Calgary student, 12, reprimanded for stepping in and thwarting potential knife attack

[The Straight Story]

CALGARY -- There was a time when 13-year-old Briar MacLean would have been hailed as a hero for saving a fellow student.

It takes courage and conviction to tackle someone threatening a classmate with a knife - but instead of a pat on the back, the Grade 7 student at Sir John A. Macdonald school was taught a harsh lesson in minding his own business.

"I received a call from the school's vice-principal indicating there was an incident at the school and that my son had been involved," said Leah O'Donnell, Briar's mom.

"I was informed that my son was in trouble for being a part of it."

..

At this point, according to the strict rules of the Calgary Board of Education junior high, MacLean should have left the scene to find a teacher, abandoning the unarmed student to his fate.

But instead of doing what was required, MacLean did what was right.

The young teen charged into the fray and tackled the knife-brandishing student.

...

"They told him they don't condone heroics in the school and he wasn't allowed to go back to class for the day," O'Donnell said.

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2013/05/20130531-112512.html

[Mnemosyne]

1. My daughter used to put bullies in headlocks, it wasn't appreciated either. No good deed goes...

The kid was taking a big risk, but I would have done the same.

[Niceguy1]

2. public schools

Are loosing touch with reality.

[AverageJoe90]

3. This IS Alberta, sadly.....

Most conservative of all the Canadian provinces by far. No surprises here.

[arthritisR_US]

5. I live in Calgary and sadly cannot refute a word

that you said

[niyad]

4. depressing to know that some canadian schools are as out of touch with reality as their

american counterparts.

[Blue_Tires]

6. A generation of sue-happy parents have helped throw things way off-center...