School officials reversed the suspension of a 6-year-old first grader who made a gun-shooting gesture with his hand and said “pow” to another student.
Annette Ffolkes, principal of Roscoe R. Nix Elementary School in Maryland, sent a letter to parents explaining that the school would expunge the one-day suspension from the student’s permanent record.
An attorney for the family told The Washington Examiner that the outcome makes sense.
“The parents and the child are delighted with the result,” said attorney Robin Ficker. “This little boy was simply playing and never meant to shoot or hurt anyone.”
The incident happened just a few weeks after the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, in which 20 children were murdered by a gunman. In the wake of the tragedy, increased sensitivity to the issues of guns and violence in schools has prompted educators nationwide to crackdown on any behavior that could be construed as dangerous.
But many criticized Roscoe R. Nix Elementary for taking such harsh measures against a child who possessed neither a real gun, nor any apparent understanding of what his actions meant.
“He doesn’t understand,” said Ficker. “The law says he is not old enough to form intent.”
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