Second Grader Suspended For Tossing Make-Believe Grenade

Loveland, CO — A seven-year-old boy, who was acting the part of a good soldier, has been suspended from school for tossing a pretend grenade during recess.

The boy violated what Mary Blair Elementary School in the Denver suburb calls its list of “absolutes,” which includes a ban on imaginary weapons.

Alex Watkins (who is also identified as Alex Evans in some news reports) said he was playing a game called “rescue the world,” according to Fox News:

“His duties led him to throw the imaginary grenade into a box he pretended contained evil forces. He said he didn’t make any threats and was playing by himself.”

According to the Denver Post, the game didn’t sit well with the school principal:

“Parent Mandie Watkins said Mary Blair principal Valerie Lara-Black called her Friday afternoon to inform her that her second-grade son, Alex, had been suspended for throwing an imaginary grenade during recess on the playground.”

Mrs. Watkins disagreed with the principal’s decision to suspend her son for this reason according to KDVR Denver:

“Alex is like a lot of 2nd graders, perpetual motion. His mom says the little boy doesn’t understand why pretending to be a soldier was wrong. ‘I think that when a child is trying to save the world, I don’t think he should be punished for it.’ “

Alex’s mother is scheduled to meet with school officials today in an attempt to get the suspension lifted.

Since Sandy Hook, school officials around the country have become very sensitive to these issues to the point of going overboard. For example, a 5-year-old Massachusetts boy is facing suspension for building a Lego gun during an after school program

Do you think the school overreacted in its decision to suspend the Colorado youngster for a make-believe grenade toss?

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