Third-grader suspended for taking multi-vitamin

[Queasy]

Alternative title: Why I Am Considering Not Sending My Child To Public School

Link

Third-grader suspended for taking vitamin at school

The Associated Press
1/30/03 11:32 AM


MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- A third-grader who took a vitamin with his lunch at school was suspended for five days for violating the Mobile County system's zero-tolerance policy for substance abuse.

Ricky Wright, the student's father, said the pill was a green multivitamin. Wright said he and his wife -- a registered nurse -- did not think his son, Ryan, was wrong in taking the pill to O'Rourke Elementary School.

Wright said school officials overreacted and a five-day suspension was too harsh a penalty.

But school officials cited written policy, made available to parents, that specifically prohibits students from bringing to school vitamins and even look-alike candies. The concern is that another student, possibly allergic to the substance, could have taken it.

O'Rourke Principal Karen Mohr said other students saw "a purple pill."

"It was very frightening because we didn't know what the child had ingested," she said.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

[LordJezo]

Bah.


It's all part of the pussification of America.


Pretty soon no one will be able to do anything.

 

[iamme]

wtf, the kid is in 3rd grade. i think a warning would have sufficed.

 

[bGIveNs33]

I agree with the school. If I see a 3rd grader taking a pill, I'm going to be a bit concerned. That's why they have policies like that.

 

[Fausto]

That is just utterly asinine. Reminds me of the poor kid here in town who was kicked out of school a few weeks before graduating for having a machete in the back of his truck (violating the zero-tolerance policy regarding weapons). He was working for a landscaping firm, while maintaining a high GPA no less, in his spare time and had forgotten to take it out of the back of his truck.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: bGIveNs33
I agree with the school. If I see a 3rd grader taking a pill, I'm going to be a bit concerned. That's why they have policies like that.

I agree with you but at the same time, a five-day suspension is overly-harsh.

 

[Nohr]

Geez.. you'd think a warning would've sufficed.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: bGIveNs33
I agree with the school. If I see a 3rd grader taking a pill, I'm going to be a bit concerned. That's why they have policies like that.

Right, but it's all about sensible application of those policies, not this pedantic to-the-letter-and-beyond crap.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

I wonder what they would do if the kid had Type I diabetes . . . call Vice b/c he's got needles and injectible drugs.

 

[dethman]

i agree. what an asinine policy.

 

[Tab]

I bet the poor kid doesnt even understand what he did wrong, he is in third grade jeez.

 

[yoda291]

I disagree with the school. They did not contact the child's parents b4 going full force on their zero-tolerance policy. We have enough trouble with parents that don't care, but by keeping parents who do care for their children in the dark, we only make things worse.

I also somewhat disagree with the parents. They should have notified the school beforehand because they knew of the policy via memo.

 

[bGIveNs33]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: bGIveNs33 I agree with the school. If I see a 3rd grader taking a pill, I'm going to be a bit concerned. That's why they have policies like that.

Right, but it's all about sensible application of those policies, not this pedantic to-the-letter-and-beyond crap.

Well certainly... the punishment is stupid. You shouldn't suspend kids in elementary school. In 3rd grade the responsibility to know the rules lies more upon the parents than on the student.

 

[BD2003]

They are probably afraid of litigation so they are covering their asses.

 

[Beau]

I guess they have to let their aggressions out somehow.

I agree with the 0-tollerance policy, but come on! This is a bit extreme.

 

[Jzero]

It's just to protect the other kids. I mean some other kid could have stolen the pill and had an allergic reaction! Never mind that the other kid STOLE something...

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
I wonder what they would do if the kid had Type I diabetes . . . call Vice b/c he's got needles and injectible drugs.

The school nurse takes care of that.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: bGIveNs33
I agree with the school. If I see a 3rd grader taking a pill, I'm going to be a bit concerned. That's why they have policies like that.

Ditto.

 

[notfred]

zero tolerance = zero intelligence.

The damn pill was probably shaped liked dino the dinosaur and came out of a "flintsone kids" multi-vitamin bottle.

The concern they had is retarded, as well: "The concern is that another student, possibly allergic to the substance, could have taken it."

Some people are allergig to peanuts. Do they not allow PBJ sandwhiches to be brought to school?

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Zero tolerance is a euphemism for "we lack the basic intellectual capacity of a 5 year-old."

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: notfred
zero tolerance = zero intelligence.

The damn pill was probably shaped liked dino the dinosaur and came out of a "flintsone kids" multi-vitamin bottle.

could have been some X

The concern they had is retarded, as well: "The concern is that another student, possibly allergic to the substance, could have taken it."

Some people are allergig to peanuts. Do they not allow PBJ sandwhiches to be brought to school?

EXACTLY! :disgust:

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: Beau
I guess they have to let their aggressions out somehow.

I agree with the 0-tollerance policy, but come on! This is a bit extreme.

agreed


anyone who thinks this isnt ridiculous..well YOU are ridiculous...it would be different for a kid in high school, but 3rd grade?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: notfred
zero tolerance = zero intelligence.

The damn pill was probably shaped liked dino the dinosaur and came out of a "flintsone kids" multi-vitamin bottle.

The concern they had is retarded, as well: "The concern is that another student, possibly allergic to the substance, could have taken it."

Some people are allergig to peanuts. Do they not allow PBJ sandwhiches to be brought to school?

They don't.

 

[Anubis]

the administration in that school needs to be slapped long and hard for being so stupid. A "5 Across the eyes" would do teh trick

do they really think someone in 3rd grade was taking pills? mabyr 6th grade but comon

 

[Orsorum]

Policies like these exist for a reason.

If the parent gave the child a multivitamin/aspirin/etc without notifying the school nurse, and the child has an allergic reaction, that only complicates the matter. The school would be at a loss as to appropriate action (depending on the case, of course), if the catalyst were unknown.

While the child is on school property, the school assumes liability - therefore, it makes sense that they would do everything in their power to minimize risk.

I think the parents should be held accountable in this case - they knew the school's policy, and still decided to disobey it.