Middle School Boy Suspended For Holding Door Open

An “A” student at Southampton Middle School in VIrginia received a one-day suspension last Thursday, February 24, for holding en exterior door open for a visitor.

Yes, you read that correctly!

Doors May Only Be Opened By Machines, Not People

By doing the polite thing and opening the door for an adult whom he knew, this youngster was violating the school security policy, under which doors may only be opened centrally after visitors are vetted by a CCTV camera.

According to an anonymous e-mail sent to The Tidewater News, the “A” student opened the door for a woman he knew, who had her hands full. The e-mail also indicated the student received a one-day, out-of-school suspension.

Smith said he could not confirm the story for confidentiality reasons. Superintendent Charles Turner said he did not know all the details behind the suspension.

Turner said the policy that prohibits anyone from opening doors was part of making the security system work.

“If it happens, it’s defeated,” he said. “You have to have a system, and that system has to be consistent. We have to stay within the rules and stay secure.”
Turner explained that part of the school district’s mission is to provide a quality education in a safe environment.

“We looked at what we’re doing in our schools for safety and looked at what others have done,” he said.

That’s why the security system was installed initially at the secondary schools and then the elementary schools.

What Did This Student Learn At School That Day?

What sort of lesson does Mr. Turner think this young man learned from this incident?

I can only imagine that the school must be filled with all “A” students, so administrators have to search hard for someone to suspend. Have they nothing better to do with their time than such idiocies?

The Student Was An Even Better Security System

Lenore Skenazy was spot-on in her Free Range Kids blog yesterday:
And yet, what the school fails to understand is that the student was an even BETTER security system! The student has a heart, a brain and hands.

This incredible carbon-based security system can open the door when that makes sense! It can create a climate of warmth, help and connectedness that a locked door, even operated by remote control from the front office, cannot.

We are happier and safer when we connect, rather than we assume we’re all in dire peril and must outsource our humanity to excessive rules and machines.

I second that. What do you think?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Doris S.

7:07AM PST on Feb 3, 2012

Good manners the person who reported him most likely belive that he would have been praise for doing a good deed. not punish. what a shame that the principal had no common sense to say to the child lets not hold the door open unless the person is next to you or very close because of safety reason. End of subject (Teach the Teacher)

send a green star

RobynRobyn B.

1:26PM PST on Feb 2, 2012

Well someone passed this school the idiot ball. Nice to see that kids have manners though.

Lisa D.

8:19AM PST on Feb 1, 2012

This is ridiculous! Common sense must not disappear completely!

Sarah M.

10:22AM PDT on May 10, 2011

what idiots said yes on the poll!

Jeanne J.

7:06AM PDT on Apr 5, 2011

Unbelievable..

Cindy C.

2:14AM PDT on Apr 5, 2011

UNBELIEVABLE GRRRRRRRRRRRR

patti n.

6:47PM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

Punishment does not fit the so called crime.

Rose N.

10:50PM PDT on Mar 29, 2011

This is just unbelievable! It's not surprising that common sense and good manners are vanishing.

Maarja L.

2:37PM PDT on Mar 24, 2011

Rules are rules, but this particular breaking of them might have been acceptable.

Mark C.

5:10PM PDT on Mar 23, 2011

First off, the author is definitely not in touch with reality, and comes off paranoid while trying to fish for reasons to make you hate the school system. This statement "I can only imagine that the school must be filled with all "A" students, so administrators have to search hard for someone to suspend" clearly shows that. Has anyone ever seen a school with ALL 'A' students? No. Is the school specifically going out of their way to find a reason to suspend a child? No.

Second, a child is not a better security system. Mr. Smith undergoes a mental breakdown and becomes a danger to himself and others; Mrs. Smith obtains a divorce, custody of the kid, and a restraining order. Mr. Smith goes to his child's school one day, is let in by one of his child's friends because the friend recognizes him, and it's the polite thing to do. Mr. Smith goes on to abduct his child. In the resulting chaos, the school is blamed for allowing this to happen, and although already struggling financially, is sued by Mrs. Smith.

Unfortunately, it boils down to neither paranoia, or sheepism, or political correctness. It has now, and always will be, about money. As sad as it seems, the school simply can not afford for a situation like this to happen, so they have to be extremely strict about their security. Did they go overboard? Possibly. I'll bet money they informed the students not to open doors for people, and without further information, who knows how many prior offenses the kid committed.