State Rep. Criticizes Butter Knife Suspension

The decision to suspend a Wamsutta Middle School  student for bringing a butter knife on campus to cut her fruit has sparked a debate. State Rep. Paul Heroux, whose district includes most of Attleboro, issued a statement Friday morning saying the incident was a missed opportunity.

"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."

Heroux said he worked with children for seven years and his fiancée is a fifth-grade school teacher.

Wamsutta administrators could not be reached for comment Friday because the school was closed. FOX 25 in Boston reported  Wamsutta vice principal Ray Lamore was walking by student Morgan LaPlume when he saw her using the knife. He took her to his office and issued the suspension, based on the rule in the student handbook against bringing knives on campus.

Do you agree with Rep. Heroux? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.