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Use Your Imagination, Go To Jail — It’s the Law

Two boys at South Eastern Middle School in Fawn Grove, Pa., had a several-second exchange: one boy “aimed” his binder at the other and “shot” him with it. In response, the other boy, named as Johnny Jones, 10, held up his pencil as an arrow and drew it back in an imaginary bow. A girl saw the totally silent exchange and reported it to a teacher, who delivered a “lecture” about their “disruption.” Principal John Horton then suspended the boys, citing the school’s zero tolerance weapons policy. Horton told Jones’ mother that her son’s “threat” was a “serious offense.” The Jones family has engaged an attorney and is considering legal action against the school if it does not rescind the suspension. “If it goes on his record as a weapons violation, it will follow him for the rest of his life,” said attorney John Whitehead, who has agreed to represent the boy. “In some cases I’ve seen, the kids have trouble getting into college.” Whitehead says the school’s ZT policy deals with actual guns and “replica” weapons, but does not mention “imaginary” weapons. (RC/New York Daily News, ABC News) ...Unfortunately, while the district’s rules require teachers and principals to have credentials, they don’t prohibit “imaginary” versions.