Butter Knife Suspension Sparks Debate

Attleboro's public schools weren't open Friday, but that didn't prevent the district from being a hot topic of conversation in the city and throughout the region. The Thursday suspension of a student for bringing a butter knife to Wamsutta Middle School has sparked a debate.

The incident was first reported early Friday morning by FOX 25 in Boston. The student's mother Rebecca LaPlume said her daughter Morgan needed the knife to cut her fruit because she couldn't bite into it due to her braces. Wamsutta principal Karol Coffin said vice principal Ray Lamore was following the rules stated in the student handbook, which says students cannot bring knives to the school.

As the day progressed, other media picked up the story, including Attleboro Patch and The Sun Chronicle. Superintendent Pia Durkin told the newspaper she had only heard about the incident when a television reporter asked her about it. She said she would review the incident Monday.

"Regulations and laws exist for the protection of all students," said Durkin, according to The Chronicle. "At the same time, context does matter and I plan to look into that on Monday."

State Rep. Paul Heroux, whose district includes most of Attleboro, issued a mid-day press release to give his opinion on the issue.

"When a school administrator doesn't feel that he or she can exercise discretion and common sense in their job when working with children who don't always appreciate the concern of a butter knife in schools, the consequence may be that children learn to be more afraid of the law than to respect the law," Heroux wrote. "This could have been a teachable moment."

Lots of people from Attleboro and elsewhere also shared their opinions through social media. Attleboro Patch's Facebook page showed support for the school administration and the student.

"It's not like she brought a sharp knife," wrote reader Patti Tib. "She didn't threaten anyone—she tried to cut her fruit. People just need to all step back and take a deep breath."

Other readers took the view of rules are rules, which must be followed by everybody.

"The school made the correct decision," Tamra Kirsner Barnes wrote. "I am sorry, but I know that when my kids bring home the school rule book, we read it together and we both have to sign it. Even if she is a 'perfect student,' that does not make it OK for her, but not for everyone else. Zero tolerance means just that—zero tolerance, no matter who you are."