Judge Upholds Suspension of Student for Pop Tart Gun


The decision comes as a relief to Ann Arundel County Schools, which views it as vindication for it’s handling of the case. Welch’s parents, however, are understandably not satisfied by the ruling, as it opens the way to Joshua being negatively affected because of this one excessive punishment for a completely harmless activity:

The story stirred up controversy nationwide, WJZ’s Rick Ritter explains, while his parents demanded the suspension be taken off his record.

“It was blue and it was a rectangular one, a cherry one,” Josh Welch said.

It’s the world’s most controversial pastry — one that ripped through national headlines.

“It wasn’t a big deal to him. He figured it could go bang bang and he was just playing around,” his father, B.J. Welch, said.

In March of 2013, second grader Joshua Welch chewed his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun and pretended to fire it. Park Elementary School suspended him for two days, leaving his parents outraged.

“I don’t see a reason for it to be there, and that’s been my goal since day one,” his father said.

After a three year battle, an Anne Arundel County circuit court judge has ruled the boy’s actions were disruptive and that a suspension was appropriate.

“No violence, no real weapon, no ammunition,” the family’s attorney, Robin Ficker, said.

Ficker says there is no reason why the school shouldn’t just reverse the suspension.

“It will be on his record in school and every time he goes into a new grade. There’s a presumption he did something wrong and he’s a bad kid,” said Ficker.

Officials with Anne Arundel County Schools have always said Josh’s behavior wasn’t a one-time deal. They say there were 20 documented incidents before he was even suspended.

They released a statement, saying in part: “We have believed from the outset that the actions of the school staff were not only appropriate and consistent, but in the best interests of all students.”

Ficker says his next move is to appeal, and even though the school continues to hold its ground, he will keep firing away.

Source: CBS



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