# Running with scissors (changed title) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 13, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587 "2004-12-13T13:11:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/21 "2004-12-13T19:32:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Ooh, I get to be the first to pit this. Go me. Don’t worry. With an incredibly descriptive title like that, I’m sure you won’t be the last. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/22 "2004-12-13T19:35:30Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > If I got caught with a pair of [8" scissors], they would have been confiscated and locked in the teacher’s desk until June. Which is a pretty far cry from being cuffed & hauled down to the station, then suspended and/or expelled. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/23 "2004-12-13T19:36:51Z")
I don’t know what the regulations are from state to state but I’ve been arrested more than once and I’ve never been handcuffed. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/24 "2004-12-13T19:44:40Z")
Everyone knows ‘handcuffs’ beat scissors any day of the weak. Rock? Rock is so 90’s, nobody uses Rock anymore. Now if the cops came after her with _paper_…against a ten year old girl with scissors, they would just be _asking_ for trouble right there! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/25 "2004-12-13T19:51:12Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I don’t know what the regulations are from state to state but I’ve been arrested more than once and I’ve never been handcuffed. I don’t believe you’re an ‘minority’ 10 year old girl…lucky you. I hate myself for thinking it, but I wonder had she been blonde, blue-eyed and pigtailed, would they have cuffed and tossed her into a blood stained, urine smelling back seat or waited at the school and contacted her mom first? Never gonna know of course… ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/26 "2004-12-13T20:14:08Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Don’t worry. With an incredibly descriptive title like that, I’m sure you won’t be the last. It occurred to me after I hit “Submit Reply” that I should have made the title more descriptive, and saved that comment for the body of the post. Sorry about that. How long can I use the excuse that I’m a newbie? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/27 "2004-12-13T21:20:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think the article mentioned that they were 8" long, so we’re talking about real live grown-up scissors that actually cut things. AFAIR, my school didn’t permit those, either. If I got caught with a pair of those, they would have been confiscated and locked in the teacher’s desk until June. I can see the teacher taking away the scissors, having a talk with the child about bring age-appropriate kiddie scissors instead, maybe calling home/sending a note to mom about why the scissors were taken away and that different scissors were necessary. I cannot imagine why the teacher or principal or whoever would report the incident to the police, even though they have the right to, unless they had a good reason to (i.e. they were concerned for their safety or the safety of child or other students.) Even then, arresting a fourth grader seems absurd. Besides, they found them in her bookbag, she wasn’t waving them around or chasing anyone with them. More information about this story is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/28 "2004-12-13T22:01:21Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Hypothetical: > > Cop is required (per regulations) to handcuff anyone transported in back seat of police car. Cop elects to not follow regulation and transports child without handcuffs. Child becomes upset about “going to jail” and begins to claw at his/her face with fingernails. > > Looks to me like cop could be in trouble for not following regulations. See, now, I think the real problem in the situation is that the cop is transporting a fourth grader to jail in the first place. Over a fucking pair of scissors. ---
**Author:** ![TheInterruptingCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@TheInterruptingCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInterruptingCow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/29 "2004-12-13T22:19:37Z")
> [@](#): > > “Holme School officials were following the Pennsylvania state school law to the letter. Local school officials welcome a discussion with the students’ parents, in order to come one a long-term solution on the appropriate punishment.” Well, there you go. She’s Holme Schooled. Those kids are always a bit odd. ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/30 "2004-12-13T22:36:06Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Hypothetical: > > Cop is required (per regulations) to handcuff anyone transported in back seat of police car. Cop elects to not follow regulation and transports child without handcuffs. Child becomes upset about “going to jail” and begins to claw at his/her face with fingernails) Don’t forget the leg shackles in case she starts kicking herself in the face. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/31 "2004-12-13T23:31:01Z")
> [@Anonymous Coward](#): > > I hear that almost all students keep pointed sticks in their bookbags! Arrest them all! that’s bad, but what’s worse is that there’s _FRESH FRUIT_ available _freely_ for the taking in the cafeteria, just think, children armed with strawberries, bananas, oranges (whole and segments) or even _Pineapples_, won’t _someone_ please think of the _children_ 😉 (sorry, someone had to do it ) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/32 "2004-12-14T00:13:19Z")
> [@Nordic](#): > > It occurred to me after I hit “Submit Reply” that I should have made the title more descriptive, and saved that comment for the body of the post. Sorry about that. > > How long can I use the excuse that I’m a newbie? 🙂 Three more weeks. Then we start hitting you in the face with weasels. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/33 "2004-12-14T00:58:28Z")
A few years ago, we had a fifth-grade boy suspended for ten days (the maximum suspension allowed by the district) for having a pair of scissors in his backpack. The police were called to the school. Another child had reported that the boy had displayed the scissors on the way home from school. The boy’s family was not notified until AFTER the child had been questioned by both the principal and the police, and until after the suspension was a done deal. The dad appealed, and I was one of the community “witnesses” for the boy - I’ve known him since he was in kindergarten. The school and the police took a hard line, and insisted that the kid posed a threat to the safety of others, and that even though they knew he was a good kid, they could not afford to make ANY exceptions. The scissors in question were never seen by ANY adult at any time, and two other children reported that the kid who made the initial report LIED - that the boy who allegedly had the scissors was nowhere near the boy who reported the scissors that day walking home from school. The suspension was upheld by the school. Incidentally, the boy was white. Two black boys got into a fight the following day and one hit the other with a bat on school grounds. Both boys were suspended for three days. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/34 "2004-12-14T02:43:13Z")
> [@Nordic](#): > > It occurred to me after I hit “Submit Reply” that I should have made the title more descriptive, and saved that comment for the body of the post. Sorry about that. > > How long can I use the excuse that I’m a newbie? 🙂 I changed it. Let me know if it needs changing to something else. Lynn For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/35 "2004-12-14T03:36:48Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > A few years ago, we had a fifth-grade boy suspended for ten days (the maximum suspension allowed by the district) for having a pair of scissors in his backpack. The police were called to the school. Another child had reported that the boy had displayed the scissors on the way home from school. > > The boy’s family was not notified until AFTER the child had been questioned by both the principal and the police, and until after the suspension was a done deal. > > The dad appealed, and I was one of the community “witnesses” for the boy - I’ve known him since he was in kindergarten. The school and the police took a hard line, and insisted that the kid posed a threat to the safety of others, and that even though they knew he was a good kid, they could not afford to make ANY exceptions. The scissors in question were never seen by ANY adult at any time, and two other children reported that the kid who made the initial report LIED - that the boy who allegedly had the scissors was nowhere near the boy who reported the scissors that day walking home from school. The suspension was upheld by the school. Holy flurking crap! **LifeOnWry** , that’s insane. With all the problems that the district has had (I’m from the same town as you, if you recall), I can’t believe they’d pull some kind of asinine crap like this. Was it taken to the school board, or was this done on an individual school level? And, JOOC, if you feel okay with answering, which elementary school was this? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/36 "2004-12-14T04:19:51Z")
> [@Angel of the Lord](#): > > Holy flurking crap! **LifeOnWry** , that’s insane. With all the problems that the district has had (I’m from the same town as you, if you recall), I can’t believe they’d pull some kind of asinine crap like this. Was it taken to the school board, or was this done on an individual school level? And, JOOC, if you feel okay with answering, which elementary school was this? Believe it, baby. This was done at the school - the district would not be involved unless the parent took it to that level, and by that time he was so disgusted he let the kid have a ten-day holiday. Anything more severe than a ten-day requires district input. Not comfy giving the name of the school “in public” but you have my email. There was definitely a racial thing here, but of course if you point that out, you must be a racist… One of these days I’ll tell you ALL about our “so-concerned-we-don’t-come-off-as-racist-that-we-automatically-assume-any-minority-student-is-innocent-of-everything” principal. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/37 "2004-12-14T04:39:43Z")
But, even if “scissors” was on the list of school supplies, how idiotic is the mother to give her kid a giant pair of kitchen shears to bring to class? How can you possibly think that makes any sense? You gonna send her off with a yardstick as a ruler, too? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/38 "2004-12-14T04:46:38Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > I changed it. Let me know if it needs changing to something else. Heh. Now a certain poster will think she’s being pitted. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/39 "2004-12-14T05:12:13Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > that’s bad, but what’s worse is that there’s _FRESH FRUIT_ available _freely_ for the taking in the cafeteria, just think, children armed with strawberries, bananas, oranges (whole and segments) or even _Pineapples_, won’t _someone_ please think of the _children_ > > 😉 > > (sorry, someone had to do it ) What, hasn’t the staff been trained that when confronted by an assailant weilding fresh fruit, they should pull the lever, thus dropping a ten-ton weight on their head? Or does protocol demand that they go straight on to releasing the tiger,and school district budgets being what they are, schools in poorer neighborhoods are not properly equipped with tigers? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587/40 "2004-12-14T05:26:57Z")
> [@The Asbestos Mango](#): > > What, hasn’t the staff been trained that when confronted by an assailant weilding fresh fruit, they should pull the lever, thus dropping a ten-ton weight on their head? Or does protocol demand that they go straight on to releasing the tiger,and school district budgets being what they are, schools in poorer neighborhoods are not properly equipped with tigers? No, no, shoot the assailant. Then you eat the banana, thus disarming 'im! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-with-scissors-changed-title/279587.md?page=3)