What in the world do they use in Home Ec?
Hey kid, step away from the knitting needles
Say you are a 12 year-old student. You’ve finished your TAKS test with hours to spare. What do you do? If you are at Kealing Middle School in the Austin Independent School District you better not take out your plastic knitting needles because those are deadly weapons according to the school’s zero tolerance policy.
“[Mariel Polter] had two hours on her hands, and she’s knitting little spring scarves for this arts and crafts show,” explained Robbin Polter, Mariel’s mom. She says Mariel and her pals on the swim team are really into knitting.
…
The teacher in Mariel’s classroom … got on the phone to Mom to tell her that her daughter had brought knitting needles to school. See, the knitting needles were considered potentially dangerous weapons under the school’s zero-tolerance policy.
…
“He got on the phone and said, ‘Are you aware that Mariel has brought knitting needles to school?’ ” Robbin Polter recalled. “I said, ‘Yes, I knew she had TAKS, and she thought she was just burning up some time.’ Then he sort of realized how stupid it was, and he said, ‘I don’t really worry about Mariel, but Kealing has a zero tolerance policy.’ I said, ‘I didn’t realize that would be a problem, but could you just hold on to them for her until after school?’ “
Fortunately for Mariel the teacher didn’t turn her in to the administration or call the police. The policy actually required that he do both. He even held the plastic knitters and returned them after she was released.
“She said she didn’t understand why they didn’t just let her put them back in her backpack, but that would make them a concealed weapon, and that would have been even worse,” said David Polter, Mariel’s dad.
“She was not in any way being disruptive when she’s knitting, but we have to look at the potential harm that the knitting needles could cause if another student could get ahold of them,” said Kathy Anthony, a communications specialist for the Austin Independent School District.
The kicker here is that knitting and crocheting needles are innocuous enough that they are allowed on airplanes.
(Tip credit to John Harris and Opinion Journal)
I thought knitting and crochet needles were now contraband on airlines as well. At least the teacher showed some good sense and compassion and didn’t turn the child in.
Maybe they thought she was knitting an afgan (or an Iraqi, or a north Korean…)
I believe plastic ones are now allowed on airlines. At least I hope so.
I knit in class all the time.
The fact that this article was printed speaks volumes.
But what are they doing about sharp pens and pencils?
I mean, seriously, folks!!!
By the same reasoning, a pencil with an eraser cap is the same thing as a “punch dagger.” Because… well, it is.
And pens, craft knives, box-cutters - MUST kids be reduced to using things suitable only for kindergateners?
Intent has to count. Like, for instance, threatening someone with an object that could be used as a weapon.
I can personally attest that nearly any object that is not physically secured to the floor or a wall can be used to maim, injure or kill.
And no esoteric martial art is required. The average classroom is filled with objects that could either directly or indirectly be used as weapons.
Might be better to create an environment where nobody had a reason to feel they needed one, eh?
Might be better to create an environment where nobody had a reason to feel they needed one, eh?
Rubber rooms, all around! (Might as well, since the inmates are in charge of the asylum, these days.)
My wife and I recently took a plane ride. TSA says that knitting needles are allowed, and she knitted much of the time in full view of the crew.
What about those extremely sharp points at the ends of their circle-drawing compasses? ~Those~ things really are deadly weapons, and kids in my school had actually used them as weapons too. I suppose those are banned now too?
There really isn’t any difference between a pencil and a knitting needle. When our junior high started making all students take sewing and cooking, the boys quickly discovered that, with a pen casing, a box of straight pins, and a spool of thread, they could make a very effective blowgun.
Of course, by publicizing this teacher’s use of common sense, we’re not doing him any favors. He violated the school ZT policy by actually THINKING, and that could get him in trouble.
Forget home-ec. What do they use in the CLASSROOM? Next time, she should take out two pencils and knit with those. *eye roll* Heck, you’ll find a sharper point on many #2 pencils than on any commercially sold knitting needle set. In fact, most DIY instructions for making knitting needles out of wooden dowels instruct you to use a pencil sharpener to form the points before sanding. (See http://www.littlecabbage.com/diy/needles.html for example.)
TSA’s statement on “Transporting Knitting Needles & Needlepoint”
Oops. Link got eaten. Here it is.
TSA’s statement on “Transporting Knitting Needles & Needlepoint”
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1252.xml
It’s no surprise stupidity is affecting the economy, or that ineffective government industry have the same stupid policies. Microsoft CEO claims they would rather hire in the US but have to build in Asia because they produce science majors.
Given that Allanque brandishes knitting needles, a Leatherman, and has a tendency to break relatives’ bones with her instrument case, I say we get her elected to the local school board and sort things out later.
I know this girl and she had glass needles that got taken up.
i think it is ridiculous that they are doing it in schools seriously what would they rather kids turn there brains to mush by playing games i think it is great kids are starting to knit why would you discourage someone from engaging in a craft
Most knitting needles are no more harmdul than a pencil or a pen. Are we banning those next? What about scisors? Tools for shop class or to build sets for drama? Where is the insanity going to end.