Teachers and pocketknives??

mshambone

mshambone

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I'm going back to college to finish my teaching degree and it has dawned on me that I may not be able to carry a pocketknife to "work" with me. :(

If I do carry one, it'd be like a SAK executive, or a peanut...something small and not too scary. When I cut my apple for lunch or cut a sandwich or thread or whatever, it wouldn't want to scare the heck out of anyone.

I know the stories about students carrying and how it's against the rules and such. But what about teachers?...The "responsible adults" of the bunch.

I'd like to hear from teachers; or those who know teachers, who carry something and how they have got along. Thoughts? Any problems? What do you carry? etc. I figure with as big as BF is, there has got to be a few people in this profession that can give some encouragement.

For instance, in one of my classes I ran into an asst. principal that carries a SAK Tinker so he, "can open up cans of tuna for lunch". He doesn't have any problems. He doesn't use it around students...

Please, I don't want this to get off track and into a legality thing or such. I'm just looking for people's experiences. Hopefully more modern ones too!

Thanks in advance for your comments,

Matt
 
mshambone said:
I'm going back to college to finish my teaching degree and it has dawned on me that I may not be able to carry a pocketknife to "work" with me. :(

If I do carry one, it'd be like a SAK executive, or a peanut...something small and not too scary. When I cut my apple for lunch or cut a sandwich or thread or whatever, it wouldn't want to scare the heck out of anyone.

I know the stories about students carrying and how it's against the rules and such. But what about teachers?...The "responsible adults" of the bunch.

I'd like to hear from teachers; or those who know teachers, who carry something and how they have got along. Thoughts? Any problems? What do you carry? etc. I figure with as big as BF is, there has got to be a few people in this profession that can give some encouragement.

For instance, in one of my classes I ran into an asst. principal that carries a SAK Tinker so he, "can open up cans of tuna for lunch". He doesn't have any problems. He doesn't use it around students...

Please, I don't want this to get off track and into a legality thing or such. I'm just looking for people's experiences. Hopefully more modern ones too!

Thanks in advance for your comments,

Matt
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I'm not sure what you mean about "getting off track and into a legality thing" - unfortunately this is all about what's legal. I'm also afraid you'll have to check your state and local laws and school system rules. If there aren't any, then I guess there's just the question of how people react, but that's also sort of a local issue. Things are going to go differently in Montana than in New Jersey (wholly apart from what's legal and what's prohibited).

In some jurisdictions, there is zero tolerance for "weapons" and that applies to everyone other than sworn LEOs - no "weapons" on school property wtihout advance written permission by the school principal, regardless of whether teacher/student/visitor and regardless of whether you have a concealed weapons permit. That's the worst case but it does happen. Probably in some school systems there are still no restrictions (though I bet not many).

Whether you or I or anyone else agrees with these laws and rules and the opinions that produce them, getting "busted" (in any sense of the word) for a violation could have serious consequences, especially if you wind up being convicted for a misdemeanor crime as an adult (not to mention fired) - you could become unemployable as a teacher. :(
 
The rules of your institution will determine what you can carry. They are almost universally geared toward political correctness, so don't expect much.
 
Thanks for your response. I was looking for experiences/examples of those who carry to work with them. I; and many others, do not see a pocketknife as a "weapon". P#$$ on those who do! I understand what you're saying. I just wanted to hear more about experiences rather than what the rules were. Afterall, how many of us follow the rules perfectly?
 
powernoodle said:
The rules of your institution will determine what you can carry. They are almost universally geared toward political correctness, so don't expect much.
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I know. It's extremely sad that it's gotten to that point. I am learning to not expect much in the way of PC. Thanks for your response.

Anyone have any experiences?
 
If you're going to be in the public school system its less likely you'll have much freedom there.

I'm on staff at a private school and several of the teachers along with myself carry knives and multi-tools. But then again here in North Dakota there's not alot of PC knife fear generally.

I carry everything from a hidden GEC to a ZT in a belt-pouch.

Good luck.:thumbup:
 
Are you teaching K-12 or college?

Many colleges allow small pocket knives like those you listed. Teachers and students are usually held to the same rules when it comes to knives (unless you happen to be a shop teacher, then I'd assume you have some pull). At the school that I went to we were all allowed to carry knives with blades up to three inches.

The professor of my public speaking class carried a small folder that he used often to open packages of recordable discs.
 
When I was in undergrad in my cardiopulmonary physiology class, my professor broke his pencil. He turns around back facing the students, probably thinking he's out of view of the class, and pulls out a pocket knife. Starts sharpening his pencil right there on the spot.

He wasn't completely out of view, at least not to me. This was in Atlanta and in 2009.
 
NDJeep said:
If you're going to be in the public school system its less likely you'll have much freedom there.

I'm on staff at a private school and several of the teachers along with myself carry knives and multi-tools. But then again here in North Dakota there's not alot of PC knife fear generally.

I carry everything from a hidden GEC to a ZT in a belt-pouch.

Good luck.:thumbup:
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This is what I was looking for. Thanks for the encouragement! I haven't entirely decided whether to go the public or private route yet? THanks again.
 
I have taught in public school for 20 years and just like every other day of my life I have carried a pocket knife in my front left pocket. I never carry anything larger than a Case trapper and right now I am carrying a Schrade 293. Everyone knows that it is there, including my principal. I use it to cut anything that needs cutting and have used it quite a bit to sharpen pencils. Not so much anymore on the pencils because all my student have a computer. I will give up my "tool" when the other teachers give up their scissors.
 
judco said:
I will give up my "tool" when the other teachers give up their scissors.
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I like that...:thumbup:

I forgot to mention. Even the students here are allowed to carry knives with blades up to 3" outside the classroom. My 17 yr. old son works grounds/maint. on campus in the afternoon and carries his Mini-Grip, Flash II, or Gerber Multi every day.
 
I live in a place that has the Draconian rules I sketched out above as a worst case.

I know people who carry knives and guns onto school grounds without getting the advance written OK of the principal.

I also know of cases very close by where students, parents and teachers have been discovered in violation of this law. For the kids, it usually means nothing more than being expelled or suspended, which actually isn't that serious.

For the adults, it's much worse. Being fired and getting a criminal conviction on your record is a huge deal.

The problem is that most of us (speaking from experience ;) ) are not as smart or careful or lucky as we think/wish.

I'm not telling you what to do - other than to make sure you know the complete background, legal and otherwise, so you make an informed decision.

FWIW, I don't work in a school, and I carry quite a bit of gear every day. I wouldn't open my lunch in the kitchenette at work by producing a Military and opening it with that mighty 'thwakkkk." :D I carry a SAK Pioneer for that (and similar purposes) because if people notice I'm using it at all (most don't) they have it mentally bookmarked as something cute and innocent.

mshambone said:
Thanks for your response. I was looking for experiences/examples of those who carry to work with them. I; and many others, do not see a pocketknife as a "weapon". P#$$ on those who do! I understand what you're saying. I just wanted to hear more about experiences rather than what the rules were. Afterall, how many of us follow the rules perfectly?
Click to expand...
 
it's stupid what our government is enforcing through public school regulation right now-I thank God I am not bound by those rediculous, meaningless rules. IMO, what they don't know can't hurt them. Stuff a Buck Paklite skinner in a pocket and don't give it the light of day.
 
The college I went to allowed all state-legal knives.

You'll have to follow your school's "policy", which may or may not reflect on actual laws.
 
Respectfully, I would suggest the OP consider an alternative line of work, and definitely a private over a public school. I base this on three comments he posted:

--"I don't want this to...get into a legality thing or such" As a teacher, you are dealing with people's most precious thing imaginable, their offspring. Because we are a letigious (sp) society, and because of real outrages, the wall of legal restrictions around teachers grows every year. If you disobey these you are fired, with a record. I am not saying I agree with these rules, only pointing out how extensive they are, and the consequences of breaking them. If you don't want to follow these rules, look elsewhere. Being branded as a bad risk around children can follow you for life, in a very, very negative way.

--You wrote: "P#$$ on those who do" not agree with you. "Those" refers to your new boss, quite possibly. That kind of attitude implies you may not make probation, and if you do, you might hate your job. Life is too short for that.

--You seemed to want stories that reinforce what you already believe, rather than finding out how the world works.

I don't agree with a lot of what's out there; zero tolerance policies, for example, are ridiculous in my opinion, and do not teach children how to handle real life. But breaking rules usually has consequences, and it was not clear you understood that.

Good luck in whatever you do.

And just for the record, I teach, and I carry a knife every day.
 
I've been a high school teacher for 11 years in NY and carry every day. Usually a small folder such as a mini grip, delica 4, or small sebenza. Lately I've been carrying a SAK soldier. That being said, I rarely take it out of my pocket and never in front of a fellow teacher or student. I just like having one on me, you guys know how it is.

We have a security guard with a folder clipped to the pocket of his cargo pants and people really haven't said much. I once explained that I collect knives to a group of other teachers at lunch and instantly regretted the decision.

I don't view a knife as a weapon, even though it sure could be one in a pinch but so could my sturdy pen, a stapler on my desk and the list goes on and on.

My advise is carry a reasonably small folder, keep it concealed at all times, and don't worry about it.
 
I am in my 20th year of teaching in the public schools.
I carry either a CRK Mnandi or a Small Sebenza daily.
I think you have to use common sense when you use your knife.

I hope this helps.......
 
I went to a public university with about 40,000 students and graduated about 5 years ago. I carried a couple knives all the time and used often and never had a problem or had anything said to me. I say carry one in your pocket not clipped until you get the feel for the school. If they are not allowed then you will be taking a risk. Life is all about calculated risks and it's up to you to assess the rewards and penalties and whether it is worth it to you.
 
It depends on your state and local laws and then on the school's policy.
 
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