For Gods sake,where is the common sense here,Don't or are they not aloud to think for them selves.I am 100% behind safety,but this is just plain STUPID

I agree with Barry. Common sense has left the building.

As the parent of two kids, one in 12th and one in 9th, who have been in the Hillsborough school system for 5 years now, there is more focus on rules and procedures than there is on education of the students. Making mistakes used to be a learning experience, where now, it is becoming an excuse to get the children out of the system. The focus of schools should be to educate, not cow to parental fears, media hype, and lack of common sense. These are supposed to be skilled and trained educators, not administrators. A 5 year old is just that - FIVE, and suspending her for a silly comment shows a lack of applying common sense to the situation and a lack of appreciation for age and the education process. Certainly, it should be explained (or should we say she should be educated) to her by either the school, her parents, or both, but suspending her from her ability to continue to be educated, to me, is counterproductive.

I agree with 0 tolerance but common sense should prevail.

I agree! Teachers are supposed to teach. The teacher could have just explained to the five year old that it is not appropriate and if they misuse the gun they will not be allowed to play with it. THEN, the teacher should have sent a note home so that the parents can... "FOLLOW THROUGH" I know, crazy? The teacher teaches and the parents to follow through~ but maybe we've lost all reality on BASIC communication. I'd rather be threatened with a Hello Kitty Bubble gun than a Smith & Wesson~

I do also think that we have lost sight of common sense. This child didnt say she wanted to kill herself or the other child but shoot bubbles on them,

My father used to say, "if common sense were so common, everybody would have it." We have definitely become more of a punitive society as opposed to a corrective society. Everyone makes mistakes in life, some greater than others, too often though people are not given an opportunity to correct their mistakes. Instead, punitive measures are now the norm and too many are unneccesarily penalized, ostacized and jailed in our society. We are becoming less free and more fearful and this story is just another example of this trend.

This is so ridiculous that it doesn't even warrant comment! A child wants to shoot her friend with bubbles and that gets her suspended? Are you kidding? No, really, are you just kidding?

The child had a toy. What if she would have used her hand and finger as a gun. . Educating parents and children on what the school deems offensive would have avoided this. I do believe the school could have scared this child.. Too far in this case. I do think a zero policy is best for REAL weapons that are a real threat

OMG, get a life. Why do we find it so necessary to blow everything our of proportion in the US? Any child killed is too many, but folks, millions go to school every day; safely. Knee jerk reactions will be the ruin of this country.

I have many thoughts about this situation, and first off, I do believe this may on the surface seem to be an overreaction. But, I also believe their is a necessity to instill fear in children to behave in a classroom situation. I hate that we have to use fear, but it may be the most effective way to control a class so the children who want to achieve have the structure to flourish. I believe parents should be more involved in instilling values in their children, so as the teachers can teach. Teachers shouldn't be wasting their time putting out fires, but going over the lesson plan. I have no children of my own, but my ex gf did, and she didn't give her daughter values of the education system and the discipline.

Education starts at home and parenting is just that - educating our kids how to behave, have manners, pick up after themselves, have good personal hygiene, and so on. Zero tolerance exists because far too many parents leave a lot of the parenting, not just the teaching, to our schools. That being said, common sense should prevail in a situation like this. Many teachers and administrators would have had a talk with the child, and the parents, without the need for a suspension. Bottom line though is that we as parents have to be the beginning, middle, and end in our children's education.

Haven't you noticed - common sense is no longer common!
The next step would be total censoring of tv..movies ..games..Big Brother is in control & knows no common sense.

It is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children right from wrong. At the beginning of every school year, everyone gets a school handbook with the rules in them. If you violate the rules, there is a consequence. When you leave things up to common sense, a parent lets a kid bring a bubble gun to school knowing full well it is against school policy. How is it okay for a child to say they're going to shoot another child? Parents are shirking their responsibilities. That's why teachers don't have time to teach anymore.

I agree with Chistina, education truly does begin in the home. Parents need to teach their children well the difference between right and wrong using consistent positive reinforcement to reward good behaviors and thoughtful careful correction of wrong behaviors. This entire matter could have been handled so much better and much more compassionately. Unfortunately, when it comes to justice and law in our country, justice is not served when the law is used harshly or unequally. I'm sure there are other similar situations in kindergarteners across our nation where this type behavioral act was handled in a more level headed and sensible manner. What this little girl learned in kindergarten? Don't think or say you want to shoot your friend with your Hello Kitty bubble gun! Bet she's still somewhat confused about what she did that was wrong, she's only a kindergartener after all.

20 years ago my son was faced with a similar issue... While playing cowboys and Indians @ home with his little brother outside, his plastic gun was left in his inner ski jacket pocket... We are from the way northern states... Went to schooling Monday and went to hang up his jacket and out fell his toy gun..... The school had just implemented the Zero Tolerance and he was the first to have this happen... The school did determine that it was not considered a threat and that going through the experience of sitting at the Principle's office for hours was enough to get the point across... South Dover Elementary School in Delaware had common sense... Yes, parents are to teach their children right from wrong... Sometimes it's just bad judgement... They just told a 5 year old girl that she was very bad and can't go to school... Good job... School needs to go back to school to learn some common sense..

This is what happens when liberals run the show. A Philly kid was put through hell a week ago for having a piece of paper cut out the shape of a gun. Too much. This needs to stop. Parents have to stand up. My son has an air soft pellet gun and he plays war video games and there is not a violent bone in his body. Leave our kids alone and stop being so damn stupid and paranoid.

I'm sure I'll start a firestorm but history does repeat itself. Look at Nazi Germany and the rise of Fascism. Outside enemy imminent danger and need to protect the "homeland." Children turned in their parents. There was fear and total loss of common sense in a remarkably short period of time from the heights of academical to the common citizen. Any similarities?

I was once a school teacher, in my younger days. I only lasted about 4 years because I had a major issue with the enforcement of rules & regulations that make no sense. I refused to enforce stupid stuff, like giving kids detention for chewing gum right outside the building 1/4 hour before class. The teacher's lounge was like a madhouse, but the kids had to be silent in class for hours. Of course, that was a Catholic School in 1973, so things were really strict & I was a 27 yr old Hippie that believed in teaching kids to break the rules as an exercise of their inner freedom. Naturally my attitude didn't fly.

@ Michael...love the way you think!

Really a 5yr old suspended for 10 days is just insane. The child was being a kid. are we trying to make kids grow up faster? Teenagers are the ones who are to blame for this and that is sad also. But like its been said before It's a kid wanting to play with a Kid gun, not a REAL GUN!!! BIG DIFFERENCE! Teachers and Principals and Superentendants Use your head here you punished an innocent child for kids play.

This is also said to say but mayby its best to have Kids Home Schooled but then again you dont know if the person teaching them has enough knowledge to get the job done right so until there is no more public schools, Put a metal detector at the door so guns dont get into the schools seems a bit expensive but then again you cant put a price on a persons life and then you will know no one will be getting killed by guns in schools

THE UNDER EDUCATING OF AMERICAN YOUTH AND THEIR LOW SELF ESTEEM HAS PRODUCED MORE KIDS KILLED IN URBAN CITIES THAN OUR TWO WARS. PUT IN DISCIPLINE, DUMP BAD TEACHERS, PAY GOOD TEACHERS MORE, BRING IN RETIRED BUSINESSMEN AND MILITARY (FATHER FIGURES), DON'T LET KIDS DROP OUT AT 16 MAKE IT 21 OR 18 IF THEY GRADUATE. YOU WILL HAVE A SAFER SOCIETY WITH LESS KIDS GOING TO PRISON AND CEMETERIES.

"Zero tolerance" is a substitute for "critical thinking". School administrators who establish and rigidly enforce such policies need to be fired, pure and simple. If they're incapable of critical thought, they're not qualified to teach children, regardless of how many degrees and certificates they may hold.