Preparing for "Zero-tolerance" Policies

I hope you've been following the Matthew Whalen story out of New York. The seventeen year-old Eagle Scout and aspiring West Point student was suspended for twenty days for having a 2" pocket knife in a survival kit that was locked up in his car on school grounds.

While I want our kids and teachers to be safe, I think that mindless policies are not the way to go about it. That knife, which isn't even considered a weapon by New York State Law, was no more dangerous than a baseball bat or even a fork in the wrong hands.

Consider, also, Zachary Christie, the Delaware first-grader who was suspended for 45 days for bringing a "hobo tool" to school to eat his pudding. While the school board in Zachary's case eventually came to their senses about the matter, Mathew Whalen's family has had to hire a lawyer to try and get the incident rectified.

So where does that leave us law-abiding folks who are simply concerned about our kids being prepared for an emergency?

While it may be that these high-profile cases cause serious reconsideration of the whole zero-tolerance thing; until the laws are changed, it's going to mean taking special care on our part not to get a well-meaning teacher or student in trouble with the school board.

My suggestion is to get your hands on a written copy of what is and isn't allowed on school grounds in your own district (and keep a copy with your kit, so you can defend your actions, should it come to it). Knives may not be the only thing off limits; but also fire-starting items, like matches or lighters, and even certain medications. Try your best to maintain a well-stocked kit without violating the law. So if matches and lighters are out, maybe you can still keep a firesteel and tinder. A knife is out, but you should be able to keep a pair of scissors. Most multi-tools have blades, but some don't, so you can still keep one of those with you. It may take sitting down with the principal to clear keeping medication or other items with your kit. And if it does come down to that, be sure you get the "OK" in writing and, again, keep a copy with your kit.

Beyond simply dealing with the flawed system, try to work with your neighbors and lawmakers to have the policy changed to, at the very least, allow for common sense.

While the focus here is in regards to school polices, many may have to take the same steps when dealing with their work place. The only difference is that you don't have the option of trying to change the rules. You either abide by them or get fired and/or arrested for your efforts. So be careful.

There seems to be such a big push by FEMA and others for us citizens to become better prepared for a disaster. But then often our hands are tied by mindless blanket policies. As it is, the best we can do is be prepared for such policies and try to work within them. But until the powers that be make the much-needed changes to the law, you may sometimes have to weigh the consequenses versus the alternatives. In some cases, it may be better to ask for forgiveness than to get permission.