Holding Sticks Is Against School Rules
I got a suspension for holding a stick. The phone call with my mom went something like this (only slightly dramatized):
School: Mrs. TheQueq, your son has been suspended.
Mom: Oh my goodness, what did he do?
S: He was holding a stick.
M: Did he hit someone with it?
S: No. He was just holding it.
M: …Did he threaten to hit someone with it?
S: No, just held it.
M: Did he refuse to put it down when you asked?
S: No, no, he was very cooperative.
M: So… what did he do wrong?
S: He held a stick.
M: And I should be upset about that?
S: Absolutely, you know we have a zero-tolerance policy.
M: Right… well, I’ll talk with him.
As you might guess, I did not get in trouble at home.