School Banishes Standout High School Student for Lunchbox Mix-Up
- Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:29am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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School officials in Sanford, NC have suspended* a young high school girl for the rest of the year because she accidentally brought her dad’s lunchbox to school, which contained a small paring knife used to cut an apple.
17-year-old senior Ashley Smithwick, an academic and athletic standout who’s even won beauty pageants, was suspended from Southern Lee High School in October after school officials found the knife in her lunchbox during a random search for drugs.
But as it turns out, the lunchbox wasn’t hers — it actually belonged to her father, Joe. Ashley and Joe have matching lunchboxes.
“She got pulled into it. She doesn’t have to be a bad person to be searched,” Joe told WRAL-TV. “It’s just an honest mistake. That was supposed to be my lunch because it was a whole apple.”
WRAL reports Ashley has now been charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school grounds:
Ashley Smithwick said she had never gotten in trouble before and was surprised when the principal opened her lunchbox and found the knife.
The teen was initially given a 10-day suspension, then received notice that she was suspended the rest of the school year.
“I don’t understand why they would even begin to point the finger at me and use me as an example,” she said.
This month, Ashley Smithwick, a soccer player who takes college-level courses, was charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school grounds. She is no longer allowed to set foot on campus.
“They made it sound like it was a big ol’ buck knife that you’re out here hunting with,” Joe Smithwick said.
School officials told WRAL they could not comment on the case, but school Superintendent Jeff Moss did say that the principal can take into account intent when deciding such matters.
“When the principals conduct their investigations, what typically is fleshed out is the true intent,” he told the Sanford Herald. “Bottom line is we want to ensure every child feels safe on our campus.”
In Ashley’s eyes, “true intent” was simply a case of mistaken lunchbox identity. It remains to be seen if the school’s principal agrees. For now, the principal doesn’t seem to. And for Ashley, who maintains a 3.5 GPA, that could have drastic consequences.
“When you have a criminal record no school’s going to look at you,” she to WRAL . “I have a pretty nice talent. I’m good at playing soccer and that talent is just wasted now.”
*The story originally used the word “expelled.” It has been updated to reflect the official language used in the news agency’s report — the student has been suspended for the rest of the year.
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Comments (500)
Minnaloushe
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:54amZero tolerance: the infallible touchstone for those of zero intelligence.
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
Report Post »— Ralph Waldo Emerson
NC1
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:44amThere should be a zero tolerance policy for stupid teachers and administrators. As a lifetime NC resident I’m truly appalled by this act of stupidity.
Report Post »katiefrankie
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:42amAstutely said!
Report Post »KbJockey
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:14pmThis incident reminds me of the grade school lad that was suspended for bringing a spent blank cartridge, from a Memorial Day celebration, to school because it was firearms related. They also had a zero tolerance policy. To think we pay exorbitant salaries to Principals and Superintendents that refuse to use any reason or “COMPASSION” in making decisions. These zero tolerance policies are implemented by these overpaid administrators simply so that they can excuse themselves from having to do the job they are paid to do. Namely research the situation, analyze the evidence and then make a reasoned and maybe “COMPASSIONATE” decision. That is too hard for pseudo intellectuals to do so they create zero tolerance policies. The family needs to get together with their friends and organize a protest at the school and the district office. That with a scathing response from us maybe we can achieve a similar result as was achieved for the young man that was told he couldn’t ride his bike around the school with his American flag attached to the bike. If the family decides to sue the district I would like to contribute to their legal fund.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:54amIt serves her right for overachieving and making the other students feel inferior. Bad enough that she is good looking and athletic, but also being a good student just shows how inconsiderate she is of those who are less fortunate then her. She is obviously selfish and only cares about herself. Judging by her actions she might become a conservative and worse of all will more then likely someday become rich by taking advantage of the poor.
Report Post »We must find a way to punish those who try achieve. It shows a total disregard for those who are less talented, less attractive, less athletic, or because of circumstances beyond their control, less driven to excel.
(For those who are less then perceptive, the above post is sarcasm.)
printdesignchicago.com
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:03amgood one, rick….
Report Post »AWatchman4Him
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:06amEveryone should get a trophy, don’t you think ? I’m still waiting for mine for not being as handsome as I wanted to be and for not being as tan as I had hoped.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:20amit’s my trophy and I want it now!! ;-)
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:20amSadly, I think your intended sarcasm might be actually closer to the truth than a lot of the non-sarcastic posts. Maybe we should just get the Government out of the school business altogether, or at least allow private competition with tax credits for whatever portion of Federal, State and local taxes go to funds these losers.
Report Post »NavyVetinVA
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:10amFinally, some common sense. This will teach the self-serving, over-acheiving, inconsiderate little brat a lesson. Why, if it were not for this well-deserved lesson she probably would have grown up to own her own business and provide jobs for people who otherwise could have sat at home and done nothing but collect their ‘guvment’ checks!!
Report Post »Note,, tongue firmly in cheek. :-)
Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:25am@RICKFROMILLIONS.. Yeah, she should have just redistributed her grade to the have nots in the school. Bet then they would’ve been more lenient.. Bad , Bad , good girl… :~)
Report Post »Fitz1973
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:47amVery good Rick!
Report Post »Penn
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:52amMore proof our educators need to visit a proctologist….real fast.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:18amone with big hands
Report Post »hud
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:48am77 million Democrats need to take this advice. FAT CHANCE
Report Post »nceagle
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:52amAs a resident of North Carolina, a state I have come to love, I would like to think this is the action of a liberal northern educated principal. But the truth must be that the principal is a socialist-democrat who graduated from another extremely liberal university and the superintendent is but another overly-paid Marxist who carries the water of socialism. As youth, we carried pocket knives all the time and rarely was there a problem–the schools made it appear to be a problem among all when some thugs did something wrong. So they banned them. These people have NO brains, and no ability to know good students from bad and don’t care. They want to CONTROL, not educate students. And they are vastly overpaid! They are supposed to be public servants….
Report Post »Flux
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:58amI too am from NC and still live here, and I am finding this hard to believe. I can say that this is the exception and not the rule where I am from, and I will be even more surprised if this decision is not overturned. It is truly appalling.
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:26amI’m not from NC, but I love your Outer Banks and vacation there often. Beautiful. I thought I would just throw in my two cents on the “liberal northern” part of your observation. I’m a late in life returnee to college. I’m attending a very large, very well known (SEC) school in the deep south. I transferred here a year ago from a very large, very well known (Big 10) school in the north. All I can tell you is that based solely on my experience there is no difference between university education in the north and the south. It is pile after pile after pile of liberal BS in both cases. I admit my sample size (2 schools) is very small leaving a lot of room for my being wrong. But, I’m willing to bet the same kind of crap is being rammed down kids throats in Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Charlotte as well as anywhere else the is a government supported school. It may be different at private schools, but based on what I’ve read coming out of them I doubt it.
Not to make excuses for the administrators in this article, but I really feel for the kids in class with me. Most of them, and their parents for that matter, don’t even realize they are being fed a load of crap because they were already primed with the same crap their K through 12 careers. So to most of them it makes perfect sense. To an old dumb arse like me, who spent 35 years since High School making a living, going back and seeing what it has become is, well, it’s enlightening to say the least.
Report Post »Backpacker
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:50amThere should be zero tolerance for stupid school officials; parents need to stand up to these idiots. We pay taxes and have every right to make changes that make sense!
Report Post »TrueToTheCoreAmerican
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:49amYeah, lets worry about insignificant things like an obvious lunchbox mix up, wreak havoc on a young girls academic possibilities and focus on how to increase our teacher salaries and give them larger retirements.
These PC correct and liberal standards need to be put to a quick death. Common sense should prevail. If not I would say that there is less academic smarts in the schools staff than in this one young student.
Get a brain “School officials in Sanford, NC” and get this incident off of this students record. I’m sure you have students doing much worst and doing it intentionally while not suffering the same end.
Report Post »Sergio Q
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:59amAGREED !!!
Report Post »…but fortunately Vick got to play ball again ,gets millions of dollars and evin a atta’boy from king obamma , WHAT A F***ED-UP WORLD WE LIVE IN!
AWatchman4Him
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:48amLunchbox Czar
Report Post »lbsm
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:48am“When the principals conduct their investigations, what typically is fleshed out is the true intent,” he told the Sanford Herald. “Bottom line is we want to ensure every child feels safe on our campus.”
Want those kids safe?…How about figuring out a way to fire tenured teachers that harass, sexually abuse, or even physically abuse students. Maybe then, Sir…will I take your comment about wanting the children to “feel” safe seriously!!…or do you only care if they feel safe around other students?
Report Post »cfrazier68
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:46amThis is totally unacceptable behavior by the principal! I just don’t know what else to say.
Report Post »Thomas Payne
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:46amThis has been going on for a long time. In high school a dude picked a fight with me. I did nothing more than defend myself, blocking his lame ass punches until a teacher broke us up. I was suspended right along with the other kid when I did absolutely nothing wrong. That was 25 years ago. Zero Tolerance Policy = ZERO Common Sense!
Report Post »Thomas Payne
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:54amI just tried emailing the principal and got kicked back as undeliverable. I wonder if the mail server is getting flooded. I hope so!
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:00ammine got kicked back as well, guessing we shut it down :-)
Report Post »IntegrityFirst
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:21amMine got kicked back as well.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:04amMine apparently went through. Just checked my inbox and no returns from the address. I guess I’m lucky.
Report Post »benrush
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:46amActually, if I were the parents, I would reinstate my child to a home school. Higher performers come from home anyway. And there are plenty of good curriculums out there. Who needs the BS and the overpaid administrators, the unions, the costly buildings, and the teachers wailing about how they spend their own money on our kids and it STILL isn’t enough? For the same money we spend on THEM, we could educate our kids to be a world class citizenry. Think about it, 10 grand a year per child in some cases, and what do we get out of it? We have forgotten that they are accountable to us. It’s become a money pit, and our kids are getting less and less out of it.
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:45amWe have reached a new low, when at 26 are still considered children, but yet an honest mistake by an actual child is hammered upon! We need to seize control of our lives from the weak minded elites!
Report Post »Bravo
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:44amAll the students should protest by all bringing small knives to school. Then see what the school does.
Report Post »catndahat
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:43amHome school! Home school!! Home school!!!
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:14amAmen,amen,amen…. :~)
Report Post »Knight Templar
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:50amAmen again. The Ashley Smithwick incident illustrates once again that common sense and prudent judgement are lacking in most public school systems.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:19pmGreat idea BUT! If more people homeschool, the unionized “Teachers” would have less work to do and that would make them very happy. Of course, they would still demand their salaries, demand their inflated retirement packages and demand thier tenure be honored. All the while, the parents doing the homeschooling would have to pay the school taxes on their property tax bills.
The only way to cure the system is to remove the school tax from EVERY family who can prove that they either send their kids to private schools or home school. The declining revenues coming to the school districts would serve to send a wake-up call to the school systems.
It would take concerted effort on the part of the American public to pass such a radical idea, but it can be done.
Report Post »benrush
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:42amIdiot school officials, makes you want to teach your own children and get out of the political morass. I’m teaching my grandkids. Enough of the zero tolerance lunacy. I would rather see common sense taught, not mindless politically correct stupidity. I mean how stupid can you be? Do we really want out children growing up to emulate these administrators?
I had a conversation with a school principal and vice principal one time, when they put my kid on a full day of detention, because he left the school ground for twenty minutes to run home and get an assignment that was due. I discovered they were not even following their own politically correct rules, and that I would raise a helluva stink over it.
We should all do the same.
Report Post »Dilbert is Real
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:41amUsually a rule is hypothetically taken to the point of becoming ridiculous. This school administration is showing the country the catastrophic results of an education that does not encourage critical thinking abilities.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:00amCritical thinking abilities – - – from an principal who was schooled in the government school systems and then attended some libral university? Critical thinking, questioning the criteria and individuality is totally discouraged. You follow the agenda like a blind sheep or risk being branded a troublemaker and failed by your teachers who want you out of their class.
This is a shining example of the progressive education model at work!
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:40am“When the principals conduct their investigations what
typically is fleshed out is the true intent”.
CSI Schoolyard.
What have we come to?
Report Post »Lonescrapper
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:41ambut if this was CSI we’d QUICKLY come to the TRUE intent that a PARING knife was put in a LUNCH BOX with an apple to CUT IT and consume it. That is logic and true intent. This lacks any and all common sense, logic and simple application of the same principles that education is claiming to be teaching our children.
Report Post »AWatchman4Him
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:40amSchools = Unions, incompetent, progressive, which should actually be regressive, morons.
Report Post »LLATPOH
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:39amIf it were my child, I’d be confronting the superintendent personally, with lawyer in tow.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:46amno, go after the principal Bonnie Almond, SHE is the (big chubby-cheeked fat one) who deliberately has it out for this innocent girl. no doubts she sees a Success in that girl and wants to RUIN her life for her.
Report Post »OkieDokie
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:39amThe school acted just like TSA–picking out the people who they thought would be no trouble IE: little old grandma’s, nuns etc. and since she was a honor student, they acted the same way. God forbid to ask the redneck hunting type or the ghetto gangster looking kid–b/c they might actually find something and have to deal with it.
Report Post »LVMerrily
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:50pmWonder if they practice “Zero Tolerance” to the mis-deeds of Tenured Teachers or just send them for a time out in their ‘rubber room’ for decades.
Report Post »Bigbird1960
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:39amSchools are run by liberal loons. She was probably a christian.
Report Post »Rich HOffman
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:38amMore over reaction from cowards. Part of the dumbing down of our society, where we are afraid of plastic knives. Public eduction, as reported by Bill Ayers, is but a siffting box which successfully sorts out different types of people. It’s not really about education.
http://overmanwarrior.wordpress.com/
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:55amAnd the NEA isn’t about the children, it about the teachers and their benefits. Glenn has played tape of an NEA official speaking at their convention stating as much. So if you understand that and what Ayers says, a teacher today is nothing more than a functionary working quality control on a socialist assembly line.
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:11am@RICH HOFFMAN.. Right, and next only a spork will be allowed on school grounds.. Oh and BTW, it has to be thin plastic so that if it’s used in a threating way ,it will most definitely snap in two..
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:38amThe “authorities” should throw her into prison for life. Or perhaps she should go to a FEMA re-education camp. Obviously she is at least as dangerous a criminal as Al Capone.
Report Post »Did our educators take a stupid pill? Most likely they took a whole bunch of them!
DagneyT
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:55amSend the principal an e-mail at rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:58amtoo many suppositories
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:11amDagneyt: Thanks.
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:46pmHave parents taken stupid pills.
Report Post »Now this is finally ticking them off?
BarneyFyfe
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:35amWill the insanity every end?!
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:54amSend the principal an email at rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Report Post »starman70
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:51amAlready have sent e-mail. I suggest that the parents remove their child from the IDIOT government school factory she is presently attending and send her to private school.
Report Post »She will learn more and get a principal with common sense.
EP46
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:26amInclude in your email that the most important element of Leadership is to evaluate the situation. If this is Leadership and protection of students, then they need to close down this school.
My email sent.
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:48am@ GRANDMAOF5.. I hate to disagree with you and I wish that you were right but, even Ashley knows that the colleges wont take anything into consideration. It’s as she said they look at you as a number, and the colleges are probably going to be the same way… Gram, send an email…
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:57am@LIBERTYLUVNMAMA.. What are you talking about ?? The principal could’ve looked at the situation and said, “ what are you kidding” ?? Get the hell outta here with that stupid crap,( of course in other words) end of story. If that was the case, then why even have a principal ? why not just put a bureaucrat in there and run it like a prison ? He is there to make decisions ,YES, there are rules to be followed, that’s why they are there, but with common sense..
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:47pmbalmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Correct email address.
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:36pmREAGAN/DEMINT.DECIPLE
Report Post »You are right. But these parents need to point with their thumb. Look at the thread most are sharpening their pitchforks right now.
How many parents volunteer beyond elementary school?
How many attend school board meetings?
I just feel bad that a bunch of conservatives are gonna leaving a bunch of asinine messages. I feel it makes me -who opposes public school- look bad. But people should be free to send their kids wherever.
Homeschool bro!
DagneyT
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:33amGod forbid we have a good student with a knife! This zero tolerance is totally lacking any common sense or logic! Shame on the school officials for being so myopic, and ruining her chances for scholarships, etc. Any one up for calling these reprobates?
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:38amHere‘s the principal’s e-mail; rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Anyone up for helping me flood his inbox?
DagneyT
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:41amHere is the e-mail I sent, “I am hoping that you have since [October] reinstated Ashley Smithwick. These “zero tolerance” policies are getting ridiculous. To suspend a top performing pupil is to potentially ruin her life. Reinstate her, and prove to many Americans that logic, reason & common sense are not dead in America! “
@leftfighter
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:42amAgreee. This is stupidity run amock.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:42amThis Principal must be vying for a Czar position in the Obama administration. What a dolt, give the student a break, why ruin her life for a simple mistake. Maybe if she had a dog fighting/ gambling thing going on the side Obama would help her out like he did that dork Vick. Society continues to crumble for political correctness…
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:42am…fingers faster than brain’s spell check today… amok.
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:45amI agree…has the whole world gone insane? Why didn’t they just sit her down, call her parents in and realize what happened…..no issues. My son got caught up in a similar issue. Someone threw a empty plastic bottle out of the school bus window and hit a car. The woman driving followed the bus to school (Wando H.S. -Mt. Pleasant SC) and reported it. She said the student that threw it was wearing a stripped shirt. My son was accused by an another student and was explelled. He was wearing a dark black shirt that day…no stripes. We had to retain a lawyer to get him back in.
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:45amOur schools are filled with gelding principles. Grow’em back!
http://www.slugbuddies.com
Report Post »JKN
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:52amMeanwhile… Our federal government turns a blind eye to all of the shoot-outs and rampant crime being committed by real criminals along our wide-open southern border…
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:54amWell, Joe, what do you expect when you send your kid to a government learning center?
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:56amemail sent…………..
when will uncommon sense be common again?
Report Post »jimmythebullet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:56amcommon sense and logic seem to have become outdated concepts.they pat themselves on the back for taking down “the perp with the paring knife” but pay no mind to the kids coming out of high school that don’t even know what country we fought for our independence.
seems to me,our public school system follows the same kind of “logic” that the federal gov’t does.just look at ho-land security and the T&A.
Taquoshi
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:05amUh, exactly when did the schools turn into prisons and why was this student’s lunch box searched?
There have been increasing numbers of stories where students have been suspended or expelled from school on the minor pretexts. Is the role of the schools to educate or to incarcerate? Also, at what point can someone actually determine the intent of the “knife wielder”?
Another question is whether or not the school food service has knives in its possession.
I would seriously encourage the family to sue.
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:09amshe should have used it to cut Principal Jeff Moss’s ****** off so he wouldnt procreate…. she probably would have gotten less of a sentence…
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:13amoooppss that was SUPERINTENDENT Moss… ooops ,my bad… here is a re-post of the Principal’s link that I am e-mailing right now…thankyou for posting…
rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:16amCommon sense is lost and replaced with PC Lunacy
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:17amObviously a case of profiling…..you know where our school officials are “looking” for the most dangerous types, i.e. students who study hard and take advanced classes, children from “traditional” homes(with a mommy and a daddy who work….shudder), and foreign sounding names like “Ashley”, “Debbie”, or “Lisa”…..fortunately for the school, the ACLU does not have a problem with this type of profiling…..
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:21amHere is the e-mail I sent: Do you apply the same zero tolerance policy and punitive actions to teachers and other school staff for their mistakes? Does it make you feel powerful to ruin the future of an honor role athlete? Did they hire you to be a mindless automaton or to exercise good judgment? Ask yourself: is ruining this girl’s future really the right thing to do for a mix up her father has already taken responsibility for?
Report Post »jblovesAmerica
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:22amThe principal, if he were to have drugs found in his car, would he be treated the same way.
Report Post »If she were mine, Holy Hell would be breaking loose.
Planada Conservative
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:24amWhat’s next? Enhanced pat downs at schools? You must be kidding me… E-Mail sent…
Report Post »EgoBrain
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:27amBut Michael Vick, gets a second chance,
Report Post »newhickschick
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:28amIt is a shame that those people who are charged with molding young minds do not actually use their own.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:30amTake heart, Ashley, colleges will look at this for what it is, ridiculous, and it will not deter them. The old saying, “When a door closes, God opens a window”, find a good school (hopefully private) and keep working on your grades and soccer; prove to them and yourself that you are the person of character (it is obvious to me) that you are. God bless.
Report Post »Lonescrapper
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:36amThis is a problem with the asinine zero tolerance crap – and not requiring school administration to actually apply COMMON FREAKIN SENSE!
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:39amHere is the actual lesson being taught here.
Acclimating kids to a police state. because these students are minors they are lawfully subjected to search and seizure and as such, have no rights.
Does this perpetuate American freedoms we conservative parents preach about? Well, public school kids for the last 30 years have no idea what we are talking about because this is our “doublespeak”.
Don’t lose sight of the real issue here. High School Police State 101
Conserve21
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:48amI sent e-mail. I‘m a retired teacher and I can’t believe just how stupid these people have become…
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:50amDAGNEYT
Report Post »When posting principle’s email or contact information I would personally invite your to run this through your principles and values list and then see how you come out at the end.
We smart conservatives can investigate on our own. This, however will make easy for some to wrongfully spew our disapproval to someone who ultimately doesn’t make these rules.
Parents need to step up and investigate and challenge the rules for validity. We knew these practices were in place YEARS ago.
This is a case where parents (Conservatives too) in this district have been sleeping- or watching tv!
Luckily the temperature of the country is rising and now something will finally be done.
UPSETVET
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:53amSounds like to me the school officials have forgotten how to use a little common sense. Zero tolerance is okay if it’s not used along with zero brains. It’s obviously a case of “mistaken lunchbox” since dad and tudent have identical ones. Come on school officials, use your common sense on this one and forget the zero tolernce. No “bad intent” should mean no stupid punishment that could ruin the girls future life.
Report Post »Jsh1284
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:57amThis bullcrap is gonna stick with this girl for the rest of her LIFE if not overturned! This crap has GOT to STOP!
Report Post »IntegrityFirst
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:58amEmail has been SENT!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:01am@DagneyT
Thanks, e-mail chain launch is underway.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:07amI guarantee you they threw the book at this girl because she is a stand-out at school. Ridiculous! Absolutely! When will PC police stop this nonsense. Never! Unless WE THE PEOPLE start taking a principled HARD stand and challenge the school actions. If you blink the Progressives in our government win. Until we start putting it all on the line this will not stop. Sacrifice cost something. No pain…no sacrifice. Read about the Founders of this nation (who by the way are turning back flips in their graves). We should all apologize to them for our apathy.
Report Post »Brchapman
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:08amBetter yet send an email to each of the members of the Board of Education who will make the final decision! shawnwilliams@lee.k12.nc.us; jbonardi@lee.k12.nc.us; makinosho@lee.k12.nc.us; cameronsharpe@lee.k12.nc.us; lindasmith@lee.k12.nc.us; lynnsmith@lee.k12.nc.us; billtatum@lee.k12.nc.us
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:15amI say they send authorities in to search the offices and desks of all school personnel. I’m guessing most teachers and faculty will have letter openers, staple removers, and other dangerous items laying around. Let’s suspend all of them for a year, at least. If an honor student like this girl can be such a threat, so can the adults who are in the school.
Report Post »Stevsea
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:21amWrong e mail address. That e mail address is for the superintendent of schools. The Principal’s name is Bonnie Almond and her e mail address is: balmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
http://almond.lee.slh.schoolfusion.us/modules/tt/profile.phtml?profile_id=59355&sessionid=52de61091b2425014bb5728c15ed4c84
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:24amMy emai that I sent to him made me feel soooooooooooooooo good….I vented hehehe
So tell me again why I should be tolerant and nice…That’s why we have this PC crap, because people are too nice and won’t speak to injustices with force and conviction! Man up!
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:30amThat she is a good student, that she takes college level courses, and that she is on the school soccer team are all irrelevent – to make them relevent is to say that the rules only apply to some, not others.
As others have noted, yet couched in her accomplishments, “zero tolerance” rules typically have no place in education. I don’t care if she was a bad student, taking remedial classes, and had no interest in sports, the punishment doesn’t match the offense. This could have happened to anyone, and a suspension of a few days seems more appropriate.
It might be interesting for the same “zero tolerance” principal were to stop and go through every purse, briefcase, and lunch bag for all the teachers and staff one day – wonder how many adults would get caught with anything that could be construed as a weapon, have their employment terminated and have criminal charges pressed against them for violating “zero tolerance” rules regarding scredrivers, nail clippers, and small pocket knives…
Maybe search the purse of every parent that steps on campus to pick up their child – I wonder if that might cause the district to reconsider it’s policy.
The pricipal is a tool for using zero of the discretion he is afforded under the policy.
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:36am@ DAGNEYT… Good work, perfect !! I sent my email … I was polite but stern and said basically that actions that they took were way too harsh for someone that is an outstanding student.. I also added “Tell me now that you’ve never made a mistake.. Do the right thing here and use common sense..
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:39amI just sent my e-mail, this guy is an idiot.
Report Post »Paul G
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:41amHey Ashley..if you read this, take this as a badge of honor. Use your smarts now to change this.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:46amthis school should be sued into pension fund bankruptcy.
Report Post »EA5900
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:46amA note regarding the post showing Dietrich as the principle. Dietrich is the Director of Accountability (fitting that he was mentioned previously). The principle of Southern Lee High School is Bonnie Almond (email address below).
I recommend flooding Ms. Almond‘s email with respectful plea’s and opinion letters and ask that everyone CC the Lee County Board of Education as they are the elected representatives of the people not just appointed bureaucrats as are the principle and superintendent. Below are the email addresses you might need. Lets do some good!
Southern Lee High School Principal
Bonnie Almond, ( balmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us )
Board of Education
Shawn E. Williams, Chairman ( shawnwilliams@lee.k12.nc.us )
John T. Bonardi, Vice Chairman ( jbonardi@lee.k12.nc.us )
Mark K. Akinosho ( makinosho@lee.k12.nc.us )
Cameron Sharpe ( cameronsharpe@lee.k12.nc.us )
Linda A. Smith ( lindasmith@lee.k12.nc.us )
Dr. Lynn Smith ( lynnsmith@lee.k12.nc.us )
William “Bill” P. Tatum ( billtatum@lee.k12.nc.us )
The Bureaucrats:
Report Post »Jeffrey C. Moss, Ed.D., Superintendent ( jmoss@lee.k12.nc.us )
Dr. Tina Poltrock, Director Secondary Education ( tpoltrock@lee.k12.nc.us )
Rob Dietrich, Director of Accountability ( rdietrich@lee.k12.nc.us )
Dr. Johnnye Waller, Director Student Resources ( jwaller@lee.k12.nc.us )
Stevsea
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:48amWrong e mail address. That e mail address is for the superintendent of schools. The Principal’s name is Bonnie Almond and her e mail address is: balmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
http://almond.lee.slh.schoolfusion.us/modules/tt/profile.phtml?profile_id=59355&sessionid=52de61091b2425014bb5728c15ed4c84
Report Post »CRoyce
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:54amAre you listing the correct email? Due to the holiday, all of the school offices are closed. So, I have not been able to confirm this information without contacting the individuals at home which I am reluctant to do. But, I believe you are targeting the wrong person with your emails.
Although the Lee County School’s website still lists Rob Dietrich rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us as the Principal, that same website has a page of employee profiles that lists Rob as the Director of Accountability, Testing and Records. If you click on the link to the official website for Southern Lee High School, the principal is listed as Bonnie Almond balmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us .
For good measure, I will be contacting both Rob and Bonnie as well as the superintendent, Jeff Moss jmoss@lee.k12.nc.us
Report Post »drbage
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:55amDear Mr. Principal,
Report Post »When was the last time you or your acolytes looked into the bags, briefcases, etc of your faculty? Would you also suspend/fire/disengage your maintenance staff when you find that they have a (gasp) boxcutter in their toolkit? Perhaps you need to suggest that one of your academic curriculum specialists develop a new, radical course: “Common Sense and its Application in 21st Century America.”
SRH
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:55amI sent an email to the address someone posted (rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us), and it was returned as undeliverable bc of an unknown email address. I went to the school’s website and it says the principal is Bonnie Almond email: balmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:59amSTUPID IS AS STUPID DOES. When will we get back to the basics? Schools are the worst.
Report Post »TheBMT
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:06amahhh the days when common sense and logic ruled…
Report Post »Papagottagroove
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:27amThe principal has changed the email address….go figure
Report Post »JayCee
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:28amCommon sense has got to be restored.
Report Post »The school administators should be deluged with outrage and ridicule.
hud
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:44amAnother unintended consequence of desegregation.
Report Post »HisStoryUn
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:44amThe e-mail you posted is incorrect. If you know the correct one we can follow-up by slamming the principal’s e-mail box.
Report Post »JadedPatriot
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:02pmBy the way, you have the wrong email. I’m not sure where you got yours but the principal of the high school has a different email address. Go to the high schools page and see for yourself
Report Post »zman173rd
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:19pmOctober for cripes sakes?!!? And now the principle can consider extenuating circusmtances? When you cut off your nose to spite your face it makes sense. Leave the known trouble makers in class and throw out the good ones. I expect they’ll let her back in after the news gets out how moronic this whole process is. If some kid wants to do harm they will. Is there any measuremnt to how this entire Zero Tolerance hass worked? More trouble than its’ worth, but it’s the socialist inroads that our society is allowing. NUDGE.
Report Post »JayCee
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:23pmWill we hear new Obamaisms such as “The school acted stupidly”, or to the principal,….”He’s a jackass”.
Report Post »I doubt it.
walkwithme1966
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:44pmThis is just a really stupid story – I mean the school is stupid not reporting on it. I get angry when I read about good kids getting accidently mixed up in something by the school trying to be too tough. Around here last year, a girl in the running for top in her class was suspended for having an asprin in her purse.
Report Post »http://maboulette.wordpress.com
ozz
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:50pmThe suspension is wrong. They should not have been able to search her bag with no probable cause to begin with, child or not. It is already illegal to use a knife in a threatening manner, why do we have laws that prohibit proper use of one? Our laws have become disgusting. They are training our children for the Orwellian laws to come in their adult life. Democrats are evil and Republicans are stupid. It is not a slippery slope when we give up freedoms as if we MIGHT lose more, it is a certainty! Look at history. Are you blind? Has no one seen the report that big sis is looking into bringing the TSA to shopping malls and sporting events? Do you see what future you are leaving for your children and their children?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:03pmI thought maybe they found a twinkie in her lunch … common sense is outlawed in public schools. This is sooo ridiculous.
Report Post »roughneck.seay
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:12pmI’m up for pushing to get rid of this zero tolerance crap all together! When I was in school, I never left home without my pocket knife, and never once thought about using it as a weapon, even when I did get in a fight… If parents wern’t made out to be criminals for correcting there children when they need it, we woulden’t have this problem.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:13pmI have sent my email … awaiting their response … LOL ..
Hope it helps anyway!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:26pmThanks SRH … mine too was undelivered and was going to go and try to find the correct email or alternate email address .. I have re-sent the email to your provided address.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:36pmMy advice would be to find a personal injury attorney and sue not only the school district but the principal personally. Let him pay to defend himself. That should teach him a valuable life lesson. This is political correctness run amuck. Not only should everyone email the principal, everyone should email the superintendent with two questions: How could you allow this incompetence to take place? Why does the principal still have a job?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIqryU3Sp54
Report Post »EdgeOfForever
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:53pmI sent an email to the address you provided and bounced back. Hmmm… I wonder if his box is full >:-)
Report Post »Dandylyon
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:16pmShe is obviously not black or there would be no problem here.
Sounds to me like the principal wanted to get next to this little girl and failed so this may be revenge.Why else would something that can be proven to be a mistake be handle so cruely and without consideration.What would cause this to be escalated from 10 days to all year.
Needs to be looked into at the very least.
Report Post »Caffeinated Texan
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:26pmWhy does “Zero Tollerance” have to equal “Zero Common Sense?”
Report Post »Balladeer
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:44pmZero Tolerence is the universal excuse for having sh#t for brains. Teachers and Principals are the functionally Mentally Handicapped in our society. hope the parents sue that school into the dark ages
Report Post »James
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:44pmWhen I was in school, all the boys had pocket knives and no one cared. This is PC BS that is out of control, hard to believe that administrators who would make such decisions are actualy in charge of our kid’s education.
While the administration said they can’t comment on the case (they are hiding because they know they don’t have a leg to stand on) I can comment. This is BS people, let the girl back in school and admit you are stupid, commie lefties, or quit.
http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/
Report Post »AmericanFaith
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:09pmPrincipal – Bonnie Almond (took over for Rob Dietrich in Nov. of “09”) – 919-718-2400
balmond.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
http://lee.slh.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=131592&sessionid=
Southern Lee High School, 2301 Tramway Rd. Stanford NC 27332 –
Superintendant – Jeff Moss
Call Principal Bonnie Almond let her know how you feel about this travisty.
Report Post »Mom of 4 Future Presidents
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:26pmMy email is sent. I pray it makes a difference. Once again gov’t officials lacking common sense. I have a feeling if it were there child, the knife would have come up missing!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:27pmsent my email…I hope this school gets so many emails and complaints that they have no alternative but to put this hard working girl back into school…soooo ridiculous..more and more it‘s looking like anyone who is concerned about their child’s education, should be homeschooling, as I do…
Report Post »jagr1850
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:27pmgot the email back as mail box might be closed….any ideas on a new mailbox
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:34pmNo knives in the Indoctrination Station. I remember going to school with shotguns and rifles in my back window. Never even thought of doing any harm with it except to the occasional coyote, deer, or turkey. They are doing a good job at unarming are youth early so that they become “useful idiot’s; later in life……just a little nudge. I think I will take my son out to shoot this weekend to reeducate him from first semester of 5th grade.
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:39pmThis letter I e-mailed to the principal. It was immediately rejected.
In regards to the high school girl that accidentally brought her fathers lunch box to school with a paring knife in it. From what I have read the girl was suspended. I just have to ask you and those responsible for her suspension, “what in hell is wrong with you?” “0” tolerance for knives in schools is a good thing. It is meant to keep children safe. But in a situation such as this you and the school authority have completely bastardized the spirit of the policy and thoroughly tarnished the perception that you and the school authority can make logical decisions. This incident and the decision by the school to punish this girl is the epitome of absurdity. In my opinion you and any others who are responsible for the girl’s suspension should be fired. You have shown beyond any doubt that you cannot come to a logical solution when presented with a situation as this. I certainly would not leave my child in your care.
Report Post »docvet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:05pmdagneyt – e-mail, your on, Will do.
Report Post »Jack007
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:43pmI hope there isn’t more to this story then is being reported; anyway I emailed the Principal and asked him politely to reconsider and let Ashley come back to school.
Report Post »Jack007
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:57pmI emailed the address you provided and it came back Undeliverable, oh well I tried. Anyway’s, there must be more to this story then is being told; it just makes no sense to suspend Ashley if it was truly only a lunch box mix-up.
Report Post »PT69
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 5:16pmI’m in. Already sent.
Report Post »Oldphoto678
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 5:32pmZero tolerance sounds like somethng that the conservatives would have pushed for. Just a guess.
Report Post »ag2ward
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:30pmWhat happened to our Fourth Amendment? Why do our schools have more authority over us than the police? These “random checks” of our childrens lockers and lunch boxes are actually unconstititional. For years, the majority of us were not bothered by these random lunchbox searches because it was intended to protect our children. But absolute power corrupts absolutely. I may seem a little extreme to some of you, but ponder this thought for a few minutes. I will gladly accept the risk being injured by fellow man and have a less intrusive government than have my every move (or even thought) regulated by the government. A government has ALWAYS proven to be more corrupt as it grows in size and authority. At some point, we will say, who is going to protect us from my government? That is exactly the situation Ashley now faces.
I would like to see someone argue the constitutionality of these random searches.
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads as follows:
Report Post »“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Snapperhead
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:16pmDAGNEYT I sent an email.
As a parent of 2 Girls, one of which is the same age as this young girl, i can relate to this situation completely.
God Bless them I hope it helps make a difference.
Report Post »TEAinGA
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:28pmSent the following to address provided:
Just read the story about the student, Ashley Smithwick, suspend for the rest of the year on Blaze.
Report Post »One of the posters was kind enough to provide this email address as contact point at the school and My hope is that it is correct.
That said: Do you have ANY common sense. In your thought process, such as it is, were any mitigating circumstances considered?
My daughter is a teacher in NC and was punched in the face by a student who was constantly in trouble for fighting and that student was transfered to another facility.
Now if that student had a knife I would suspect different intent. But that would require some critical thinking, weighing facts and circumstances, and it seems you lack that ability. How did you get to be in an administrative position? Seniority, or let me guess, a PhD in education?
Take a good HARD look in the mirror and know you ARE the problem in education these days and that the Peter Principle lives on.
Have a nice day
Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:09pmTEAINGA
Report Post »The sad thing is now conservatives look like a bunch of spew bags. Whether or not they are right the “Just gotta do something”
and taking time to think about exactly the message they are sending involves too much thought- mental gymnastics if you will.
Consider we just celebrated the birth of Christ. I wouldn’t know by the happy words written by those who just “had to write something”
Email never contains emotion. Therefore the stark words won’t mean what they were intended to mean. It is not placating the PC gods.
Kind words turn away wrath.
Mark
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:42pmHere is my email and the reply I received:
Mark, nice talk, didn’t your mother teach you any manners?
You are in a twitch over erroneous allegations by a family and the media for not ferreting the facts.
See if you can comprehend the following
1. On October 20, 2010 a faculty member discovered a student in possession of marijuana
2. The student in question was searched and in her PURSE (not a lunch box) a knife was found
3. The principal, using common sense but following policy, suspended the student short term NOT long term
4. The student is currently enrolled in school
As one dumb ass to another I’ll let you determine the validity of other pertinent points of this story.
Hope you’re able to absorb this information, if not I’ll be glad to meet with you face to face.
Call me (919) 770-1201
>>> “Mark 12/29/10 8:07 PM >>>
Hey Dumb Asses
Report Post »You who are in charge of molding young minds, why don?t you try using yours. Your political correctness and the use of zero tolerance policies has replaced the use of your brain, and the judicious use of common sense as normal adults would/used to do. During a random drug search you find a paring knife with an apple in a young woman?s lunch box, a young woman by the way who holds a respectable GPA, participates in sports and school social programs, and who apparently is very well liked and respected. Your first reaction is to have her hauled up on charges, suspended from school, and generally screw up her life because you have some twisted sense of right/wrong and perceived danger. You are an idiot, and as my dad would say ?you don?t have the sense to pour the water from your boots with the directions on the heel? It is people like you who have created this march toward socialism and the inevitable police state that normal people can see on the horizon and heading our way fast. Do us all a favor, take that paring knife and use it to commit Hara Kiri, else grow a pair and stop participating in the lunacy of political correctness extremism.
dawnmms
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:06pmWhen my daughter was in 5th grade she had a really cool pocketknife that had a screwdriver, scissors, you know everything under the sun and she (unknown to me) took if for show and tell. Teacher didn’t think anything of it. Acting Principal for the day (my daughter’s LD teacher in fact) happen to see it and called me to pick her up as she was to be suspended. I asked her why? “We have a zero tolerance policy”, to which I replied, “but you know my daughter, she didn’t bring it to school as a weapon“ Her reply ”Sorry we have a zero tolerance policy”. My reply..”A zero tolerance policy, is nothing more than an abdication of common sense” To this day I have very little respect for anyone who won’t use judgement and common sense. Politically correct people are idiots too.
Report Post »Stew45
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:42pmthis is what I got when I tried to email him
This message was created automatically by the mail system (ecelerity).
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
>>> rdietrich.sl@lee.k12.nc.us (after RCPT TO): 550 No such recipient
Report Post »What a coward
Benjamin Linus
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:26amThis is the reply I received from Shawn Williams:
Thank you for your concern, but please read our press release that was sent out on today.
Statement from Lee County Schools Superintendent Jeff Moss Regarding Ashley Smithwick
This is in response to the media coverage of the alleged long-term suspension of Ashley Smithwick, a student at Southern Lee High School. The facts recited by the media are erroneous and without foundation.
On October 20, 2010, a faculty member at Southern Lee High School discovered a student on campus with marijuana. Based upon information obtained in the interview between school administration and the student in question, a search of several other students, including Miss Smithwick, was promptly conducted. During this search, a 3-inch paring knife was found on the person of Miss Smithwick in her purse. The knife was not found in Miss Smithwick?s lunchbox as reported by her family and the media.
Report Post »Miss Smithwick has not been long-term suspended from Southern Lee High School. She is currently enrolled as a student at the school. Over two months after the event it is a mystery to us that the Smithwick?s concerns were not brought to our attention by the family through normal appeal procedures prior to going to the press.
Timekeeper
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:02amJust Home School here… take all appropriate tests and the H with public schools.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:08amAll liberal policies are this way, designed to seem to fix a problem, but really cause the problems to increase, it’s deliberate and evil, not stupidly on their part. The stupid comes in when we think they are innocent caring people, that are just to stupid to know the evil they bring on the world.
Report Post »Oahujack
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:54pmIf there was no search warrant or she did not sign a consent to search, then the school can search and confiscate. They cannot, however, prosecute or punnish for possession of contriband material unless the Constitution has been ignored. This school’s policy is idiotic and is indeed representative of a government run institution which itself does not know RIGHT FROM WRONG!
Report Post »Foofy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:47pmThank you, Dagneyt. I just emailed that ridiculously short-sighted principal.
Report Post »pma_guy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:32pmthe email for dietrich is either incorrect or deleted
Report Post »wildbill_b
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:52pmWhat will they do when someone stabs someone with a pencil or pen. I suppose the solution will be to ban written utensils. Make sure to take away scissors,belts,shoelaces,scarves, while they are at it.
But truthfully, in their narrow deluded minds they equate a knife with a weapon. It has never entered their minds that a pencil is more deadly than a knife.
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 2:25amOne more reason to HOMESCHOOL!!!
Report Post »john8_32
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 12:56pmAs a loyal Blaze reader…I’m a little disappointed at this site and WRAL for being what Rush calls “Drive-By’s”. In my mind – this is a glaring conviction of today’s media for taking a “hot button” story and running with hardly any fact-checking.
Being from the Sanford area – I’m quite close to a few of the involved parties and I will tell you this – IT’S ALL A BIG FAT LIE. The school was actually trying to save the girl’s rep because she was a star athlete, but now that she went to the press with these lies, I have a feeling the truth will come to light very soon. Scratch what is being said about her not having a reason to lie – VERY reliable sources tell me she has been a trouble-maker all year and was using this pairing knife to cut pills and other drugs in the bathroom. Once her friend got caught with the drugs – she ratted out Ashley and upon the search for drugs – they found the knife. The girl’s lawyer wants her to be painted as a victim, but everyone I know that knows her, knows what kind of person she is.
The knife was found in a different lunch sack, the set of boxes being presented by the family seem to be ones purchased later to try and back their claims. (besides, what father-daughter duo over the age of 7 has matching lunch pails?)
I am the first to criticize public schools – in fact I doubt I‘ll send mine to one once she’s old enough – but there has to be some accountability in the media. I am ashamed of many of my once-trusted sources of news. I will also be VERY careful the assumptions I jump to when I read new stories in the future.
Report Post »