NEWPORT NEWS — The Newport News Education Association President condemned the premise of the school division’s motion to dismiss Abigail Zwerner’s pending $40 million lawsuit.
The motion was filed last week by attorneys representing the School Board and argues that Zwerner, who was shot in her classroom at Richneck Elementary in January by a 6-year-old student, is only entitled to file a worker’s compensation claim because the injury she sustained from the shooting is a “workplace injury,” and that the shooting was a hazard of the job.
Can a school reasonably ban a 6 year old from attending classes whom has never pulled a gun before?
The 14th amendment allows for equal rights of all citizens. The moment Virginia established a public school system for all citizens this child was protected by this right for a public education without discrimination. It’s very difficult to remove a child permanently from public schools. I didn’t see expulsion or suspension mentioned in either of the articles I read.
The only argument i’m seeing is that “the child should not have been allowed at school”… but at the same time it’s a constitutional right for them to be in school.
Any questions?
So your contention is that a child should be allowed to remain at school until they pull a gun? All behaviour up to attempted murder should be tolerated. Gotcha, understood, thank fuck I went to school 30 years ago where school shootings weren’t a “reasonable expectation”. This child has been failed by everyone in their home and community, just like every other mentally disturbed child who shoots up their school. You do know there are schools for dis-regulated children right? You don’t have to expose every other child and teacher to them.
Are you going to say that a 6 year old bringing a gun to school should be protected by the 2nd Amendment next? It would be less of a reach than quoting the 14th to be honest.
If you are going to take the argument that “preceding events should have caused expulsion” please provide references otherwise the argument is a lot of hot air. “Acts of random violence” in this case probably doesn’t involve more than a kid having tantrums. If the kid stabbed a classmate or did something truly violent you can be sure something would have been done and it would have made the news.
No one is saying that kids should be bringing guns to school. No one even IMAGINES a six year old bringing one in!
They knew the child had a gun and did nothing. That’s the lawsuit, full stop. Keep digging.
This would not be held to preclude suspending or expelling a kid who’s a demonstrable safety risk.