Little 5 Year Old Boy Suspended For Making "Lego Gun" At School

A boy playing in a Massachusetts after school program found himself in hot water this week after creating an allegedly threatening object using LEGO blocks.

Joseph Cardosa, 5 years old, was participating in an after-school program at Hyannis West Elementary School on Cape Cod when school officials say he created a gun out of LEGOs, reports Fox25 Boston.

The boy's parents told the station that the school issued Joseph an official warning, and said a second warning would lead to suspension.

"I can understand with all the things that are going on right now in schools, but on the other hand, kids are taught you know 'here's a squirt gun, this is fun,' so this is fun to him, you know what I mean, he's running around playing - a little bit of re-direction would have been enough," mother Sheila Cruz told Fox25.

Cruz told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 that the principal had explained the gun was a "threat to other children and other children could have been scared."

The family had a sit-down to explain why it was not appropriate to play with guns at school, according to WBZ, but Cruz maintains this was merely a case of a little boy playing.

Joseph is one of several elementary students who have been disciplined for playing with pretend or imaginary guns at school in the weeks after the Newtown school shooting.

Earlier in January, two 6-year-olds were disciplined for making gun gestures while playing cops and robbers in Maryland, reports Fox News. Last month, Rodney Lynch, another 6-year-old was also disciplined for making gun hand gestures, reports CBS Baltimore.

Child psychologist Dr. Joe Kaine told CBS that at that age, most children are not able to understand why adults become upset over that type of play. Needham Child Psychologist Dr. Larry Berkowitz agreed, telling Fox25 that guns are "normative to our culture," and play is not always an indication of something more sinister.

Meanwhile, the mother of a South Philadelphia fifth grader who was publicly searched for bringing a crude paper gun to school said officials went too far. Melody Valentin's mother Dianna Kelly told Fox29 that she had pulled her daughter out of the school in protest

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01...

• Category

  News & Politics

[TFR2087]

The punishment handed out from that school was obviously ludicrous. Parroting that notion is unnecessary.

Its imperative that you stray from assumptions that are clearly idiotic. The US, like anywhere else in the world, is an exquisite place to live if you have money. I'm also honored to live in the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage which was in 2004.

[TFR2087]

It was a statement of fact. I was merely pointing out your ignorant comment regarding the purchase of firearms in convenience stores. I don't assume every person in the UK has rotten teeth and a hot temper, that would be moronic.

[bigpoppaj96]

Fuck the lesbo principle

[jbraun102493]

THERE FUCKING KIDS DAMN YOU PLAYED LIKE THAT WHEN YOU WHERE 5 GOD DAMN

[Jemmie Jemmi]

Oy. *facepalms*

[ultimatemusic2009]

these "ADULTS" need to grow the fuck up, 50 years ago this shit would be normal america is fulled of a bunch of brainwashed pussies

[Leah Powell]

I don't see what the big deal is

[Leah Powell]

Those people should shut up about it, those moron drama queens

[walruspictures]

I remember back in the 6th grade, I was playing just some stupid shoot out game by pointing my fingers and arms at my friends and making gun shoot noises. A little kindergartener runs by I point at him and say "pew" and he starts crying. The teacher threatened me with detention if I ever tried to play the shoot out game with anyone ever again.

[elbarama]

Seriously have the drug ladened chemically saturated food & beverages we consume has this fried the brains of American people to the point that a child making a Lego gun is a problem yet at the sane time real criminals are ruling the legal system

[Carl Andersson]

Ha ha...fucking dumb ass americans...

[caleidoo]

Punishing kids playing cops & robbers and at the same time fight for the right to bear arms.... How can any us citizen find this not retarded is beyond anyone's comprehension.