[O/T] Crazy Story I found when I Googled 'The One Ring'

[Majestic]

I'm all for having a zero tolerance for things like bullying in schools. But the following article from two days ago (that I stumbled across only by Googling 'The One Ring') actually made me face palm.

I'm kind of embarrassed to say that I live in the U.S., where Texas seems to be kind of from another planet altogether (apologies to any Texans, but all three of this boy's suspensions boggle my mind). Perish the thought that a kid might pretend he has a magic ring!

[shipwreck]

Texas! Oh you!



Probably why I always visit Austin. It's the least Texas part of Texas.

[Rich H]

Looks like the kid suspended is a bit of a trouble causer. I mean, look at his previous:

The child was suspended the first time for referring to an African American child as black. His second suspension came after he brought his favourite book to school, called "The Big Book of Knowledge." The popular children's encyclopaedia had a section on pregnancy with a pregnant woman in an illustration.

... What a little shit.

[Rue]

Maybe we should chip in for a copy of TOR for him--might keep him busy during his suspensions for those extremely serious infractions.

[Majestic]

I don't know. Encouraging this young man's imagination could push him from being a juvenile delinquent all the way into being a full-fledged hellion!

[Yusei]

At least TOR doesn't have pictures of pregnant women.

[helghast]

The boy can be glad not to be shot by a gunslinger who felt threatend by the boys` magical powers and just wanted to "stand his ground". Embarrassing, indeed.

[thegiffman]

On the face of it, the situation is absurd, bullying even - and the school administrators deserve every bit of the nationwide public humiliation they are receiving. But the devil is in the details, as always. I could imagine (albeit with great effort) behavior involving calling someone "black", showing photos of pregnant women, and threatening people with the one ring that would be chilling and abusive.

Donna - I don't want to disappear!
Billy: You'd better do what I say, or you will!
Teacher: OK, Billy, that's enough.
[A few minutes later]
Billy: Ready to disappear, Donna? Hope you said goodby to your family!
Donna: Nooooo!
Teacher: Billy - if you say that one more time, you'll get sent home!
[Once she turns her back]
Billy: You'll never see yourself in the mirror again Donna! Here goes...
Donna: *screams*
Teacher: BILLY! We're going to the principal's office!

Anyway, judgment by viral media and soundbite is rarely just. Not that I'd give the school the benefit of the doubt, but just an admission that I have no real way of knowing the whole story.

At any rate, I've liked every Texan I've ever met. And in my limited experience, small town schools tend to have less of this reactionary nonsense and more common sense. So no need to slander the whole state.

[Glorelendil]

Also bear in mind that the legal setting in America exposes principals to a lot of risk if they don't come down hard on anything that resembles a threat. Maybe the principal could have handled it better, but I bet she's also worried about keeping her job.

[Deadmanwalking]

Also bear in mind that the legal setting in America exposes principals to a lot of risk if they don't come down hard on anything that resembles a threat. Maybe the principal could have handled it better, but I bet she's also worried about keeping her job.

This does little to justify the previous two frivolous suspensions. If it were the one thing in isolation, sure there could be a justification (like the bullying example above), but with three in a row for silly reasons?

I think the evidence points at the principal being an idiot. Or having a rather unhealthy vendetta against this particular student.