Student Expelled for Accidentally Bringing Butter Knife to School

ABC News
Oct. 22, 2007

Video HereA Berkeley County student is kicked out of school for bringing a butter knife to campus.

"I know I made a really stupid decision but I don't think I should be expelled for it."

Amber Dauge says that stupid decision was taking a butter knife to school. Amber ran out of the house to meet the bus while making a sandwich. When she realized she had the knife, she put it in her bookbag..then put it in her locker at Goose creek High school. She forgot it was there...until a few weeks later ..when the knife fell out of her overstuffed locker.

"A kid behind me yelled out a comment that I was going to stab someone with the knife and everyone started laughing and the teacher saw it", Amber told us.

The teacher told the principal and Amber was suspended and recommended for expulsion.

She attended an expulsion hearing last Thursday..and it was made official.

"We got the paperwork for the expulsion Friday in the mail. So they had sent the paperwork out before they had even done the hearing saying she was expelled", says Amber's mother Kristi Heinz.

The Berkeley County school district has a zero tolerance policy. But is it too harsh?

"I don't think zero tolerance is the right thing. I really don't. Every situation has it's own circumstances," says Steven Heinz, Amber's father.

Amber realizes she could have made a better choice like leaving the on the porch at home or actually giving it to a teacher.

"I knew i was gonna get in trouble but I didn't think I was was gonna get expelled."

Amber can appeal. Her parents will write a letter to the superintendent and will attned the next school board meeting on Tuesday.