I hate to hear anybody say they wil sue over such a stupid thing but in this case I say SUE THEIR ASS OFF. This kind of crap has to stop. The principal has no business being a person with authority if they use it in such a way.

In all seriousness the school probably saved the lives of countless LEGO (R) Toy Story, Atlantis, and Design by ME (tm) workers that day.

This weapons was probably procured illegally from LEGOLAND (R) California (tm), a known breeding pit for LEGO (R) Fascist Extremism (tm). The photo displays a LEGO (R) Technic (tm) 57mm recoilless rifle that can puncture through even the most advanced LEGO (R) Advanced (tm) armor currently fielded by LEGO (R) City Police Station playset (tm) forces.

Because the weapon's purpose is not to inflict mass casualties, it was probable it was intended to be used to lure out first responders, notably LEGO (R) Off-road Fire Truck & Fireboat (tm) playset workers, who would then be decimated by secondaries, most likely in the form of a swarm of suicide LEGO (R) Technic (tm) vehicle-born IEDs.

Zero tolerance policies protect administrators, whether government/school or corporate, from having to make difficult decisions and then stand their ground and to defend them.

Take zero tolerance policies, put them on a boat with political correctness and then sink it in the deepest ocean. With a real gun, a real BIG gun.

How ridiculous can these school burro-crats get. They should be fired immediately for their stupidity.

As for zero tolerance policies, they should be aimed at Washington politicians with zero tolerance for stealing and wasting our tax dollars.

The Principal is extremely stupid and should be punished.

The principal went overboard. But for crying out loud, keep the freakin' lawyers out of it. Write a nasty letter to the board of education instead. What a bunch of crybabies.

People like this principal are the real reason for the NRA. Idiots with such a narrow minded objective that they can't even recognize the difference between a pinky sized toy and the scare potential of a realistic sized toy gun in a school full of kids. Even the latter is just wrong. I remember cap guns on playgrounds when I was a kid. Nobody freaked out like this.....ever.

Give them an inch on gun laws and they'll take a mile...or in this case, your Legos.

Gelbkreuz,

I would like to point out that the LEGO man with the rifle WAS a member of the LEGO Law Enforcement. Therefore the children were safe at all times.

Once again public officials put the blame squarely where it shouldn't be. Concerned about a 4th grader with a toy gun? I think not. The real problem is the two-inch high gun toting, donut eating, badge brandishing, plastic jack boot wearing officer that is extorting lunch money from the rest of the fourth graders. Oh sure, he's got a white hat but under that halo of goodness lurks the sinister mind of a thug. Notice the size of the gun as compared to his body. This is an obvious subliminal message of "I got short changed on my plastic pecker at the factory and now I'm gonna make these little bastards pay for it!". Find a kid crying in the lunch room and right next to him you'll find Patrolman Puny Pecker sticking his weapon (aka his "bone bazooka") out from a toppled paper bag, waving it at the crowd and screaming "I'm sick and tired of getting my arms and legs getting bent in ways that aren't humanly possible. Time to pay the piper!". In an incident at Foster Brooks Elementary School in Asscrack, Arkansas earlier this month, another one of the corn kernel headed cops decided that he'd had enough. As witnessed by both second graders (Bo Grunion, age 17 and Betty Jo Haypile, age 15) the distraught officer, whose mind clouded by alcohol and polypropylene, threw himself under the moving shoe of lunch lady Emma Barndore. A muffled cry of "See what you've done!" was heard right before the officer was transformed into a pile plastic guts. Counselors were sent to the school as soon as their weekly corn liquor delivery was completed.

Talk to your kids before it's too late!

She says she may sue over what she calls “a lack of common sense.”

I was with you all the way lady, until this statement! Sue? If so, the school will need to counter sue for your lack of common sense!

I agree..why counter one bad decision with another? Sue?? really??.....come on

Pax-409227, =)

That uniformed officer is one of the extremists in disguise. It was a 'false flag' operation, broken up by school administration at the last minute.

Those uniforms were stolen from an unsecured LEGO (R) Police Station playset located right nearby the LEGO (R) Airport. I read the militants dressed themselves as workers from a LEGO (R) Construction Site playset (Single-Drum Roller, Dump Truck, and Front-end Loader) and accessed the armory during the security change window.

Wow, so ridiculous.

Whatever happened to common sense in this country? Obviously, the Principal has none.

I agree with Allen above. Narrow minded anti 2nd amendment rhetoric and liberal lies have spawned this kind of attitude towards guns in this country, and idiotic people like this principal just aggravate the situation more.

She knew it was no big deal. She was probably bored that day and power tripping. Unfortunately the little boy is the victim of the Principal's inability to use obvious logic in making decisions.

Department of Education policy states that there can be no imitation guns on school property,

If this fits the definition of an "imitation gun" then Evelyn certainly has an imitation of a brain! If I lived anywhere close to where this happened, I'd do everything in my power to humiliate this principle to no end. How can anyone be so stupid, and yet hold a position of authority.

Our schools are far too stupid to be allowed to teach our kids. I sincerely hope that this parent does sue, and for a large enough sum to force every school district in this country to reexamine the other world stupidity that they exhibit with their zero tolerance policies. As to the imitation gun, there is overwhelming evidence that in order for any teacher or administrator to believe for one second that this might have been a real gun, which I believe that you would have to prove to call it an imitation gun, than that "educator" must be suffering from some sort of schizophrenia, and should be immediately removed from any position where they are likely to come into contact with children.

Zero Tolerance in schools was designed to enable punishment the first time a student does something wrong, and not have to give them another chance. It also enables the Principles to retain their common sense. I would seriously consider having that Principle reviewed to make sure her level of Reasoning, Judgment and Common sense were of a level sufficient to perform her job. If she made this ludicrous decision, how many has she made in the past regarding the performance of teachers and her employee evaluations? There most likely have been other instances just as absurd as this in her past as a Teacher, and now Principle that have negatively impacted Students, Parents and other Teachers. I seriously think that any adult that seriously thought this Lego toy was in any way a threat or violation of the Zero Tolerance Policy should be examined by a professional to see if she is fit to continue her job.

I think that she is ultimately going to regret this decision, and put her career as an educator in jeopardy whether she acknowledges her ridiculous decision or not. If she maintains that her common sense regarding this was correct, she definitely will be looked at as a person lacking the ability it takes to enforce or obey rules, policies, or any type of authority, simple common sense.

Laughing at Gelbkreuz!!!!

Narrow minded anti 2nd amendment rhetoric and liberal lies have spawned this kind of attitude towards guns in this country, and idiotic people like this principal just aggravate the situation more.

Please. I live in a republican area and lived in fear my son would get in trouble for DRAWING guns and war scenes (his brother was in Iraq at the time). Stupidity is on all sides.

I sincerely hope that this parent does sue, and for a large enough sum to force every school district in this country to reexamine the other world stupidity that they exhibit with their zero tolerance policies

Are you one of those people who get p!ssed about stupid lawsuits?

That's right, we can't tolerate this kind of malevolent, miscreant, violent display of 9-year-old terrorist bravado! Thank God there are vigilant principals and teachers who caught this before it became a serious menace to public health. Throw the book at this kid and his parents; that 2' plastic gun could've blown the head of that little Lego policeman right off. Let alone if the plastic bullet would've ricocheted around the room, it could've put a pinprick through a piece of paper.

First, I think we need to ascertain whether the little monster stole this from his Dad, and importantly, whether it was loaded!

You can contact the Principal who is responsible for this nonsense at

Evelyn Mastroianni
emastro@ps52.org

or

718-351-5454

You can contact the schoolboard as well,

To contact the school's Parent Coordinator, Dolores Galyas, call 347-563-4604 for all parent issues including questions about a child, general inquiries, workshops, parent engagements and parent associations.

To contact the PTA President, Maria Romagnuolo, call: (Information provided by school)

To contact the Community District Superintendent, Schultz, Margaret, call 718-420-5645

Good work! The educational system just taught a 9-year-old that justice and punishment have no rational basis. This kid will now cheat his way to the top of the class and head into politics or finance.

PS --- good post Derek!

Thanks

WE must teach at a early age that any pictures,toys, or reference to guns or violence is wrong and must be severly punished; how else can we bring about the New World order.

The reason our kids are getting stupider and stupider is that their government school teachers and administrators are getting stupider and stupider. When I was in the 8th grade, going to a one-room school in the Black Hills, we brought REAL guns to school. The reasoning was that it was too far to walk home, pick up a gun and then go out to put food on the table. Of course, that was before kids and teachers got to be as stupid as they are today.

Hey The Spirit, been there, done that. I grew up in South Dakota also. As recent as the 1970's I took my shotgun to school every day during hunting season, never an issue at all. Take Care.

Reminds me of the kid who got suspended for drawing a 'gun' on a piece of paper a few years back. He drew a building, but when you looked at it at an angle, you can see that it kindy looked like a gun.

Utterly ridiculous.

When I served on 2 Boards of Education in Connecticut one of things I did was end all zero tolerance policies. Zero tolerance is a knee jerk reaction that sounds great in theory and works miserably in practice. Administrators need the kind of discretion to address the issues that come up = this is not a 'gun.' It is a piece of plastic. A gun is a weapon - this a threat only to other LEGO men. These administrators need to get their heads out of their rear and do their job instead of relying on idiotic policies created for political reasons and not educational ones. They could have simply looked the other way since - it is not a gun or a weapon. Instead, they decided to do something which speaks volumes about their own prejudices and bias if they somehow believes that a 2" toy is a gun . . ..

I agree, Comanchepilot. My son got in a fight defending himself in school when he was 15, and I had talked to the Principal ahead of time, warning him about this crazy kid who was harrasing my son on his way to the lunchroom each day. He would never take care of the problem, he just told me he had a zero tolerance policy and that if he fought, even defending himself, he would be arrested.

Needless to say, when it happened, the thug is the only one who was arrested. I had to threaten to sue the school system, but after he talked with their local lawyer, my kid went home with me.

It's sad you have to go to lengths to protect your kids like this, but when the policy is stupid and has no flexibility to it, it's useless.

That reminds me of an incident that happened when my oldest son was in high school and was being harassed a lot by various kids. I always told him not to throw the first punch but he would never get in trouble with me for defending himself. When he did take a punch he gave it back and both ended up in the office, and my son wasn't worried at all (the other kid was) because he knew I would back him up. I did, told the school he was right, and I think he had a couple days suspension, but I didn't care. After 4 years in the Army he fears nobody and I think all the kids that used to harass him fear HIM now (although he threatens nobody unless they deserve it).

And some people wonder why kids have low self-esteem.

Defend yourself and get in trouble. Don't defend yourself and get your butt kicked by the bully. Thanks to zero-tolerance, the victim is charged with the same crime as the one who attacked them.

Carl; make that "power-hungry idiots protected by a myopic union working in public education".

Good!

While discretion should have been used by the principal and obviously the 2" gun wasn't a threat to anyone, one thing we're all not considering here is that the principal may not have had the discretion afforded her to exercise. So, before stringing her up for being power-hungry or idiotic or whatever catch-phrase, I'd consider the notion that the school administration that likely came up with the policy took the decision out of her hands. In that case, it's a no-win for the principal since to ban the "gun" draws the ire of the media, parents, and this forum and to not ban the "gun" opens her up for disciplinary action from her superiors for not following the mandate.

Something to consider.

Jasfox. Get off of the Teachers union crap. Not all teacher belong to a union. When you make blanket statements like that you look like a fool.

Tommo - How many scared students would have reported this flagrant disregard for the rules to their worried and scared parents, therefore bringing her lack of action before the school board? Answer: NONE. Kids aren't scared by lego toy guns. Let this one slide and NOBODY would notice.

Tommo -

The bullcrap scenario you're trying to drum up is just that. If that were the truth, we could just replace the principal with a list of rules & regulations & pin it to her office door. She was supposedly hired because she had half a brain and they were hoping she would use it. As many people have pointed it out above, this has more to do with the prejudicial attitudes that the effite snobs in academia have copped regarding the 2nd Amendment issue because they all have their noses up each other's keesters instead of thinking for themselves.

Amen. Why is our first reaction always "I'll sue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"? This woman better not ever complain about lawyers, liability insurance, frivolous lawsuits or any of the damage we've suffered as a society from the same.

Unfortunately pjw, the only time people learn something is if hurts them in the pocket book.

I'm sure this principal will do something just as stupid in the future.

Personally, the Administrator should fire or suspend this Principal for lack of common sense.

Well, frivolous lawsuits are not frivolous when they are used as a last resort. Clearly, the district abandoned all their responsibility and authority when they said that the 'principal has ultimate discretion'. In a democratic system, there are checks and balances and nobody has 'ultimate discretion.' That alone is a valid reason to remove the board and district personnel and this principal. School sites are not fiefdoms run by lords and barons. The district certainly had the opportunity and responsibility to step in and do what's best for the children, namely educate them. I'm sure an intensive investigation into this principal's activities would yield many errors of judgement and actions harmful to children and her community. I'm equally sure she is non-repentant and cannot be rehabilited to be a useful member of the educational community. Time for her to find a new career, preferably away from children.

I hate frivolous lawsuits too, but in this case I think a very clear distinct message needs to be sent to this school. This kind of ridiculous overreaction is unacceptable and the only way the school will GET that message is through a lawsuit. Parents should demand a public statement from the school, formally apologizing to the child for blowing things out of proportion.

Apparently, the "talking heads" on the school board have totally abandoned the use of common sense on a case-by-case basis for the blanket "zero tolerance" policies this school system enforces. This is a way of side-stepping the school administration's duty to deal with rules infractions individually, and to dole out punishment that appropriately fits the crime. What's next?? If I point my finger at a fellow student, and my finger may or may not look like a gun, can I possibly expect to be suspended from school? My God, people, use the sense you've been blessed with and punish the students that really need to be punished, not the ones who bring 2-inch plastic LEGO guns to school for show-n-tell.

As far as litigation goes, I'd most assuredly try to at least seek some kind of judgment in civil court to overturn these over-the-top "zero tolerance" policies in public schools. Look at most school systems' policies on fighting....if you are the poor student being beaten up by the school bully, and you throw a punch in self-defense, you are AUTOMATICALLY suspended and possibly expelled from school, no questions asked. This is total BS!! What is the student supposed to do in that case? Lay there and take the beating?? Hell no! And any school administrator who thinks they shouldn't be able to defend themselves should be brought up on charges themselves. The only way of getting these rules changed is through lawsuits. Sad, but unfortunately, true!

These ridiculous zero tolerance issues have been cropping up for a number of year now. We see how retarded they are, and yet they are never changed. Yes it seems like winning a series of lawsuits is going to be the only way to have meaningful policy change. The school boards around the country don't seem to understand anything else.

FYI, I doubt the people who sue think THEIR lawsuit is frivolous.

Behind you 100%. We also need to get rid of tenure. I wouldn't send a dog to public school.

Schools are only as good as the parents who send their kids there. Public or private, cassia

Having taught at the middle school, high school, community college, and university levels, I think I have a bit more knowledge about the current state of public education than you do. So I suppose, according to your comment, orphans only attend bad schools since they have no parents. Colleges and universities seem to do just fine without ANY parental involvement. Parents are not a panacea for a totally screwed up public education system.

K-D, I agree with your first paragraph....then common sense would have prevailed. I disagree with your second paragraph; it appears that the only way these "zero tolerance" policies will be moderated in public schools, is to litigate. From top to bottom, the stupidity in our public schools has become ridiculous.

Stan -

You MUST be a lawyer.

Less frivilous lawsuits, better use of common sense ...

Done.

Actually Stan, the way to mitigate these zero tolerance policies is for men and women of common sense to run for office and change them. The system works better when changed from the inside - if you rely on the courts to change things you give too much power to the un-elected judiciary. . . .

Parents should demand a public and formal apology be given to their child. If they don't get it after a reasonable amount of time, then sue and FORCE the school to do it while covering their legal costs.

Plus lawsuits change policy for the schools 8) It teaches them to quit hiring idiots and change some policy's that just doesn't work.

policies and it would be policies that don't work

By the time this lawsuit happens....eveyone will have forgotten the issue. let it be. Why traumatize this kid anymore??

The zero-tolerance policy was probably the result of litigation or political pressure in the first place. The policy probably states that any student bringing a gun OF ANY KIND to school will be suspended. That's it. No exceptions. No guns in school. Period. In that case, the teacher and principal were only following their own policy, however lame-brained their actions seem. Sure, we all think they should have applied simple common sense, but the issue isn't really simple.

Answer this question yes or no:

Should students be allowed to bring guns to school?

Most people would say No. So, what about an unloaded gun, or a gun that's had its firing mechanism removed? Okay, no. What about a B-B gun? An unloaded B-B gun? What about a toy gun that looks absolutely real? Well... And we work our way down to tiny Lego guns.

Would we be satisfied if the policy said teachers and principals are mandated to use common sense? How would that be enforced?

If I were the teacher, I still would have handled it sensibly, on the spot (I think), but that's easy to say when you're not the one dealing with all the issues this kind of thing brings up. So, in a way, suspending the kid would be justifiable, even if it's clearly a bad idea.

I agree with the first paragraph but not the second.

These ZT rules have gotten out of hand and our schools have become more like prisons it's time to for people to stand up.

People who don't use common sense deserve to get sued heck I would consider it ok if the father punched the principal on this.

Though since they dad is an ex cop he probably has friends on the police force so this principal will get what he/she deserves.

Great point Vernon!

Where's the zero tolerance policy with teachers?

Teachers in New York already have a zero tolerance policy. That is they think zero for themselves and 100% for what the bureaucrats tell them to think.

Do these people seriously have all the degrees they claim to have? I know people who didn't finish high school who have more common sense and the ability to think for themselves than these idiots who don't know how to interpret a policy. The sad thing is, I bet this principal gets paid a LOT and she has moosh for brains. It's time for an overhaul of these idiots who are on a power trip and have no qualifications nor the ability to analyze things on a case-by-case scenario. It's a Lego toy for chrissakes, it doesn't even LOOK like the toy guns kids use to play cops and robbers with! Are you serious when you say that looks like a threatening weapon? Maybe if you're a flea! Good grief!

The principal was apparently trying to make a statement....and failed to make the one she wanted, but succeded in proving how little common sense is being used.

you need to do some homework if you're calling them high paid. and who contacted the media? i believe that would likely be the parents.

The boy didn't break any rules. The rules were no imitation guns. That is not an imitation gun.

So, if I bring in a 2 inch doctor doll holding a fake syringe, am I breaking the zero tolerance law for drug paraphernalia?

How about if I have mints that look like fake Advil?

Progressives always place other progressives in positions of authority. It is the long-term game plan. Keep voting for them and enjoy what is left of your freedom.

She's just a power-hungry Nazi!

Stop blaming "liberals". I live in a republican area and its the same crap. Oh, and they love to sue too. First thing their kids say when they don't like something is "I'll sue if I don't get ..(what I want).

Rush the Idiot: I don't believe it gave this woman's political party. Is she stupid yes, but she could also be a stupid republican. A whole lot of teachers are Republicans. It is just nice for you to think that all of them are Progressives.

I'll say it AGAIN. This happens with republicans too. Stop being obtuse, Rush.

I find it only fitting that the moment someone speaks their mind, the are equivalated to someone who is considered, in the accusers own radical thinking, as a radical.

By definition, a liberal democrat is a socialist. Can't get away from it... that 'Liberal' part has the full meaning left off, it stands for 'Liberal Socialist' (A Party for 'Greater Good' ). The problem with the 'Greater Good' is that it comes at a price of the individuals rights. Liberal Democrats are visible through the policies of 'Take from the individual and give to those it deems worthy, normally to a lower income worker'. It keeps those folks poor, but gives them free food and shelter... and keeps them voting Democrat.

That perfectly describes Socialism.

If you speak against it, they call you evil - because you are looking out for yourself and not your fellow man. Those who look to themselves first are capitalistic - and evil in the eyes of a Socialist. Just like Republicans are in the eyes of Democrats. I mean, my goodness - those evil Bankers, and executives, and business owners...

Don't look to a company to give you a job, look for the Government to create one for you. Don't encourage those that are unemployed to start a new company - let the government feed them each day. Don't let companies fail... we can own them and then punish them - regardless of whether or not they took our money - because Socialists hate Capitalism, and wish to dismantle it.

Right now you will hear them talk about Government creating:

Jobs, Saving Teachers, Policemen, Firefighters, Universal Insurance, Higher Taxes ... especially higher taxes on those 'wealthy evil Americans'.

Well, the great thing is that when you, as a Democrat trust a government that fails and can't feed you anymore - can't pay the bills - it will be those well armed Capitalists who will let you starve while they continue to have things of worth. Why? Because capitalists EARNED things of worth - and they have the guns to protect them.

I don't care about my fellow man before myself. I rely that he is as concerned with his life as I am with mine. No one should take, by force, money from one person and hand it to another because they think someone deserves it more than the man who earned it. That is Tyranny.

Want to know why the US is going bankrupt...

Social Programs

At least they kept 'Social' in the title, that way we know which ones to cut. The 'Social'ist ones.

Did you fail social studies?

Civics is the class they teach you about socioeconomic models....

With that, I would suppose lib50 never took the class.

It was a word play on "social". Get it now?

Randy.... who is "they"?

Not to mention the portential injuries that could occur if the Lego action figure fell to the ground and another student happens to lose a shoe and then step directly on the action figure. Talk about dangerous, OMG.

quote: What's so hard about being a responsible parent and telling your child that ANY gun of ANY size is not allowed in school????

I agree, the so call adults need to grow up also.

The real issue here is the parents threating to su. Get a life and just tell your son he can't take toy guns to school anymore. Your acting the age of your son. The Principal didn't do anything wrong, just following the rules. You do believe in following rules don't you? Or maybe you think it's ok to break the laws and take a real gun to your job or to a resturant. It's the same thing.

Or maybe you think it's ok to break the laws and take a real gun to your job or to a resturant.

How exactly is taking a toy gun the size of my finger to school, the same as taking a real firearm to work?

Yeah, there was no logic in that one.

The real issue here is the parents threating to su. Get a life and just tell your son he can't take toy guns to school anymore. Your acting the age of your son. The Principal didn't do anything wrong, just following the rules. You do believe in following rules don't you? Or maybe you think it's ok to break the laws and take a real gun to your job or to a resturant. It's the same thing.

Grrrrrrrr, go read the article. Apparently you haven't. After you do, lets say this toddler pointed this lego gun at a police officer and the police officer shot and killed this boy, you would say it would be justified if it was your son?

Did you not see the picture of it? IT WAS 2 INCHES. If a cop shoots a toddler for pointing that at him, then I would be calling for the head of that officer for not possessing better judgment.

Jesus dude, do you live in New York or California? You sound like you live in a state where they believe their constituents are morons.