[The_Sheriff]

Today at school I was standing in line for lunch outside when a student that I somewhat know pulled out a small kinife without a pocket clip, he then flung it open and showed it off to his friends (kind of shady folks) the following are his exact words "Freeze bitch or I'll shank you!" sarcastically. I was just watching him :uhoh::uhoh::uhoh:. I thought to myself "huh maybe it is ok if I bring my knife to school???".

Later after school I walked into the office and politely asked the secretary if it was ok to have a pocket knife as a tool at school? Her eyes lit up and she said rather loud "stay right there, I want you to see the Vice Principal". I agreed and told him why I asked the question and he asked if I saw someone with one, I told him the whole story and he told me I could leave and that tomorrow he was going to do a locker and a body search with the school resource officer. His locker is right next to me.

What does everyone think???

[wolf13]

I carry a knife to school everyday. Though I don't show it off, it is there the whole time. I think you went too far, but that's just my opinion. If it was just him with some friends, he was joking around. I think you should have talked to him, but I don't know about going all the way up.

Edit: How old are these students? I'm guessing middle school?

[KC0QGL]

My shop teacher in High school let us carry small pocket knives. He told us if any body had a problem with it to talk to him. But that was 7 years ago.

[The_Sheriff]

Trust me if I had it my way I would OC a full size 1911 to school everyday, but somehow I don't that that is ok! haha

The kid is kind of gangster though and someone did get cut with a pocket knife last year, and no it was not an accident!

[Bartkowski]

What age are the kids? Sounds like high school, and if thats the case they probably aren't permitted to carry a knife...considering their actions I think it would be smart to have the knife taken away. If they were responsible(if this was the case you wouldn't know that they had it) I would say to let it go.

[scrat]

ok true story. first of all i used to take a pocket knife to school when i was a kid. i remember taking it out and giving it to the shop teacher to use. and he would just give it back. However those times have changed. In schools up to high school (may vary by state). Its not only against school policy but against the law to have a knife on campus. A freind of mines kid. Had a pocket knife at school a few years back. He was a good kid. Did a lot of work around for people including his folks. He was the type like i was that had a pocket knife. Well somehow he got caught with it at school. His parents had to come pick him up. With the police department waiting. They gave him a citation. The kid had to go to court. Last i heard he pleaded guilty to having a knife on a public school grounds. This was a felony. Amazing i think the kid was like 13 or 14. He was on probation for a long time. One thing for sure. It makes you open your eyes to what is against the law and what is not. Now you guys got me thinking i otta call up my freind and see how hes doing and his family.

[Zip7]

When I went to school, if there was a boy at school WITHOUT a pocketknife it would have been because he forgot to put it in his pocket that morning.

We used to play a knife game called "stretch" or "splits" on the playground, which involved throwing a knife and sticking it in the ground. Think your school administrators would come unglued about that?

Nobody ever got stabbed. Plenty of fights, but not with knives, even though every kid had one on him.

[The_Sheriff]

I know, if it would have been a good kid that just had it in his pocket I would have kept my mouth shut if he just left it in his pocket and seemed responsible. I carry one every day after school and told the VP about this.

What does everyone think his penalties will be?

[ArfinGreebly]

Got my first pocket knife on my 12th birthday, in November of 1961.

Carried it with me, everywhere, in school, out of school, camping, dances, you name it. Used it at school for, you know, knife tasks.

I still have it.

The reason I still have it is that, on the day our house burned down the following year, it was in my pocket. At school.

I had one. We all did. The teachers had theirs. Heck, I imagine even the librarian had one.

We didn't have squeamish faculty.

We had kids who were learning to be adults, and adults helping them learn how.

Sort of, you know, like it's supposed to be.

[ArfinGreebly]

What does everyone think his penalties will be?
Depends.

How old is he? 13? 17?

Is there a local ordinance or school policy that dictates this penalty?

[scrat]

depends on the laws in your state. what you may want to do is check you student body handbook. At the begining of each school year the first day of school they give you paperwork. You can get copies of this paperwork at your school administration office. Inside you will find all the stuff that you can and cant do. May even say its a felony to have a gun and or a knife on school campus. Either way with all the school shootings and stuff that have transpired over the past decade. Schools are encouraged to make examples out of kids not only breaking school rules. but breaking the law. The vice principal would be obligated to call the police department if a kid is caught with a knife. The police have to write a report call the kids parents he will get cited get suspended and have to go see the judge. After that its up to the judge, probation for 90 days, pay a fine heck you could even get community service. Either way if your under age in todays society you should not have a knife in school.

[JohnKSa]

Got my first pocket knife when I was 7 or so. Don't believe I've ever been without a knife since.

[Zwetschgen]

I had a small Swiss pocket knife. You know the 1" blade, file, and scissors... anyhow I carried it with me through high school, just a few years ago, but I made the decision that I would carry it in complete secrecy, and if I was caught I'd live up to the punishment.
I think being a good kid in a suburban school with a simple pocket knife (not something "fancy" by school officals like a Gerber or something) would get a phone call home, but that was a risk I was willing to take to carry my little knife.

[crew590]

Not too long ago (3 years, my where has time gone?) when I was in high school, I almost always had a knife or multitool on me. My excuse was that I was a techie in theater and you never knew what needed cut or repaired. Of course school policy was no knives, but that instructor had a don't ask, don't tell policy (I'm pretty sure she knew though, considering I loaned it to her a couple of times, but she never asked about it ;)).

We used to play a knife game called "stretch" or "splits" on the playground, which involved throwing a knife and sticking it in the ground.

Was that anything like Mumbly peg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumble_peg)?

Jay

[Dionysusigma]

Kinda funny that when I started up school last fall, our instructor was in the process of opening a bag of rivets and asked if anyone had a knife. I had my Leatherman on me, and as he handed it back after use he asked if anyone else had one. When everyone else shook their heads no, he asked, "why not?" :confused:

He then proceeded into a 15-minute tangent of what would be good to have, what was out there, and price ranges. :scrutiny::)

Granted, it's an aviation mechanic school, but still...

[hso]

The other kid is an idiot.

Whether what you did was appropriate depends upon your intentions.

What happens to the other kid depends upon the school system rules, local and state law and his history with the school. It could range from nothing to a warning to suspension to criminal prosecution. You'll have to research the school rules and the local law if you want to know.

[Loyalist Dave]

Thirty five years ago every boy had a pocket knife at school, and we'd play mumbly peg at recess, or after school or both. If you got caught in high school with a condom, you were done, go find a job!

Today, if you have a small Swiss Army pen knife, you get expelled, but they hand out condoms in 6th grade.

DOES ANYBODY SEE A PROBLEM BESIDES ME? :banghead:

LD

[scrat]

LD

Yep but its the kids too. These days you cant trust all of them. No one in our time would have even thought about stabbing someone. A knife was a tool. For cutting stuff and opening stuff. You were not proud to have a knife you were proud on how sharp your knife was and how many times you used it. Today kids that have knives open them from the box. Then the only thing that gets practiced is how fast they can open and close it and how manly they look with them. There are not that many people who have knives that actually use them or can really get them sharp. when i was a kid i had a Shrade old timer. not the small one either. That knife got plenty of use out of it plenty. I spent countless hours keeping it sharp. You could shave with that knife. Today you buy knives out of the box that are razor sharp. The kids dont know how they got that way. just know when its not razor sharp its time to throw it away and get another one.

Maybe if went back to teaching kids that knives are tools. You only need 1 kinfe in life thats it thats all you get. So you had to learn how to keep it up and make it sharp. You own it Nobody else does you take care of it like the way you brush your teeth. Keep it in your pocket and only use it when you need to. Otherwise you only keep it in your pocket. Just like whats in between your legs. You use it when you need to and you dont go showing it off to everyone.

[The Tourist]

You don't yell "fire" in a theater.

You don't carry knives at school.

[ZeSpectre]

Sounds like "kid B" was a posturing idiot. But aside from that, Sheesh, my school had a regulation on knives. If you had one it had to be in a snap-closed "holster" or sheath attached to your belt (open carry in other words).

Okay we were a farm community and knives were just everyday tools, but I wonder what some of these folks would have thought about us boys ALL walking around with some sort of (usually medium sized) knife.

Heck I carried a fixed blade Case leather hunter for most of high school.

Oh and nobody, ever, got knifed.

[Mot45acp]

We had kids who were learning to be adults, and adults helping them learn how.

Sort of, you know, like it's supposed to be.


Thats the smartest thing I have heard in a while.

[22-rimfire]

Things change You don't carry a knife in K through 12. College sure.

[The Tourist]

knives were just everyday tools...Oh and nobody, ever, got knifed.

You bring up the crux of the debate. You are always responsible to do the legal and appropriate thing.

I wore a Buck 110 or a similar knife through much of my youth, I even carried knives that might now be deemed illegal. Yeah, I suppose I could have done a nickel if I used one, but then everybody carried something.

I find it funny that during that period of real danger no one ever got knifed either.

I carry an EDC now. In fact there are four knives and one pistol on my computer table as I type this.

However, how long does it take to unclasp a Graham or an Emerson from your pocket when entering a school or a Post Office?

You're either lazy or smug.

[conwict]

How old are you? Don't worry about it. I wouldn't give the kid's name for just having the knife, because he will probably get himself in trouble anyway.

However, you should be fine to carry a small knife as a tool very concealed if you aren't a trouble maker. Your choice.

[The Tourist]

you should be fine to carry a small knife

Thank you, Clarence Darrow. You might be getting this guy jammed up in a "zero tolerance" area.

Like it or not, that rule may indeed apply.

Look, I break the posted speed limit daily. When on my bike probably dozens of times every time I ride.

But if caught, I get a ticket, and I pay them. I've only fought two of them in my entire lifetime.

If you're dumb enough to willfully carry any knife into a zero-tolerance area, then pay the piper.

[Pax Jordana]

I wouldn't give the kid's name for just having the knife, because he will probably get himself in trouble anyway.


Zero tolerance aside (bollocks on the lot of 'em)- it wasn't the knife, it was the kid's behavior.

Same way you gotta be your own idiot patrol when you're shooting on an un-officered range.

Sheriff, I think you did fine. Now I wouldn't take this as tacit admission of a don't-ask-don't-tell, but for your efforts you were rewarded by being warned of an impending search. Sounds like a get out of arbitrary punishment free card :)

[The Tourist]

No, it is zero-tolerance and that's why the silly policy should be dismantled.

A hood with a gravity knife gets the same penalty as a girl on the honor roll with cheese knife in her Britney Spears lunch box.

And if the school has no zero tolerance policy, of course, telling people he's going to "shank" someone is probable cause.

[Travis Lee]

Since you asked, I think you you are overly pleased with yourself for ratting out a schoolmate.

Perhaps someone can return the favor someday.

[Mike Franklin]

"Freeze bitch or I'll shank you!" this kinda tells the story doesn't it? It's not like this kid was thinking about helping the shop teacher or doing a good deed.
It is against the law to take a knife to school in Texas.
Every student that goes to our campus signs a contract agreeing to obey every school policy and every State Law. I stand at the front door in uniform every day and everyone knows or soon knows that they an ask me questions and get an honest answer. I've even had a student come up to me and tell me that he forgot and brought his knife to school. I took it, put it in my pocket and then returned it to him when he left for the day.
Everyday, everyday, everyday, a student somewhere gets assaulted. With a knife, a gun, a club, a fist, something.
Turning the student in was not only the right thing, it was the moral thing. If later that day that student with the knife had cut your son or daughter you'd have wanted to know why no one got involved, why no one reported the knife?

[The Tourist]

Perhaps someone can return the favor someday.

There will always be rats and snitches. Just assume they're there. LIke drunk drivers.

They remind me of ratchet-jaws playing softball. If they can't beat you on the field, they try and beat you with the rule book.

"Your foot was clearly on the line!"

Look at it in the big picture. These guys never get ahead, be that in jails, in schools, in sports or in the boardroom.

[FourNineFoxtrot]

Never carried a knife in High School, myself. Figured the risks outweighed the gains. Had a friend who was never without one, and still isn't, but he was taking shop classes and such, which I wasn't. He had the need. And if it was still a risk, it was less of a risk because he had a (presumably) verifiable reason.

This was before Zero-Tolerance, however. Today, I still wouldn't. And he... well, he probably still would.

But, I digress.

I'm a big fan of MYOB, especially in school. I won't say you ratted the kid out... I don't read that to be your intention there. Unless I've missed something, it looks like you genuinely wondered if you could carry a knife/tool.

And the VP freaked out and left to find his cavity-searching glove.

Point is, OP, whatever you do, don't let on to that kid (or anyone else) that you're the one who got him searched. Even if he doesn't come after you, word will get around. Rats have few friends. And avoid talking the VP for a while. In fact, avoiding the VP is usually good advice. Ditto for most counselors I've known.

[ArfinGreebly]

Y'know, when I run my own school, the school uniform will include a knife.

Any student found without his knife gets demerits, any student whose knife is found to be dull is gigged for "not having a serviceable knife" on his person.

Oh, and there will have to be a rifle team.

And a "shop" class called "Advanced Outdoor & Field Skills" (for which, of course, a knife is required).

Hey, a man can dream, right?

[FourNineFoxtrot]

ArfinGreebly-

Robert A. Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky had something like your class, called "Advanced Survival". The class final was very... rigorous, as I recall.

Wouldn't mind seeing a less suicidal version of that class taught, though.

[Mike Franklin]

I should have put this here I guess?

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=385302

[sixgunner455]

Thirty five years ago every boy had a pocket knife at school, and we'd play mumbly peg at recess, or after school or both. If you got caught in high school with a condom, you were done, go find a job!

Today, if you have a small Swiss Army pen knife, you get expelled, but they hand out condoms in 6th grade.

DOES ANYBODY SEE A PROBLEM BESIDES ME?

Preach it, brother. Preach it. I remember those days, too.

Me to the science teacher: Do you mind if I use my knife instead of the scalpel? My knife is sharper.

Teacher: No, go right ahead.

Nothing further said, until he needed to open something, pulled his knife, and we compared. Mine, a Case Muskrat, his a Schrade.

[conwict]

telling people he's going to "shank" someone is probable cause.

They don't need any such thing. At K-12 public schools all students are subject to searches at will. Not sure if there is state law variation, but that's sure as heck the case in NC.

My point was that a very well concealed, small knife is a good tool, and the poster is a person who can weigh the benefits against the risks, which is part of being a growing young adult. Just like you admit to speeding. I'm not going to lecture you on how your accident would be worse if you rolled while speeding, or how dangerous it is to ride bikes.

No ill will here, by the way, just trying to clarify that I wasn't advocating or advising against carrying a knife at school.

[Nozoki]

I remember a class project when I was in Elementary school that required us to bring a small pocket knife and a bar of soap to carve up for art. That was late 70's. I'm still amazed at how different school is for kids these days. Zero tolerance is going to ruin this country. I used to carry Tylenol in my backpack for headaches, nowadays that will get you suspended as a drug dealer.

[wolf13]

I remember a class project when I was in Elementary school that required us to bring a small pocket knife and a bar of soap to carve up for art. That was late 70's. I'm still amazed at how different school is for kids these days. Zero tolerance is going to ruin this country. I used to carry Tylenol in my backpack for headaches, nowadays that will get you suspended as a drug dealer.

I agree completely. I'm only 20, so never lived in a time were you could bring normal things to school. I have some prescription meds, and I couldn't even have those on me. I got in trouble for having MY medication on me. Apparently the office gets to have control of it. So stupid.

[Mike Franklin]

The days of 'Leave It The Beaver' are long gone.
I'm a Campus Cop. In this little school, inner city, we have students who are Dope Dealers, major members of Gangs, Prostitutes, convicted Felons and most come from single parent families. Very many don't know who their 'real' father is, many have a parent or two in prison. We have an agreement that if a student is wanted, we call’m to the Office instead of arresting them in class. It’s common for us to have a student with a ankle monitor
That kid that turned in the potential criminal was right. Not turning them in would have been wrong.

[22-rimfire]

In 12 years of elementary and high school, not a single case of someone getting cut or stabbed in my school and many carried knives daily. (I did.) After school was different.

Elementary school was rural and high school was in the largest city in the area.

My brother taught hunter safety class in his school for years. Yes, he brought guns for use in the class. He does not do it anymore.

The zero tolerance rules need to go. There should be judgement exercised when finding meds, a knife,or a gun on students as far as punishment.

[brent376]

I carried Pepper Spray with me from 4th-12th grade and still carry it at the age of 24. I said the hell with the schools weapons policy. They did not walk us home or run with us during track when we were running for 6 miles in the rural areas. There were too may abductions and there were lots of nasty dogs on the way home. I kept it in my pocket and never showed it off. I still have a can of it from 96 from the maker of The Club. It was called The Club Pepper Spray and was made by BodyGuard. NOw I have the Sabre Red MK 2 law enforcement cone spray. I am glad that I had it one day on the way home in 5th grade when these two guys tried to take my bike. All I did was put my hand on the red pepper spray button and say MACE and they ran off. I don’t see the big deal if it’s a pocket knife. You could do just as much damage with a pen to the eye. Now obviously students should not be bringing Hand Guns to school.

Because of this students statement "Freeze Bitch or ill shank you"he was very smart for reporting it. That is a kid that needs to be at home not around other students.

BTW every single mass shooting has happened in weapon free zones. Post offices, schools, churches, daycares. When are we going to start arming school administrators and teachers? Weapon free zones are a recipe for disaster. My grandparents used to take their rifles to school to compete in ROTC. Now a days if a kid colors a picture of a gun he all the sudden needs therapy and is suspended. It’s all Bull S#@!

[The_Sheriff]

I am not a snitch and I posted this here becuase I thought that it was an interesting topic. I went in the office asking if I could carry a knife and saw what that came too. I am extremely pro 2A and self defense, I carry a knife everyday outside of school! Trust me!

I know that people with guns are most always good guys but what about if you saw a ganster lookin person garnishing his weapon at a place where you go 5 days a week for 8 hours a day and are dennied 2A and self defense rights. Would you "snitch"??????

[SamG.]

Probably. But, I wouldn't if the person was a decent looking fella. And like you said, he was a shady dude.
Best luck,
Sam

[Browning]

The Tourist : You don't carry knives at school.

I must have gone to a much different school than you did then.

When I was in HS knives where the least of anyone's worries and almost everyone had one.

Most people were worried about getting shot before and after school.

[wulfbyte]

I am not a snitch and I posted this here becuase I thought that it was an interesting topic. I went in the office asking if I could carry a knife and saw what that came too. I am extremely pro 2A and self defense, I carry a knife everyday outside of school! Trust me!

I know that people with guns are most always good guys but what about if you saw a ganster lookin person garnishing his weapon at a place where you go 5 days a week for 8 hours a day and are dennied 2A and self defense rights. Would you "snitch"??????

Firstly, you mean to say brandishing. Normally I don't correct others posts but this really bothers me. Please accept this in the spirit of education and not as any kind of personal jab at you.

Secondly, you make a good point; often on this board people are encouraged to be alert and to include law enforcement where possible and prudent to do so.

I may have done things differently, but then I wasn't there and I don't have the luxury of your tender years.

To comment directly to your post, I think that knives are exceedingly dangerous and no one should be without one. I believe that a knife is the quintessential tool that defines humanity. That you are denied the right to carry a knife while in school is a shame that all of us in this country must bear, just as we must bear the shame for the degeneration and collapse of our culture and society.

Your school is unfortunately no longer a place of education, but one of training and that training is quite narrow in scope.

Luckily for you, education can be had from many sources. While you are at school, stay inside the lines and use only the approved colors. Observe the corporate drone training but try not to let it sink in. Once you are off of their land though, seek out a real education where tools and people are seen for what they are.

[Snowshoe]

My word I feel old.

During science class, we were diseceting frogs. There were not enough scapels to go around. The instructor told one student to use his pocket knife.
Lo, the student did not have one.

It was then I learned,
"A gentlemen is not properly dressed without a clean handkerchief, a pocket knife and a ball point pen"

To this day I don't leave home without them.
Thank you Mr. Jacobson

[Wolfman_556]

When I was in high school (1980s), it was common for the guys to have shotguns on the gunracks in their trucks. Nobody cared. Nobody got shot. No one was threatened. We all carried knives of some sort.

Sometimes we'd shoot clays on the football field after school if it wasn't in use, or we'd set up targets for our bows and crossbows.

[ZMP_CTR]

I remember when I was in school, if there was a fight, it was one on one and it ended with one winner, one loser, and no one dead. Times are not changing. They have changed....and I am sorry to say not for the better.

[The Tourist]

I must have gone to a much different school than you did then.

We are clearly commenting on a "that was then, this is now" situation. My wife is a teacher now, and you do not carry knives in school. There is a zero-tolerance program and they are not kidding.

Her school even had the local SWAT team practice in their halls during what they call a "code black."

I went to high school from 1964 until 1968.

I carried a Sicilian switchblade.

[Travis Lee]

Sheriff,

If you mean to tell me that you and the kid you portray as a bad guy go to the same school, you abide by the school rules against pocket knives and SOMEHOW you INNOCENTLY let slip (oops, giggle) to the ZeroTolerance authorities that so-and-so had a knife and gee, whillikers! you never had ANY IDEA that bad consequences would befall him.... well, as they say, don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

He violated a rule which you yourself seem to think is petty and unfair, you saw an opportunity to smack him with the school authorities. Right wrong or sideways, OWN UP TO IT!

Is he a bad kid? did he screw you over by beating you up and eating your lunch 3 years ago? Hey... revenge has a lot to be said for it. Did you think he was actually a threat or danger to anybody? I sure didn't get that from your OP.
He posed with his knife, and said something with stupid bravado? Well gee, If I thought YOU THOUGHT he was even slightly serious, I really doubt you would have even asked anybody their opinion about the matter.

I really hope there was something about his character or past behavior to make you believe that him getting hammered by ZT was justified.

I've known a few decent guys who got clobbered just because cops had an opportunity to screw them over, and did so with gusto. And I mean with perjury in court, and felony convictions.

You reap what you sow.

[Risasi]

The days of 'Leave It The Beaver' are long gone.
I'm a Campus Cop. In this little school, inner city, we have students who are Dope Dealers, major members of Gangs, Prostitutes, convicted Felons and most come from single parent families. Very many don't know who their 'real' father is, many have a parent or two in prison. We have an agreement that if a student is wanted, we call’m to the Office instead of arresting them in class. It’s common for us to have a student with a ankle monitor
That kid that turned in the potential criminal was right. Not turning them in would have been wrong.

And this is exactly why I will NOT put my kids into a cesspool of bad company.
Tell me again why anyone thinks a public school (where they would circumvent my children from MY idealogy) is a good idea?

I reject this concept of "society" we have, and will not let my kids turn into bleating sheep. I'm done here. This makes me sick. We've turned into Euroland.

[The Tourist]

There used to be an old newspaper comic strip called "Pogo."

One of their signature tag lines was, "We have faced the enemy and he is us."

The public and the public schools are the result of our conduct, our collective uncaring attitudes and our laziness when it comes time to vote.

Ultimately people get the government they deserve.

[Mongrel]

Wow...you guys are still here?

I thought this would have dropped way off the radar (after having been locked...) by now...

Hey, I'm a Buildings & Grounds Supervisor. Suburban, relatively affluent, group 3 high school outside of Philly.

As Tourist said-ZERO TOLERANCE. Don't even bother to think about taking a knife to school. Full-time 'SRO' (police officer) onsite, three full time security guards, 64 cameras running 24/7.

That's the reality 'today'...

Now as to the original post-

Sounds like a hall monitor to me. Drop the big ole dime on a numb-nut who was CLEARLY playing around to impress his buddies. No matter what anyone thinks of such behavior, are we really going to seriously entertain the idea that this was some kind of a viable threat?

Jealosy maybe? Here is this "loser" showing off his blade, when the OP is a good little boy who would never do such a thing.

Knowing full well, what such a "casually" :barf: asked question would bring down on this kid (and others who weren't even involved...). Big man on campus now-really put that gangster in his place...

Yep, that's sure High Road :rolleyes:

Don't you have to be at least as tall as the stork's beak to get on this ride?

Please, end this charade now and kill this thread...

[ArfinGreebly]

On review, I think it's best.

We've been flirting at the edge of civility for some time now.

And it's my bed time.

G'nite.