know, there is a problem here and it isn't the student. What happened with having a teacher and the principal handling this problem in connection with his parents. Every day there are problems for the police that keep them busy on bad stuff like guns not permanent markers.

nativetexan

somewhere else on the news some boys got in trouble for giving out very small plastic wrapped candy canes at school. "they could be sharpened to a point by mouth and used as a weapon". Who's planet do those people live on? so much for Christmas spirit!!

lindy

Maybe the boy tried to hide it because he should have been doing his work and not doodling. Are the students given a student handbook that states no permanent markers are allowed? None of us know the story from all sides.

pineneedles4

QUOTE: "My SIL just retired from teaching. Her classroom was clear across the way from the main office. (a playground in between the two). One of her students had asthma. The administration said she could WALK to the nurse's station to get her asthma meds. If that were my child I'd be suing to get their attention --- they put that child in a life threatening situation."

When my son was in junior high he carried a rescue inhaler for his asthma and a teacher took it from him saying he had to leave it on her desk EVEN THOUGH we all the proper documentation in the office for him to carry it at all times. I called and complained and she did it again. Met with the principal and he said it would not happen again. Well, the third time he had an attack and the inhaler was gone (suppossedly stolen by another student)...long story short...they called an ambulance and he ended up in the hospital. When I left the hospital I headed straight to the superintendent's office. No appointment? Can't see him? Fine, my attorney will contact you...so they made time. I told him the situation and said if my child had permanent damage I would be suing the school district because the situation was not corrected the first few times. My goal was not to sue the district but to get a bull-headed person(teacher) to understand the severity of her actions. I made it clear I did not want my son transferred out of her class but she or any other staff member was NEVER to take his inhaler from him again. My son was out of school for a week because of her actions but thankfully he was okay. It makes me angry and gives me the chills when I hear stories like your sister's....it's not something to take lightly when a child has asthma.

amandasgramma

Pineneedles4 -- my SIL was a teacher for 25 yrs. She says things have changed so much -- that their hands are tied. Teaching was no longer fun or enjoyable. I know she raised hell a few times and only because she had tenier did she keep her job. More teachers, parents, and authorized people need to raise holy hell instead of sitting by and letting the ignorants make the rules! Yes, this boy may have been trying to hide it because he knew he was in the wrong. And to call out the police, as someone said who have more important things to tend to, is ludicrous!

mim

I remember those asthma days and school -- DS 2 had severe asthma and was able to take needles and adrenilin to the school nurse office. He gave himself the shots in the secretaries office as the nurse office was usually unmanned and the principal was chicken to do it.

The alternative was to call the ambulance and that would have been "too disruptive" for the junior high. He did have other inhalers also. The down size to the inhalers was that some kids kept trying to steal them to get high.

For mild attacks he just lay on the floor until it passed. It is scary for everyone involved. Fortunate puberty eased the problem.

pineneedles4

I should have mentioned that I work in education. I was a classroom teacher and an assistant principal. I now work as a trainer of teachers providing one-on-one training to improve their skills. I love my job, I love children and quite honestly...I love teachers, most of them have hearts of gold. But, having said that, there are always a few that quite honestly should not be in education and others who, through lack of knowledge, do more damage than good to children. Times have changed and unfortunately school districts have had to go to the 'zero-tolerance' policy for the protection of other students. I think it's sad when teachers throw common sense out the window such in the case of the child with the marker or are too ignorant to make intelligent judgement calls. I guess if I had to choose though, I'd rather a teacher make a call on the side of caution....probably not over a permanent marker though!