An 11-year-old girl was treated like a criminal after she used a child’s butter knife to try to cut her peach during lunch at her middle school.
According to Local 10 News, the 11-year-old student at Silver Trail Middle School in Pembroke Pines, Florida, was suspended for the incident.
That might not be the end of it, as she may face criminal charges.
The child’s parents, Ronald and Andrea Souto, claimed their daughter was suspended for an entire week. They explained why the punishment did not fit the crime.
“This is a set of a spoon, fork and knife for toddlers — one year old,” Andrea said. “It is made for children to learn how to eat properly. She’s used it since she was baby.”
But when a friend asked the girl for a slice of the peach, the 11-year-old unknowingly violated the school’s weapon policy.
“The friend asked for half of the peach and she cuts half of the peach and gives to her friend. She goes to the bathroom and comes back and the guy said, ‘Follow me,’” her father said.
Ronald described his daughter as someone who is always willing to help others, and said the incident will just make his daughter afraid of school leaders.
“She’s afraid now of the educators. She’s afraid of people at school. They need to change the system!” he said.
Her case has been turned over to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, which in turn gave the case to the state attorney’s office. The school declined to comment on the incident.
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