Teacher Suspended For Showing Box Cutter & Pocket Knife To 2nd Graders> NOT GARDEN TOOLS.

[KittyWampus]

In the article it says "garden-variety tools" and that later became garden tools as the story was passed around rightwing sights.

On August 8, 2011, in connection with a required “tool discussion” included in his teaching curriculum, Plaintiff displayed to his second-grade students several garden-variety tools, including a box cutter, a 2.25? pocketknife, wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers. The visual aids were used in an effort to facilitate student understanding and remembrance of the curriculum. As he displayed the box cutter and pocketknife, Plaintiff specifically described the proper uses of these tools. Neither of these items was made accessible to the students.

[JDPriestly]

1. I think it is perfectly appropriate for a teacher to explain about tools in a class.

[KittyWampus]

2. you think it's appropriate for rightwingnuts to turn the story into innocuous garden tools

and harp how this is all due to Jesus not being included in American life anymore and how it's better to keep the little christian soldiers homeschooled?

Because that's where/how this story is being passed around.

Another opportunity to trash public schools.

[NickB79]

5. I'd be lost in my garden without sharp utensils

I can't remember how many times I've needed to cut twine with a pocket knife or scissors while tying up tomato plants to their stakes, or use a sharp pair of bypass shears to prune my fruit trees. Even my transplanting shovel is kept near-razor-sharp to cut through sod like butter when planting saplings.

Frankly, I don't care how the RW hypes this story; it's immaterial to the fact that the teacher did not deserve the treatment he received for showing off common gardening implements.

[jberryhill]

3. Teaching things to kids is dangerous

[KittyWampus]

4. 2nd graders really need to know how to use box cutters, right? 7 year olds are SO coordinated.

HEY KIDS! When you go home and feel like laying some carpet, get out the old box-cutter!

[eqfan592]

6. Yes, because leaving kids ignorant of such things works so damn well, right?

That's why abstinence only courses have been nearly 100% successful...


Sorry, but I'm completely unmoved by your "outrage."

[actslikeacarrot]

7. the right wing spin is ridiculous...

...but so is suspending a teacher over this. Kids are using scissors at that age, and those are just two knives held together.

[HooptieWagon]

8. Scissors for second-graders have round tips.

And they're barely sharp enough to cut butter.

[HiPointDem]

10. so what? he wasn't letting the kids use them, he was doing a unit on 'tools'.

[HooptieWagon]

11. If they weren't using them, then pictures would have sufficed.

And it might not be a good idea to stimulate a second-grader's curiosty about sharp objects.

What's next? Is teacher going to demonstrate how a butane lighter works?

[HiPointDem]

13. why would pictures have been less or more 'curiousity-stimulating' than the real item? and

do you find it equally scary to stimulate kids' curiousity about pliers?

i'd have no problem with a teacher demonstrating how a butane lighter worked to elementary kids, if it was an actual demonstration including the real mechanics of it, and in the context of similarly explaining how other things work.

Do you think kids don't see knives, box-cutters, lighters etc. used in everyday life?

you must live around some sheltered kids.

[HooptieWagon]

9. Thank you for adding accuracy to the story. NT

[uppityperson]

12. Thank you for adding more to the story, still see nothing wrong with teaching about tools.

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. BOX CUTTERS AND POCKET KNIFES!! And second graders were allowed to see this!!??

The poor little things are going to be damaged for life. That teacher should be put away were he can never harm any child again!! I hope the school district is providing the victims with counselors and regression therapist so they can work through their pain and have a chance to let the healing begin.

[freshwest]

15. Sounds more like shop class than horticulture. Did he bring shovels, hoes, seeds, dirt, pots?

This sounds hinkey. I'm leery of bad press about public schools. It's usually done at the behest of charter school lobbyists, so they can poison public opinion on public schools, muddy the water so to speak and get support in legislatures. One day it'll be this kind of poutrage, next day it's 'public schools are turning the kids into teh gay.' Meh.