Teen suspended for photo of iconic AK-47 combat gun returns to school

A shocking  application of a "Zero Tolerance" school policy resulted in a kindergarten student recently being expelled for wanting to play,"Let's shoot each other," with My Little Kitty bubble guns.  Once there was a time when the teacher might have held the toy until the end of the day; however, in a climate of anti-gun political advocacy  plus deep concerns for the safety of students, what some call appalling overreactions often prevail.  Is this an instance of taking "zero tolerance" safety policies too far?Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas led the Pledge of Allegiance as the West Charlotte High School ROTC presented the colors during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC nominated U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. Junior ROTC members may represent their schools, complete with guns; however, if they displayed an image of a gun at school, they might face expulsion because they would be considered a risk under "zero tolerance" school policies.In Florence, Arizona, a teen was suspended for three days because of an iconic image of a AK-47 and a flag. It was displayed on his school-issued laptop. His school has a "zero tolerance" policy for weapons of any kind. When his teacher noticed the image, he was immediately expelled.  The teen expressed a desire to join the military and defend his country and explained the image represented that interest, not any kind of threat. Although the suspension was lifted and he was allowed to return to school, are school officials failing to use common sense when they suspend students for frivolous infractions of the rules meant to keep students safe?View the list »
Since the implementation of the "Gun-free School Act," according to a Sept. 10, 2011 report under the administration of Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education (DOE), many states have developed programs of  "zero tolerance," for students discovered with weapons and firearms. As a result of this act, the DOE reports  infractions are decreasing.Lately, the list of expulsions of students, some as young kindergarten age, suspended for pointing their finger, having a piece of paper that is gun-shaped,  bringing a toy plastic gun or bubble gun to school for "Show and Tell" have exploded.  Increasingly, legitimate questions regarding the common-sense application of the "Zero Tolerance" rule are being asked: Is it time to take a second look at how students are being persecuted for behavior that is not dangerous nor harmful? Junior ROTC members, representing their high schools, carry large pictures of soldiers killed in past wars as they march in the Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2011 in New York City. Although two-thirds of over 3000 Junior ROTC cadets are trained for marksmanship, if these youngsters were to display an image of combat weaponry, they might face expulsion under "zero tolerance" school policies.The New York Veterans Day Parade is an annual event which includes active officers, veteran's groups, junior ROTC members, and the families of veterans. The parade has grown since 1929 to now feature over 25,000 participants. It is  the largest Veterans Day Parade in the nation.

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According to Fox News, on Monday, Feb. 4, teenager Daniel McClaine Jr. of Florence, Arizona was allowed to return to his classes after his school lifted the three-day suspension he had received for displaying an iconic image of an AK-47 on top of a flag as wallpaper on his school-issued laptop.

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The high school freshman was caught up in the school's "zero tolerance" policy and initially suspended until Wednesday of this week.The policy doesn't take into account that not all teens are focused on celebrity icons. External stimuli of all kinds attract teens as they develop into young adults. Thus, AK-47s and combat heroes may be icons to kids who hope to join the military.

Daniel respectfully defended himself, saying the picture of the gun was never intended to be menacing, but actually represented his budding interest in joining the military and serving his country. Online, the Arizona Hellandback Firearms website ranks the AK-47 as the first of ten favorite military combat rifles. Since photos of the rifle have become a near symbol of the military culture, the image may be a natural icon for Daniel and other teens who are considering a career in the military.

Currently, according to Wikipedia, there are over 3,ooo nationwide Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units actively training and preparing young high school cadets for leadership roles, if not military careers, after graduation. Two-thirds of those units offer training in marksmanship. It's likely some of those teens might collect photos and posters of weapons common to the military.

General Colin Powell commended the JROTC in his autobiography, writing, "The armed forces might get a youngster more inclined to enlist," as a result of the federal program. Powell further claimed, "Inner-city kids, many from broken homes, found stability and role models in Junior ROTC." Colin Powell graduated at the top of his ROTC class in 1958 with the rank of cadet colonel, the highest rank in the corps.

Although Daniel is not a member of the JROTC, it is not a reach to posit the possibility that JROTC members might be similarly punished for having a picture of a weapon at the same campus which bombards them with the stimuli which encourages their interest. Amid the current political debate for gun control, critics perceive Daniel as an unwitting victim of a climate of anti-gun advocacy.

The reactions of many concerned parents to the way the school handled this mirror the response of Daniel's dad. He was quoted by ABC questioning whether, even in the shadow of the grief and fear lingering from the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the school seriously overreacted. According to Daniel McClaine Sr. his son "should have got a warning. He shouldn't have ever been suspended."

View the list
  • Since the implementation of the "Gun-free School Act," according to a Sept. 10, 2011 report under the administration of Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education (DOE), many states have developed programs of  "zero tolerance," for students discovered with weapons and firearms. As a result of this act, the DOE reports  infractions are decreasing.Lately, the list of expulsions of students, some as young kindergarten age, suspended for pointing their finger, having a piece of paper that is gun-shaped,  bringing a toy plastic gun or bubble gun to school for "Show and Tell" have exploded.  Increasingly, legitimate questions regarding the common-sense application of the "Zero Tolerance" rule are being asked: Is it time to take a second look at how students are being persecuted for behavior that is not dangerous nor harmful? Junior ROTC members, representing their high schools, carry large pictures of soldiers killed in past wars as they march in the Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2011 in New York City. Although two-thirds of over 3000 Junior ROTC cadets are trained for marksmanship, if these youngsters were to display an image of combat weaponry, they might face expulsion under "zero tolerance" school policies.The New York Veterans Day Parade is an annual event which includes active officers, veteran's groups, junior ROTC members, and the families of veterans. The parade has grown since 1929 to now feature over 25,000 participants. It is  the largest Veterans Day Parade in the nation.
  • In Florence, Arizona, a teen was suspended for three days because of an iconic image of a AK-47 and a flag. It was displayed on his school-issued laptop. His school has a "zero tolerance" policy for weapons of any kind. When his teacher noticed the image, he was immediately expelled.  The teen expressed a desire to join the military and defend his country and explained the image represented that interest, not any kind of threat. Although the suspension was lifted and he was allowed to return to school, are school officials failing to use common sense when they suspend students for frivolous infractions of the rules meant to keep students safe?
  • Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas led the Pledge of Allegiance as the West Charlotte High School ROTC presented the colors during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC nominated U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. Junior ROTC members may represent their schools, complete with guns; however, if they displayed an image of a gun at school, they might face expulsion because they would be considered a risk under "zero tolerance" school policies.
  • A shocking  application of a "Zero Tolerance" school policy resulted in a kindergarten student recently being expelled for wanting to play,"Let's shoot each other," with My Little Kitty bubble guns.  Once there was a time when the teacher might have held the toy until the end of the day; however, in a climate of anti-gun political advocacy  plus deep concerns for the safety of students, what some call appalling overreactions often prevail.  Is this an instance of taking "zero tolerance" safety policies too far?
View the list

, Teen Icons Examiner

Devonia Smith retired as marketing director of a Dallas continuing education for adult facility which hosted over 350 classes a month. As a community volunteer, she served six years as the Cultural Arts Chair person for more than 45 campuses, K-12, responsible for developing programs for more...

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