Schoolboy Arrest Crosses The Line

I had one of those moments last week that made me literally shake my head in disbelief.

After the head-shaking subsided, the fuming set in.

Just what was it that struck me so hard? Why, it was reading a news report of a 7-year-old boy arrested for bringing a Nerf gun to school.

That’s right–NERF! You know, that Styrofoam-like material that’s about as threatening as a piece of paper with the word "Nerf" written on it. Those toy guns that, unlike cap guns, or even water pistols, look absolutely nothing like a real firearm.

Well, apparently the toy looked real enough to school officials in one Garden State town to warrant alerting local authorities, who ended up charging the boy with possessing an imitation firearm on school grounds, a minor juvenile offense in New Jersey.

Well, folks, I think it’s safe to say that this one takes the cake.

Let’s examine the story for one moment so you can understand what I’m talking about.

Essentially what happened, according to news reports, was the Hammonton, N.J., boy brought the “weapon” to the Early Childhood Education Center in Atlantic County, where school administrators “confiscated” the “weapon” and called police, the county prosecutor’s office and social service workers. 

From there, the “adults” decided it would be best to make an example of the child, what, with this day an age of “zero tolerance” polices and all, so they arrested him and charged him with possessing a fake weapon on school grounds.

The arrest happened last month but just made headlines last week. 

“We are very vigilant and if we draw very strict lines we have much less chance of somebody bringing in something dangerous,” Superintendant of Schools Dan Blanchford told NBC 10.

Well, Mr. Blanchford, congratulations. You’ve truly left me speechless. I have no words. And believe me, that’s a tough thing to do.

I don’t know Mr. Blanchford personally, so I’ll steer clear of any personal attacks. Let’s just say I'm shocked by his decision to press for arrest.

Here’s my question: what ever happened to calling the parents? Did that ever dawn on school officials? Do they immediately have to dial 911?

Have we, as a society, really lost all sensibilities? Does every single little incident at our schools, no matter how minor, need to be reported to law enforcement? Do second-graders have to continually be arrested for things that aren’t crimes in the name of “zero tolerance?”

What’s next, I ask? Does the first-grader who calls another student a “stupid head” get charged with making terroristic threats?

See my point?

I want to know where it ends. Where does the line get drawn between internal school disciplinary action and police intervention?

If I was the arresting officer in that New Jersey case, I would have entered the school, turned to the administrators, and, after containing my laughter, simply asked, “Really, you guys can’t handle this?” Then I would have walked away.

I probably would have been reprimanded by my bosses. Who knows, maybe the captain would fire me. But I would be taking a stand against irrationality.

It’s time we start using our brains again. If something inappropriate is taking place in our schools, deal with it internally. Call the parents. Sit the child down. Tell him certain toys are not OK for school.  

We need to stop these absolutely ridiculous knee-jerk reactions.

Because if this continues, I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it. Only so much smoke can pour from my ears each week, and last week I made my quota.