TICK TOCK I’M JUST A CLOCK

TICK TOCK I’M JUST A CLOCK

A cranky opinion for

CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY

The following is the opinion of a cranky old man with limited knowledge of all the facts.  Opposing views will be tolerated, but please, no name calling, and that means you, you big stupid head!

A grade school kid shaped a piece of bread like a gun and was suspended…zero tolerance.

A first grader pointed his finger like a gun and was suspended…zero tolerance.

A kindergartener kissed a little girl on the cheek and was suspended…zero tolerance.

Students are suspended for wearing a shirt with a gun, having a religious symbol, or bringing a pen knife to class…zero tolerance.

No questions asked, you know the rules…zero tolerance.

A kid named Ahmed Mohamed brings a “clock” in a case with wires and plugs and circuits that looks way more like a bomb than any piece of bread has ever looked like a gun and the country is outraged when he is suspended.   Apparently zero tolerance is suspended if it might offend someone named Ahmed Mohamed.

This kid seems very nice.  He has not caused any problems that have been reported, but then every time some nut job comes out of left field and starts killing people all you hear from his neighbors and friends is, “I would not have expected something like this in a million years, he was such a nice, quiet kid.”

Now let’s just suppose the teacher said, “Hey, he says it’s a clock, it’s probably a clock,” and the friggin clock turns out to be a bomb and a whole bunch of kids are hurt.  I’ll bet that teacher would be in hot water.

Real suitcase bomb

Personally I think the school overacted to this bomb looking clock.  They could have called in an expert to confirm the device was not a bomb.  When it was determined it was safe they then could have advised Ahmed that it was improper in this day and age to bring to school something that looks like a bomb.  There are many reasons it is a bad idea to bring a bomb looking device to school and there are many reasons a school has a zero tolerance rule.

I think zero tolerance should have warnings, and provide for a modicum of common sense.  A kid should get a warning about shaping bread into a gun, pointing his finger or kissing a cheek, and if a kid innocently brings a clock to school that looks like a bomb he should get no more than a slap on the wrist.

I also have to ask, “Who told him to bring a clock to school?  Was it part of a project?  Did he tell anyone he what he was bringing in to school?”  I don’t think so, not from any reports I read.  I also get the feeling from what I read that Ahmed had a bit of attitude when questioned.  He just said it is a clock and was a bit annoyed that he wasn’t automatically believed.

So a kid chews a piece of bread into the shape of a gun and is suspended and people think it was ridiculous, but no one raised any money for him or offered him a job, or gave him an invitation to meet the President.

A kid walks into school with a clock which, and I have seen the pictures,  God Dammit it looks like a friggin bomb, and not like any clock I’ve ever seen and there is thousands of dollars raised for him, a Facebook executive offers him a job, and the President asks him to come to the White House.

Ahmed's clock

And by the way, in what universe is it a great scientific achievement to builds a clock that is as big as the suitcase it came in?  Have you seen a wrist watch?  They are pretty small.  Do you know that most cell phones also tell time?  Why are people all gaga over a kid that has built a clock that needs a handle to be carried? Why is he being treated so special?

I’ll bet if his name was Bob Peterson the school’s reaction would have been no different, and it wouldn’t have been a story.

The preceding was the opinion of a cranky old man, and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.