An elementary-school student accused of bringing a knife to class did it to protect himself from bullies who made fun of him for appearing gay, his family says.
On Monday, the unnamed 11-year-old was taken from Inwood Elementary in Winter Haven, Florida, to the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center after an eight-inch butcher knife (right) was seen poking out of his loose-leaf binder.
ABC Action News editor Micah Grimes, who covered the story, later tweeted“MORE: Family claims student that brought butcher knife to school was bullied; great-grandmother says possibly for ‘gay tendencies.'”
The parents of the boy, a fifth-grader, claim they brought up the bullying to administrators, who failed to take action. But the district says there’s no record of any concerns being raised: “Right now there is nothing on file with the school that she has been told of of any bullying. But there will be more interviews done to find out,” said Capt. David Brannan with Winter Haven Police.
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The student is charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, a third-degree felony. It’s unclear how his age—and the possible motive—will affect any punishment the boy receives.
KARUADAM
His mother fucker mom & dad are real fucking Christian. Kill all Christian in the USA.
Cam
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The parents of the boy, a fifth-grader, claim they brought up the bullying to administrators, who failed to take action. But the district says there’s no record of any concerns being raised”
____________________
Parents, after you meet with a school about bullying, ALWAYS send an e-mail confirming what was discussed at the meeting.
Dr. Principal so and so,
Just to confirm what we discussed, you were going to get back to me with any planned action on the bullying of my child I brought to your attention.
Thank you,
That is all you need, then when the district says there is no record of bullying, you bring out an e-mail and say “Well I e-mailed the school after the meeting just to reconfirm what was discussed. It is at that point that the schools lawyer recomends that they settle.
Caliban
I was about to say something similar, Cam. Time after time schools and school boards have said “No complaints were made” when parents have spoken to them, often several times. Either email them as Cam suggests and CC the school Superintendent or tell them you want to make a WRITTEN complaint and ask for a copy of the completed form. Make sure you have a paper trail.
Avenger
He was gonna stab the next kid who called him gay! LOL
Looks like that little boy wasn’t cool with being accused of being homosexual.
Taliaferro
Until schools adopt a no tolerance policy for bullies AND enforce it, children will be subjected to this sort of harrassment.
1EqualityUSA
He broke up a knife set. It would come out of his allowance for months.