A community in Jefferson County, Alabama, was shocked last week after a first-grade student was suspended from Bagley Elementary School for pretending his fingers were shaped like a gun while playing with a classmate during recess.
Many people were concerned about the severity of the punishment, which was a Class III suspension!
This type of suspension is usually given for severe offenses like arson, assault with a weapon, selling drugs, and bomb threats. The shocking incident is reigniting a nationwide debate on school discipline policies, and parents and advocates for children’s rights raised their eyebrows at this punishment.
Jarrod Belcher, the father of a young boy, expressed his disapproval of his son’s suspension, considering it to be excessive and damaging to his son’s future. The school defended its decision, but after public outcry and Mr. Belcher’s persistence, they decided to reduce the suspension to a Class II level.
Yet, the damage is done, and the incident, albeit reduced in severity, remained on the student’s record, casting a shadow over his otherwise unblemished academic history.
“They labeled my six-year-old as a potentially violent and dangerous student because he was being a little boy and playing cops and robbers with another student (who was also suspended) and using his fingers like a gun,” said Belcher. “It should be noted that punching or hitting a student would have only been a Class II violation, so in the eyes of these school administrators, a finger gun is more serious than punching a classmate in the nose. Fists have broken many noses, but in the last 600 years since the invention of firearms, not a single person has been so much as bruised by a ‘finger gun.’”
In response to the situation, Gun Owners of America (GOA) teamed up with a gun rights organization based in Alabama, BamaCarry, to address the issue proactively. Their goal was to ensure that the incident would not affect the young boy’s permanent record and to prevent any similar occurrences in the future. They are working together to achieve this goal.
“This incident shows how embedded the anti-gun mindset is in so many communities, including in red states like Alabama,” Said Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA.
“This was a gross mishandling of a situation where children were simply being children. I imagine most men, young and old, hearing about this can recall having played in a similar fashion in their own youth. We will continue to demand action until a full apology is made and all disciplinary records tied to this incident are permanently destroyed.”
After collaborating, the two gun rights organizations wrote a strongly-worded letter, which they sent to the school administration, the school board, and the school district. The letter demanded the complete removal of the incident record from the student’s file and an amendment to the current school policy, which led to the improper punishment. The demands were based on the belief that children should be allowed to engage in age-appropriate play, such as the finger gun incident, without fear of disciplinary action.
During childhood, children experience a world of innocence and exploration. Imaginative play is a crucial aspect of this phase, and pretending to have a finger gun is a common game among children that has endured for generations without causing any harm. It is essential to understand that such behavior is a natural part of development and a means for children to express themselves and engage in imaginative play.
It’s vital for schools to maintain a safe learning environment while also allowing children to be children. Although discipline is necessary, punishing young students for harmless behavior can send the wrong message and have adverse effects on their self-esteem and future prospects. Balancing discipline with age-appropriate expectations is key to fostering a positive and healthy learning environment.
Having a permanent record that labels a child as violent or dangerous can haunt them throughout their entire educational journey and even into adulthood.
Such a label can negatively impact a child’s self-perception, relationships with peers, and opportunities for growth and success. In the case of the Bagley Elementary student, being labeled as potentially violent because of a harmless act of play could have been a lifelong burden.
The prompt response from advocacy groups such as GOA and BamaCarry showcases the significance of collective efforts in safeguarding the rights and welfare of children. Through their joint efforts, these organizations, along with Mr. Belcher, were able to bring attention to injustices and advocate for reforms.
The letter sent by GOA and BamaCarry is urging schools nationwide to review and modify their disciplinary policies. These policies should consider the age and developmental stage of the children involved to ensure that any punishment is appropriate.
It is now up to schools and policymakers to heed this call and ensure that disciplinary policies are fair and appropriate for the children they serve.
Bagley Elementary School Alabama Finger Gun Suspensions 23.09.07 Ltr Re Suspension (4)
About John Crump
John is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
