I get that it's Colorado and that a terrible tragedy happened there not all that long ago. I also understand it's important to educate our children about violence, bullying and the dangers associated with these types of things, but is it really logical to suspend a seven year old boy for what amounts to innocent childs play?
Seven year old Alex Evans (from Colorado) was acting pretty much like any other boy his age does earlier this month. He was at school, on the playground and the game of the day was "Rescue the world." Kids are imaginative and they also no doubt incorporate into their play a tad of what they see plastered all over the news everyday, not to mention in video games. But regardless, as a part of his imaginary game, little Alex tossed a non-existent grenade into a pit of evil (aka the sandbox) to save his friends from certain doom. Complete with sounds effects he was playing a role much like we did as kids when we played cops and robbers or a certain other game that comes to mind that's now "politically incorrect" to name.
Now maybe imitating the throwing of a grenade isn't the best idea for creative play - I'll give the school that, so let's give little Alex a chat and maybe a warning if necessary. Or how about let's suspend him? That's what the school opted to do and as far as I'm concerned that's just plain silly. We're talking about a seven year old playing with his friends, there was no hitting or hurting, just imaginary play. He's seven and doesn't even understand the meaning of the word 'suspended.' In fact, he was taped on TV so cutely saying, "I was trying to save people and I just can't believe I got 'dispended'." He doesn't even know how to pronounce the word let alone understand its consequences.
Violence can't, and shouldn't, be tolerated in our schools. We absolutely need rules and children need to learn the difference between right and wrong, as well as the consequences should they choose the wrong path, but in this instance, I think the school is carrying things way too far.
This little guy is seven and what he was doing was nothing out of the norm. Games like that have been played since the beginning of time. Let's at least make the punishment befitting of the crime.
