My kids' school district has a Parent/Student Handbook that has a "Weapons" section that reads as follows:

A student who uses, possesses, controls, or transfers a weapon, or any object that can reasonably be considered, or looks like, a weapon, shall be expelled for at least one calendar year, but no more than two calendar years. The Superintendent may modify the expulsion period and the School Board may modify the Superindentent's determination, on a case-by-case basis. A "weapon" means possession, use, control, or transfer of: (1) any gun, rifle, shotgun, a weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18, United States Code, firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Act, or use of a weapon as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code, (2) any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including but not limited to, knives, brass knuckles, billy clubs, or (3) "look-alikes," of any weapon as defined above. Any items such as a baseball bat, pipe, bottle, lock, stick, pencil, and pen is considered to be a weapon if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm. The Building Principal or designee shall notify the criminal justic or juvenile delinquency system of any student who brings a firearm or weapon to school."

Section 921 of Title 18 of United States Code (firearms only):
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/44/sections/section_921.html

Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (firearms only):
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1657&ChapAct=430 ILCS 65/&ChapterID=39&ChapterName=PUBLIC+SAFETY&ActName=Firearm+Owners+Identification+Card+Act.

Illinois Criminal Code, Section 24-1 (this one related to knives):
http://law.onecle.com/illinois/720ilcs5/24-1.html

When a school reaches the point where it has to use technical wording so complex that probably 3/4 of their teachers wouldn;t be able to read, it becomes clear where the problem lies.

We receive what we ask for. We asked for "them"....and we got them.

Back in the 60's, hair picks were deadly. Anything pretty much can be used as a weapon, even a pencil. Common sense needs to prevail over fear mongering in schools IMHO.

Dave

Update, on the news yesterday, the girl will not be charged with a crime for bringing a knife to school. She is still suspended from school though.

Suspended, and with a suspension on her permanent school records. Not to mention the emotional trauma. Sheesh

She won't be charged???? This was actually being considered....it was an issue??? Completely unbelievable....

I ask again: Where do we find these incompetent imbeciles and, more importantly, once we dredge them up, find it within our wisdom to put them in charge of our children??

The fact that is being suspended is the same as being charged, tried, and found guilty without the benefit of legal or due process. Dopes!!! I'm glad I homeschool my son.

If her parents send her BACK to that asylum after what they did, they're even more stupid than the school officials.

That entire situation was insane.

"Where do we find these incompetent imbeciles..."?

Like child molesters, incompetents tend to get themselves put into situations where they can do the most damage. Big on BS, low on intelligence.

Sue

Charging her, at her age, would have been stupid.

Maybe, if suspended, she and her parents can kill time reading the student handbook I'll bet she was given at the start of the year. In it I'll bet it says something about not bringing knives to school, no matter what the intended reason. The times they are a changin'...

Well people are getting paranoid at our schools. I mean ya, the girl shouldn't have brought a steak knife, how about dealing with the punk kids selling dope and carrying a 9mm? I mean really....

Dave