Girl, 10, Arrested for Using Knife to Cut Food at School

[Amby 490]

School officials say the Ocala 5th grader had brought a piece of steak for her lunch, and a four and a half inch steak knife with which to cut it. According to the report, a couple of teachers took the utensil and called authorities, who arrested the girl and took her to the county’s juvenile assessment center.

Students sitting next to the girl at lunch say she didn't threaten anyone with the knife; she just used it to cut up her food.

The girl's uncle, Kenneth Thomas, told MyFOXOrlando that his niece had to ride in the back of a patrol car.

Captain Jimmy Pogue of the Marion County Sheriff's office said the 10-year-old was not treated like a criminal.

"I don't want people to feel like we're arresting 10-year-olds, handcuffing them, and hauling them off in a back of a patrol car and taking them to jail," Pogue told MyFOXOrlando. "That's not the circumstance."

The report will be turned over to the State Attorney's office and they will decide if to follow up with the weapon's charge.

[Sprailenes 47]

Well I agree she shouldn't have been arrested. But maybe her mom could have cut her meat for her and then send it to school. I mean its pretty obvious why you wouldn't want to send your child to school with a knife, even if it is just to cut your food.

Pretty much every school has a no knives policy.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Well I agree she shouldn't have been arrested. But maybe her mom could have cut her meat for her and then send it to school. I mean its pretty obvious why you wouldn't want to send your child to school with a knife, even if it is just to cut your food.

Pretty much every school has a no knives policy.

Well, it varies a lot by region/culture. When I went to High School (not long ago, I'm only 24 now), nobody cared if you had a knife, and if you had a cased rifle in the back seat of your car during hunting season, nobody freaked out.

This wasn't even what I would call a hick/redneck area. People are just laid-back, down-to-earth, and trusting there. Why? Because the overall crime rate has always been extremely low. Just a reflection of a responsible population.

[*julez* 124]

Using a knife to cut steak at school???? What is this world coming to??? Lock her in jail and throw away the key! This girl is clearly a threat to society.

Next thing ya know, a 5 year old will be charged with sexual harrassment for hugging his teacher.....Oh wait. That already happened.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Using a knife to cut steak at school???? What is this world coming to??? Lock her in jail and throw away the key! This girl is clearly a threat to society.

Next thing ya know, a 5 year old will be charged with sexual harrassment for hugging his teacher.....Oh wait. That already happened.

This world is sick.

[Fandango 1,440]

So ridiculous!

Even more ridiculous than a professional journalist writing 'weapon's charge'

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

When I was at primary school and there was an incident like that - all that would happen is that the knife would be taken away and your teacher might have a talk with your parents...

Bringing the police into it is rather OTT IMO.

[Nessa 23]

that's nonsense

[Heracles 417]

Well I agree she shouldn't have been arrested. But maybe her mom could have cut her meat for her and then send it to school. I mean its pretty obvious why you wouldn't want to send your child to school with a knife, even if it is just to cut your food.

Pretty much every school has a no knives policy.

A lot of parents nowadays are actually dumber than their kids. And I am not talking about backwards uneducated parents either.

An elementary teacher was saying how she punished a kid for calling another kid faggot. Yet when the pathetic parent came down he defended his kid and actually said that his child was referring to a bundle of sticks.

Edited December 19, 2007 by Boo-Yah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well I agree she shouldn't have been arrested. But maybe her mom could have cut her meat for her and then send it to school. I mean its pretty obvious why you wouldn't want to send your child to school with a knife, even if it is just to cut your food.

Pretty much every school has a no knives policy.

A lot of parents nowadays are actually dumber than their kids. And I am not talking about backwards uneducated parents either.

An elementary teacher was saying how she punished a kid for calling another kid faggot. Yet when the pathetic parent came down he defended his kid and actually said that his child was referring to a bundle of sticks.

How would you know what their level of education is...?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Wise up or die!

[Caladan 19]

I loathe zero tolerance policies. No need really to confiscate the knife, but even if there was, what's the problem with having the knife go in the principal's office for the day?

[Heracles 417]

Well I agree she shouldn't have been arrested. But maybe her mom could have cut her meat for her and then send it to school. I mean its pretty obvious why you wouldn't want to send your child to school with a knife, even if it is just to cut your food.

Pretty much every school has a no knives policy.

A lot of parents nowadays are actually dumber than their kids. And I am not talking about backwards uneducated parents either.

An elementary teacher was saying how she punished a kid for calling another kid faggot. Yet when the pathetic parent came down he defended his kid and actually said that his child was referring to a bundle of sticks.

How would you know what their level of education is...?

Based on the experience of the teachers I have spoken to. I have lost count of the times I have heard a teacher say a parent sided with her child over the teacher, an adult. What do you think this teaches the kid?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well I agree she shouldn't have been arrested. But maybe her mom could have cut her meat for her and then send it to school. I mean its pretty obvious why you wouldn't want to send your child to school with a knife, even if it is just to cut your food.

Pretty much every school has a no knives policy.

A lot of parents nowadays are actually dumber than their kids. And I am not talking about backwards uneducated parents either.

An elementary teacher was saying how she punished a kid for calling another kid faggot. Yet when the pathetic parent came down he defended his kid and actually said that his child was referring to a bundle of sticks.

How would you know what their level of education is...?

Based on the experience of the teachers I have spoken to. I have lost count of the times I have heard a teacher say a parent sided with her child over the teacher, an adult. What do you think this teaches the kid?

That still doesn't answer the question I asked

[Caladan 19]

In my experience, it's just as likely to be the rich, well-educated parents siding with their child over the teacher.