RSSMore Education Madness, Virginia Teen Andrew Mikel II Suspended for Remainder of Year for Shooting Spitballs
Zero-tolerance = Infant Stupidity. Who knew that spitballs were a weapon? No wonder our schools are failing our children, they are being run by individuals with absolutely no common sense. Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime.
Andrew Mikel II, a freshman honor student at Spotsylvania High School in Virginia has been suspended for the remainder of the year for of all things, shooting spitballs in school. Originally the 14 year old high school freshman was suspended for 10 days for using a hollow body of a pen to blow small plastic balls at three students during his lunch period. Ok, seems rather juvenile for a freshman to do, but 10 days seems like a proper punishment and learning experience for this kid.
However, in their ultimate lack of common sense and appreciation of the punishment meeting the crime, the Spotsylvania County School Board later voted to extend the punishment for the rest of the school year, citing the Student Code of Conduct. To add insult to injury to this complete over the top reaction to “spitballs”, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office which charged him with three counts of misdemeanor assault. Just curious, if they are charging the 14 year old with assault, why are they not also charging him with possession of a weapon?
The 14-year-old initially was hit with a 10-day suspension, but the Spotsylvania County School Board later voted to extend the punishment for the rest of the school year, citing the Student Code of Conduct’s requirement that a student found with “any type of weapon, or object used to intimidate, threaten or harm others” be “expelled for a minimum of 365 days” unless “special circumstances exist.”
The district also referred the case to the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office, which charged him with three counts of misdemeanor assault.
Why is the Spotsylvania County School Board trying to ruin this kids life? It is rather obvious that “special circumstances” exist in this case. Are spitballs really a weapon and can you really harm or intimidate some one with a spitball? ARE THESE PEOPLE SERIOUS!!! One can certainly teach a kid a lesson without punishing them by taking their right to an education away from them. Then to be charged with assault. THESE PEOPLE HAVE TOTALLY LOST THEIR MINDS AND FOCUS.
Posted February 5, 2011 by Scared Monkeys Child Welfare, Crime, Education, Justice, WTF | 24 comments |
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24 Responses to “More Education Madness, Virginia Teen Andrew Mikel II Suspended for Remainder of Year for Shooting Spitballs”
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The sad thing is this happens way to often. Is it any wonder why kids don’t want to attend school anymore? I remember school being entirely different where we were allowed to be kids and actually enjoy our school days; now it’s more like boot camp and guess what? The kids are not getting a decent education. My how things have changed.
…the Spotsylvania County School Board later voted to extend the punishment for the rest of the school year…
…it goes without saying that a totalitarian system sees no need for an “ex post facto” rule of law.
By changing the punishment AFTER the incident, this establishes a pattern that students will follow and adhere to a foreign type of governance, NOT American, more socialist/commie in design.
Something stinks here and it smells RED!
Lost my post, Monkey…please help, thanks!
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SM: Found It.
R
Once there was a time when this sort of crime was punishable by being sent to the principal’s office, or an afternoon in detention. That usually took care of the problem, but repeat offenders might get worse. Now, in an effort to prevent school violence (which still seems to be ramping up) we have thrown away common sense and judgement. I hope that somewhere a psycologist is looking at the real kids who kill to see what they are feeding their minds on (what makes them the way they are). I doubt it is spitballs.
…I know that this is not the place for it, but…
how’s ’bout a President Ronald reagan tribute?
Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP4wh7ebS40
Dont spit in class unless your are willing to do the crime !!! Doh !!!
It’s just so sad because this is the youth of America. What does this kid learn? Inflexibility. Unfairness. Idiocy.
Even 10 days seems ridiculous for spit balls. It’s a “kid thing”. Should it be punished? Yes. Perhaps an essay on how flying objects have actually done harm, or why we have rules. But expelling for the year harms only the kid in his future.
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I wish everyone would stop using the term “spit ball” or “spit wad”! These were not “spit” anything. They were pellets for an airsoft gun. AMMO! Which shouldn’t have been in school to begin with.
Spit balls or wads were usually made of paper and would not project with the velocity of a plastic pellet.
10 suspension should have been fine, but to continue to say that what this boy did doesn’t warrant extreme punishment is ludicrous!
The whole “kids will be kids” mentality needs to stop.
By the way…He got in trouble in 7th grade for the same thing…got in trouble in 8th grade…couldn’t make it through 1/2 of 9th grade without doing something stupid…do we see a pattern here? How many other things went unpunished?!
First of all they were not from an airsoft gun. They were from a 2$ toy gun from the store. Secondly he got in trouble in 7th grade for having a COMB that popped out of a case. Thirdly he got in trouble in 8th grade for shooting a rubber band off a ruler which didn’t hit anyone. As for repeat offender and seeing a patter of what being a kid???
The punishment doesn’t fit the crime and that is the problem!
@9 Candace
…
Actually, not worth wasting keyboard clicks on you as you apparently have already drunk the kool-aid!
Quite the contrary St. Stephen. I know far more than you may think. This is being made out to be some kind of stand for the rights of the nation, when in fact, a student shot fellow classmates with plastic pellets through a tube, was asked to stop and said no and when asked why, he said…because I want to! Where are the rights of the students who were hit. Why are we defending the perpetrator. YOU my friend, along with all the others have “drank the kool-aid”. I stand by my conviction and stand up for the REAL victims here.
@12 Candace
Once upon a real time…
…I (and my fellow classmates) used peashooters (using real peas!) when I was in school. Anyone dumb enough to get caught were not suspended but were disciplined harshly by the school with an immense detention (cleaning the hallways and school cafeteria for a week or more)and they indeed caught holy hell from their respective parents when they found out about their child’s transgression!
I would assume you find that foreign to your philosophy (ruin their lives) but it is not foreign to ours. You see, parents have the primary responsibility to see to it that the children are guided in a proper direction. At times they will stray, as children do, but it appears that you want them to wear a scarlet letter for life (or worse)and kneel and bow to a totalitarian state.
…and I am not at all concerned with how much you know (bully for you), it’s the fairness you lack for the children that have made youthful indiscretions that concern me. You are quite the authoritarian when it comes to attempting to ruin young lives, aren’t you.
Zero tolerance in most cases such as this is but a part of an insidious and odious agenda and that is all there is to it.
@ 12 Candace
I hate to disagree with you on what you know but the fact that this child is my own nephew I may tend to know the true story of what happened. The facts are that the stories of what the children said are false and this is what was reported by the principal after they got into some deep trouble and are trying to cover their selves. Also the fact is that none of this was even reported to the parents of the children by the school because it wasn’t a big deal but now that they have added additional punishment for no reason they have to make up something. My nephews rights are under conviction here but you are entitled to your opinion of the gossip you have read.
Gossip I have read? Lisa, you are sorely mistaken. I am taking the word of your nephew’s father. He’s been on every news outlet you can google spinning HIS tale.
He’s admitted to his son’s past bad behavior and no, I don’t think you really do know what happened, as I’m sure you weren’t there holding his hand, as you are now.
St. Stephen, paddling was also the norm in most schools and it is no longer tolerated, so please don’t give me your sob story about how things used to be. This is about taking a punishment when you’ve done something wrong. Do I agree with the harshness, no, but I can tell you that glossing over what Andrew did is not going to change things. It is what it is! If his father didn’t agree with the Code of Conduct, he shouldn’t have signed it. You sign it each school year, but I guess when you’re the one on the wrong end of it, it’s time to stand up for your rights? Give me a break!
#15
..sob story?
No tears here,I be laughing.
…glossing over?
Who’s glossing anything over? I just lived that life in my youth is all. Don’t like it? That’s OK, too.
“This is about taking a punishment when you’ve done something wrong.”
…ruining a young life is not punishment, Candace, but it appears that you wouldn’t know that, or at least are unable to comprehend it.
For one that does not agree with the harsh punishment you have no qualms about subjecting the youth mercilessly to it.
I would venture to guess that talking out of both sides of your mouth is one of the attributes of your philosophical ideology.
Give you a break? OK, take a break and pipe down. You’re all wet on this!
Candace again you need to check your facts. My brother has never said he has done this before first of all. Second of all the debate isn’t that he shouldn’t have been punished. The fact is that he was given a 10 day suspension then after that was served they added on more after the fact. They also had my nephew interigated by police that day with out calling my brother to let him no which is illegal and violates his constitutional rights. And no I wasn’t there holding his hand but as I can read articles just like you I would love to see the one you read that he has done it three times. Please post the article!
I think not. This boy’s life isn’t ruined. If he had wanted to attend the Naval Academy, he probably should have thought about that before doing wreckless things. This wasn’t unintentional, he wanted to see if it worked, that’s INTENTIONAL! Besides, his military dad should know better than to think that things like this go unpunished. Any infraction no matter how small is punishable and there are no excuses.
This issue is political, plain and simple. I am familiar with things that you St. Stephen, probably aren’t.
Like I’ve said before, the harshness of the punishment may not fit the crime, but to say he didn’t deserve at least the 10 days given him by the school, is unbelievable.
We wouldn’t be here if this were spitwads! BE REAL!
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SM: wreckless Candace, really? Com’on man or woman. If this stupid rule existed in the 70′s and 80′s all boys would be in juevy. I thought liberals always whine anout the punishment supposed to be fitting the crime?
The kid should have got 10 days suspension and a stern talking to. What they did was unconscionable. You don’t ruin a kids future over a spitball. Its just another example opf how schools are failing the kids.
R
I’ve never said he did THIS 3 times…Look up the article on the internet, it’s all over. He has past bad behavior and your brother has admitted to it and also said that he should have gotten “detention”, that’s ludicrious!
This was wreckless and NOT A SPITBALL!!!! When are any of you going to realize it. At least get that part of the story straight! The reason this has become such a media situation is because of that LIE!
This isn’t the 70s or 80s is it? We have come a long way from then or any other point in history…we don’t paddle anymore either. I guess what you’re saying is we shouldb bring that back? How would Mr. Mikel have liked it if his son were brought to the principal’s office for that?
His life isn’t ruined! He’s got plenty of future left! He’s still young and can go far, unless of course, you all are underestimating him! That’s sad.
BTW…Why not just go through the diversion program and be done with it?! Then the charges are dropped and life goes on!
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SM: Candace, do you know what happens when you have a weapons and assault charge tagged on you? Its not about the kid, its about the stupid adults who think that his actions are the same as an individual bringing a gun to school.
No one has vilified Andrew! It is the actions of the father that have befallen the son. When you cannot accept that your child has done something so incredibly mean that he deserves more than a slap on the wrist, it is you (the parent) who is at fault.
I have said repeatedly, it is a shame that Andrew is being used as a pawn in this political ridiculousness.
If Andrew goes throught the diversion program, all charges will be dropped! He should take that deal and move on with his life, if he truly want that life.
What happens if they lose? Who’s the winner then? NO ONE! If Andrew’s father truly wants to have that Naval Academy life for his son, why would he even risk it?!
We might say, we have to fight for our beliefs, but I also believe that you have to choose your battles, as well.
I hope, for Andrew’s sake that this was the right decision. If this helps to take away zero tolerance, then good for them, I’m not a fan. But right now, the rules are the rules and Andrew broke the rules. Just as taking a toy gun to school is unacceptable, so are these pellets.
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SM: Pellets … LOL … exactly what type of velocity could be had by blowing them from a rounded out pen? Hmm?
One would have a greater chance of harming someone with a paperclip, a ruler or a protracker. Or are those banned these days too.
R
candace you say in post nine he had done the same thing in 7th grade and in 8th and again in 9th?? Then you say that in post 19 you never said that? Hmmm, its seems to me that you are angry over something that you can’t even get your facts straight on. Also its not just the diversion class he has to do he has to take substance abuse classes and anger management classes and also 20 hours of community service on top of being suspended for a year? My brother is fighting because its wrong he was interigated by the police during school and my brother was not notified at all. It is illegal he is a minor. They are fighting for what right and if they where in the wrong they wouldn’t have so much support. My brother also didn’t admit to BAD past behavior again he brought a comb to school and he shot a rubber band off a ruler I wouldn’t clarify that as bad behavior and just so you know if my nephew had assalted these children and drew blood he would have been suspended for only 5 days? You don’t see a problem here? When parents love their kids they fight for what is right no matter what anyone else says!
Interesting discussion. While I don’t agree with the decision past a 10 day suspension, these were small plastic “pellets”. The velocity of which may not harm someone’s skin more than a red mark, but could have caused a serious eye injury. Kids understand “zero tolerance” by high school completely. My kindergartner knows he can’t bring “silly bands” to school! The 2 previous infractions, although ridiculous, should have been enough for his father and him to understand that future incidents would not be tolerated. If someone did suffer an eye injury, I don’t think this discussion would be taking place. Participating in the diversion program seems to be the logical choice. If you don’t agree with “Zero Tolerance” do something about it, but don’t lessen the potential seriousness of what could have happened. Kids are suspended for 10 days for far less these days! They should be grateful that no one was injured and that they aren’t being sued! I also have a child in middle school that is impulsive. We know that rules will be enforced, whether we agree with them or not, if a poor, impulsive decision is made.
The whole reason this is happening is because they don’t agree with the zero tolerance. They also are not trying to lesson what could have happened. They have contacted the families of the children and asked if there is anything they could do but as they where not injured at all not even a red mark as reported by the school they where fine with the 10 day suspension.Which by the way was one of his friends) The problem was if you read the zero tolerance policy about weapons it doesn’t say a pen case but they are clarify it the same as a gun or crossbow? Again it isn’t just a diversion program he also has to go to substance abuse classes??, anger management, community service and suspended for a year. I have teenagers too and they know that if they do something wrong rules will be enforced but unlike you if it is unfair I won’t be afraid to stand up for my children and sit back and watch.Also again if you read you said kids get 10 day suspension for far less, I have to disagree because the fact of the matter is that if he would have physically attacked these children he would have only received 5 days suspension according to the school officer.
The students who were hit suffered red welts.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. “Andrew Mikel II pleaded no contest Thursday to two misdemeanors as part of a plea agreement reached days before he was to stand trial on sexual abuse charges.
Mikel, 41, was accused of abusing a young girl during a 7-year period from December 2003 through June 2011, according to Spotsylvania Circuit Court records.
He was indicted in May on eight charges of aggravated sexual battery, five charges of forcible sodomy, five charges of indecent liberties, and three charges of misdemeanor assault and battery.”