iPee

I went from laughing hysterically to thinking, "Hey, this is actually a pretty good idea!" Sent the link to DW and she said, "Is this real?" Hee!

Does he at least have a chance of coming back next year?

Unfortunately, he will probably be back next year. I say "unfortunately" because he's an 8th grader and should be going to the high school. But because of this, he probably won't be promoted because he won't finish 8th grade.

Those zero tolerance policies really should have exception clauses.

CJ's current teacher laughed at me when I asked if he could bring some cough drops to school with him - he was getting over a cold and had a lingering cough. In California he could have gotten in trouble for "bringing drugs to school".

His violation was bringing a small pocket knife to school which translates to weapon. He forgot it was in his pocket and hid it in his wallet and put it in his locker.

A kid should be able to take their pocket knife to the Nurse's office or something if that happens. Sheesh.

Those zero tolerance policies really should have exception clauses.

They probably do if you're the captain of a winning football team.

Those zero tolerance policies really should have exception clauses.

In one case here, an honor student got a fairly lengthly suspension because her mother packed two identical lunches, except that she put a knife to cut up the apple in hers. The daughter accidentally picked up her mother's lunch, and the moment she realized it, she took the knife to her teacher. In another one, a girl gave two Midol to another girl.

When I was in high school, I sometimes needed Tylenol or Advil during the school day. I wasn't allowed to carry it with me, and there was some issue that I don't remember with keeping it at the nurse's office, so there were a few times I ended up going home sick with pain that could have been managable with OTC drugs.

I had a sore throat, so wanted to have some chloraseptic at school. It was a huge production.

I remember my Middle School having a policy where even inhalers had to be kept in the nurse's office. It was routinely ignored. By the nurse.

I was able to take my allergy meds, my asthma meds, and my midol to school with me, as needed. But then, I graduated from high school in '85, and I think policies started getting draconian sometime after that. I have serious problems with schools thinking they should over-rule doctors and parents on what meds their kids should be taking and when. With asthma meds, "as needed" meant when I was wheezing and turning blue in the face, not when I could get out of class, trek to the nurse's office, and convince her to unlock the meds cabinet for me.

The kids with vocal advocates as parents still get the crazy suspensions. The kids that have to try and fight the system on their own have no chance. It is very frustrating. And yet with all the whacked suspensions that kids get that really weren't doing any harm there are really bad ass kids in school with drugs and real weapons. Also, kids that get pushed through the system and out the door that never should be promoted.

My nephew took the "absolutely must pass to graduate" test and failed 3 times before they found some loophole to push the kid out the door. If he ever decides he needs or wants basic literacy or math skills he is on his own. (or his aunt will happily help him if he wants to move near me)