13-year-old Morgan LaPlume of Attleboro, Massachusetts was issued a one-day suspension from Wamsutta Middle School for bringing a butter knife to school in her lunch. The student wears braces, and packed a butter knife to cut a pear because she cannot bite into whole fruit. When the assistant principal saw LaPlume with the knife, she was taken to the principal’s office. The middle school enforced their zero tolerance policy against bringing knives to school, outlined in the student handbook, and issued the suspension. Morgan’s mother, Rebecca LaPlume, spoke to the principal and assistant principal and said she was told that even though her daughter was a “good kid,†the school was obligated to enforce the policy.
Rebecca LaPlume, confirmed that she signed the student handbook but did not read the entire book and said she does not agree with the blanket application of the knife policy. La Plume said, “They have plastic knives in the cafeteria that are sharper than that,†adding that she thinks her daughter’s case could have been handled with a warning. Superintendent Pia Durkin of Attleboro Public Schools told The Sun Chronicle that she learned about the incident from a television reporter. Durkin added, “Regulations and laws exist for the protection of all students…At the same time, context does matter and I plan to look into that on Monday.â€
