Suspended for… Honesty?

Honesty is the best policy… right?

Well, in David Schaffner’s case, it was the worst decision he could have made.

Schaffner, a student at Fox Chapel Area High School in Pennsylvania, was hunting prior to going to a football game at his high school. Upon arriving at the game, he realized he still had his hunting knife on him and immediately handed it over to a security guard.

Due to the zero tolerance policy for weapons on school grounds, Schaffner was suspended for ten days and is facing possible expulsion from school.

Verona High School policy states: “The Board of Education prohibits the possession of weapons on school property before, during, or after school, on school buses, or at any school activity.”

Asked how VHS would have handled a similar situation, VHS Assistant Principal David Galbierczyk said “It’s tough because the student did the right and honest thing by giving up the weapon. However, we would have had to involve the police and follow whatever procedure they saw fit.  Mr.Galbierczyk admits this would be a difficult situation for an administrator.

It would seem Schaffner is being punished for doing the right thing and handing over his knife to a security guard. Instead of being rewarded for his honesty, he is facing extreme consequences. This sets an example for other students everywhere that being honest will only get them in trouble.

Kaitlyn Esteves, VHS senior, thinks it is absurd for him to be punished for doing the right thing. “He could have easily lied and kept the weapon on him and would have never gotten in trouble. Instead, he was honest and is in severe trouble for it.”