George Goodwin is apparently the superintendent at Lansingburgh Central School District where he has established a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to any type of weapon on the school grounds. And apparently no amount of reason or common sense will sway him. Here’s the story:

Seventeen year old Matthew Whalen, an Eagle Scout, high achiever, and recipient of the Life-Saving Heroism award from the Boy Scouts of America for giving CPR to his aunt and saving her life, answered honestly when he was asked if he had a knife locked safely in his car at the school. By all accounts, he said ‘yes’, apparently believing that the small knife, a part of his on-board survival mess kit was no matter.

Think again, Matthew; we live in trying times and that knife could have been used to threaten someone. Let’s not get all bogged down discussing the fact that the knife was locked away safely in his car, and wasn’t brought into the school or involved in any way with any act of violence. Matthew was suspended from school for 20 days. Sheesh!

Does George get all worked up over the idea that an average #2 pencil poses an equal threat? Or that a classroom chair could become a wieldy swinging object? Does the school’s Sanitation Engineer carry one of those putty knives they use to scrape gum off the floor? Watch out; Danger!

It makes me wonder how they handle teaching these kids skills that they can actually use in the world without giving them any potential weapons. A metal spatula in cooking class? A hammer in construction class? How about a needle in sewing? I have a notion that Goodwin has displaced these skill-based classes with more useful curriculum such as ‘Rock and Roll History’ (no kidding; offered at my local highschool. In my day we called it ‘listening to the radio’).

I read, too, that Matthew is concerned that his absence from school may spoil is excellent grades and potentially cause problems for his application to the military. I wonder if George is concerned that this young man’s own hands will become lethal weapons themselves after a rigorous Basic Training. This kid is an outstanding achiever with a plan for what to do when he graduates. An outstanding kid!

To add salt to the wound, Mr. Goodwin is apparently refusing to even talk with the young man about the incident. Probably because he knows that once a discussion is mounted that his ridiculous actions will expose him as an Arrogant Jerk.

Watch your back, George Goodwin; there could be a student with a rubber band in his trunk.