Hand Gesture Leads To Suspension
By: Brittany Sweeney
Updated: February 26, 2013
Carbondale, Lackawanna County- A 5th grader is coming off of a 3 day suspension and is on school probation for 200 days after he made a hand gesture that his teacher felt was threatening. The boy says he was just messing around. Now, his mother wants change.
A gun gesture pointed at the wall got 11-year-old Christopher Dietrich a 3 day suspention from Fell Charter School. Margie Dietrich, Christopher Dietrich's Mother, says "he was playing prior to the start of class and I guess he made his fingers into a gun and shot at the wall. The teacher said you're not supposed to do that I have to report you and when he met with the principal and the behavioral therapist they said we have to suspend you for 3 days." Margie felt the punishment was too harsh and wrote an email to the school. The reply simply stated "we are consistent with this policy." That policy gives an automatic suspension to any student who brings a weapon or simulated weapon to school.
"I really understand that they are trying to protect the kids, but I think they need better policies, age appropriate policies for these younger children," says Margie. Christopher says "I wasn't trying to intentionally trying to hurt somebody or anything." Now, the 5th grader is on a 200 day propation and his mother says they are going to comply with the school's rules, but she thinks the policies need to be reassesed for future situations. "I'm worried that he is going to be scared that he is going to do something else and not realize it's wrong, then there will be more repercussions," says Margie.
The situation didn't seem to hurt Christopher though, when his punishment was served he was eager to get back to class. "I love school. It's fun there," he says. Margie says she doesn't have a problem with the school and she loves sending her kids there. She believes they need to change a few of their policies.
A gun gesture pointed at the wall got 11-year-old Christopher Dietrich a 3 day suspention from Fell Charter School. Margie Dietrich, Christopher Dietrich's Mother, says "he was playing prior to the start of class and I guess he made his fingers into a gun and shot at the wall. The teacher said you're not supposed to do that I have to report you and when he met with the principal and the behavioral therapist they said we have to suspend you for 3 days." Margie felt the punishment was too harsh and wrote an email to the school. The reply simply stated "we are consistent with this policy." That policy gives an automatic suspension to any student who brings a weapon or simulated weapon to school.
"I really understand that they are trying to protect the kids, but I think they need better policies, age appropriate policies for these younger children," says Margie. Christopher says "I wasn't trying to intentionally trying to hurt somebody or anything." Now, the 5th grader is on a 200 day propation and his mother says they are going to comply with the school's rules, but she thinks the policies need to be reassesed for future situations. "I'm worried that he is going to be scared that he is going to do something else and not realize it's wrong, then there will be more repercussions," says Margie.
The situation didn't seem to hurt Christopher though, when his punishment was served he was eager to get back to class. "I love school. It's fun there," he says. Margie says she doesn't have a problem with the school and she loves sending her kids there. She believes they need to change a few of their policies.
