According to Mike Aguirre, Noah, his six-year-old son, was suspended from James McGee Elementary School in Pasco, Wash., for talking about toy Nerf guns his family purchased during a trip to Lincoln City, Or., the Tri-City Herald reported Thursday.
Initially, Noah was sent home on Feb. 28 after another student said he had a gun.
"Aguirre said he and his wife were told their son was suspended for talking about guns at school, and because the girl who reported him felt her 'health and safety were threatened' when they were called to the school last week," Ty Beaver reported.
The boy did not have a gun, real or otherwise, but he was suspended anyway.
According to officials, the issue is addressed in the district's handbook, but Aguirre disputed the assertion, saying there is nothing in the handbook that addresses speech involving guns. He also said the district provided no evidence that his son threatened to harm anyone else.
On Monday, the district downgraded Noah's suspension to a "disruption" after meeting with the parents.
Nevertheless, they decided to appeal the suspension, concerned that their son was the only student punished for participating in the conversation.
On Wednesday, Superintendent Saundra Hill contacted the parents with good news.
"After a review it was determined that no disciplinary action is warranted and all record of the incident will be expunged from the student's record," the district told the Herald in a statement.
While Aguirre is happy with the decision, he plans to look into the issue further.
"I still believe there's a lot to be said," he told the Herald.
"District spokeswoman Leslee Caul said there is no plan to review current policies in light of the issue," the Herald said.
Since the Newtown school shootings, educators across the country have taken measures they say are intended to keep students safe.
But some of the actions taken by a growing number of schools are causing many to question the public education system.
Earlier this month, for example, a seven-year-old Maryland boy was suspended after he chewed a breakfast pastry into the general shape of a gun.
In early February, we reported that a seven-year-old Colorado boy was suspended for tossing an imaginary grenade into an imaginary box filled with imaginary "evil forces," violating school policy.
Recently, an Illinois middle school student was ordered to turn his Marine Corps-themed t-shirt inside out due to the crossed rifles on the shirt.
In Philadelphia, a fifth-grade girl was searched and called a "murderer" over a small piece of paper that had been torn into the general shape of a pistol.
A five-year-old Pennsylvania girl was labeled a "terrorist threat" after telling another student she would shoot her with a Hello Kitty bubble gun.
Related:
- Second-grade Maryland boy suspended after chewing pastry into shape of gun
- Actor Joseph C. Phillips says teacher threatened son over photo of BB gun
- Philadelphia fifth-grader searched, threatened, called a murderer over paper gun
- Seven-year-old boy suspended for tossing imaginary grenade at recess
- Middle-school student ordered to cover Marine Corps t-shirt or face suspension
- Six-year-old suspended from school for making finger gun, saying 'pow'
- Five-year-old named terrorist threat, suspended after threat to shoot bubbles
- Thousands gather across nation to celebrate 'Gun Appreciation Day'
- Obama uses videos of children begging for gun control in campaign against NRA
- NRA president blames Obama, media for 'hundreds' of death threats
- NRA more popular than President Obama, media silent
- MSNBC's Martin Bashir compares NRA to Hitler
- Thousands gather across nation for 'Day of Resistance' rallies
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