Toy Gun Still Costs 8-Yr-Old, One Year Later
Last November, second-grader Samuel Burgos was expelled from Pembroke Pines Charter School in Broward County, Fla., for one year after bringing a toy gun to class. A year later, county school board officials say the expulsion still stands as part of a zero-tolerance policy on bringing weapons to school, reports NBC Miami.
"He made a mistake, but why the severe punishment? I don't understand that," Magdiel Burgos, Samuel's father, told the station.
Officials maintain it's a cut-and-dried case - that the toy gun was capable of firing projectiles, earning it's classification as a weapon. They say 8-year-old Samuel can attend a nearby correctional school for problem children.
His parents refused that option last year - opting to home-school him - and remain opposed to the idea.
"I can't sit here and allow them to send my kid to a school where students have committed actual crimes," his father told the station. "He hasn't committed a crime."
Magdiel Burgos said his son has been set back emotionally and academically - he'll likely have to repeat the 2nd grade.
The Burgoses plan to attend a school board meeting next week in an effort to get their son re-enrolled in Pembroke Pines.
Copyright 2010 CBS. All rights reserved. "He made a mistake, but why the severe punishment? I don't understand that," Magdiel Burgos, Samuel's father, told the station.
Officials maintain it's a cut-and-dried case - that the toy gun was capable of firing projectiles, earning it's classification as a weapon. They say 8-year-old Samuel can attend a nearby correctional school for problem children.
His parents refused that option last year - opting to home-school him - and remain opposed to the idea.
"I can't sit here and allow them to send my kid to a school where students have committed actual crimes," his father told the station. "He hasn't committed a crime."
Magdiel Burgos said his son has been set back emotionally and academically - he'll likely have to repeat the 2nd grade.
The Burgoses plan to attend a school board meeting next week in an effort to get their son re-enrolled in Pembroke Pines.
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By that logic ANY child with a hand, should be expelled. After all, rocks are projectiles, and they for SURE can kill. Isn't there a woman in Iran looking at a death sentence by stoning?
Goodness, Floridians sure are a daffy lot.
Must be the hurricanes that addle their minds.
Glad I do not live there.
What about a starter's pistol ??
In this case, the local school board implemented a zero tolerance policy. Zero tolerance meaning zero tolerance. Period.
"Zero tolerance meaning zero tolerance. Period."
Correction, Henri; zero tolerance means zero 'intelligence'! Exclamation point.