We’ve heard some ridiculous incidents with children getting in trouble due to their school’s “zero tolerance” policies, but this news story tops most of those.
According to a report earlier this week, a thirteen-year-old student found himself in hot water at Glen Meadow Middle School in Vernon Township, NJ. Allegedly, Ethan Chaplin, a seventh grade student at the junior high, was twirling a pencil in class when a classmate called out to the teacher, “He’s making gun motions! Send him to juvie!”
The Vernon Township superintendent explained that, following school policy, all threats must be investigated when another student expresses that they feel uncomfortable. In line with this, Chaplin found himself removed from school and given a five hour psych evaluation for twirling a pencil. The report informed that, in addition to the exam, the thirteen-year-old was stripped, had blood drawn, and his urine sampled for drug testing.
Ethan Chaplin’s father expressed his extreme distaste for the whole ordeal saying that it was an example of “gross misconduct.” He has scheduled a meeting with the school to discuss the events upon Ethan’s return to classes on Monday.
With Sandy Hook still fresh in educator’s (and the general public’s) memories, are measures like these necessary? Or are situations like Ethan’s examples of “security” gone wrong?
Image courtesy of News 12 New Jersey via newjersey.news12.com
