VALLEY, Ala. (WRBL) — A Chambers County mother is voicing frustration after her 5-year-old kindergartener was suspended for five days from Fairfax Elementary School for bringing a toy foam-dart gun onto the school bus — a disciplinary action she calls "ridiculous" and unfair.
Natashay Heath shared her concerns in a public Facebook post, writing her son, a Fairfax Elementary student, was suspended after he brought a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed toy blaster onto the bus. Heath says the toy did not contain foam darts and posed no harm.
"Fairfax Elementary school should be ashamed of suspending my 5-year-old for 5 days for bringing a Nerf gun on the bus," Heath wrote. "My child is in kindergarten and he loves to play. The Nerf gun didn't have anything in it, let alone did he harm nor potentially harm anyone! This is ridiculous. I can see if he was older — but a kindergartener, really?!"
WRBL has messaged with the mother and is working to set up an on-camera interview with her. She told us she's currently at work and gave permission to share her concerns.
Heath also questioned why she wasn't immediately notified and why the incident led to police involvement, saying her son was "treated like a thug."
WRBL reached out to Chambers County School Superintendent Dr. Sharon Weldon for comment. In a statement provided Tuesday morning, Weldon defended the district's decision, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy on weapons or look-alike items, including toy guns, in order to maintain safety and consistency across schools.
"I want to be clear that the decision was not made lightly, but is a necessary action taken in adherence to our district's commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and focused learning environment for all students and staff.
In the current climate of our world, schools must adopt an uncompromising stance on any object that simulates a weapon. Upholding safety and security on our campuses is a primary concern. Minimizing fear and preventing escalation of this type is vital to maintaining that safe environment in each school.
Maintaining a zero tolerance stand on offenses related to guns (real or toy) is so important. It removes subjective interpretation and ensures all students are treated equally. We have in the past applied similar disciplinary actions with similar items.
A formal suspension serves as a powerful deterrent. It communicates to the student, the parent, and the school community that guns will not be tolerated on our campuses. This is an important lesson in personal responsibility and in respecting the rules designed to protect our schools and our community.
Anything that causes fear or concern in any of our students disrupts the learning environment. Our responsibility is to provide the best, strongest, and safest learning environment from the time our parents turn them over to us until the time that they are safely delivered back to them each day."
The mother's post has since gained attention online, sparking debate among parents and community members about whether the punishment was too harsh for a kindergarten student with a brightly colored toy. Some agree with the district's zero-tolerance stance, while others argue for more flexibility, especially for younger children.
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