Teacher finds bong in preschooler's backpack
Published Saturday, March 29, 2008
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Stumble It!Fairbanks police were called to Ladd Elementary School on Thursday morning after a teacher discovered a bong in a 3-year-old boy’s backpack.
Sgt. Eric Jewkes said the foot-long bong did not contain any marijuana or drug residue and that authorities are not pursuing a criminal investigation of the parents.
“There was nothing criminal about it,” he said. “Apparently it had been sitting around for a long period of time.”
Bongs and other paraphernalia, often marketed as tobacco pipes, are legal to sell and possess in the state of Alaska, though marijuana is a controlled substance.
Police believe the bong belongs to the preschooler’s father, who police said has a history of drug use.
Jewkes said the child apparently didn’t know that the item is often used to smoke marijuana.
Under Fairbanks North Star School Bureau policy, items that could be used to smoke tobacco or marijuana are not allowed on school grounds.
The first time a student is found to be in possession of paraphernalia, the punishment, if any, is left up to the school’s principal. Students who have violated the policy multiple times are subject to suspension and expulsion.
“Appropriate action is taken given mitigating and aggravating circumstances,” said Roxa Hawkins, assistant superintendent for the school district. “Certainly, with a very young child, there are a lot of mitigating circumstances.”
Police have turned the case over to the Office of Children’s Services.
Community Discussion
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Is this what, "Head Start," really means?
yeah no kidding!!! i tried putting my daughter in head start. we make too much money and were denied. but of course parents who have random bongs and what not laying around are aloud to have there children there. maybe its cause the system knows those kids REALLY NEED head start!! sounds right to me!! poor kids!!!
I hope we have all learned a lesson: Keep your pipe on a higher shelf.
My girlfriend said she used to put flowers in her bong...her Mom thought it was a vase!!
They should be busted.They could use the money they wasted to buy the kid something useful.As,always dope is more important than your kid
Why would they turn this over to the OCS if there was nothing illegal about it?
rofel38, Why would you say they should be busted?? The article said there was no marijuana or drug residue in the bong...I think you are jumping to conclusions that these parents would rather spend $$ on dope rather than their children.
SnowBunny & nmg60, do you know anyone who owns a bong that doesn't smoke pot? I think that is a fairly reasonable conclusion (not that they'd rather spend money on pot that their kids, but that they smoke pot)
"Bongs and other paraphernalia, often marketed as tobacco pipes, are legal to sell and possess in the state of Alaska, though marijuana is a controlled substance." This would be why the parents weren't "busted".
Must have been heading to a joint meeting of the heads of staff.
I would think that the parents would know what's inside a 3 year old's backpack.
What an odd story.
Really...this is too good! justj and este are downright hilarious!!!
Imusuallyright: pretty good, pretty good...
Chelly, you need to chill. At least from all your posts, it sounds like it to me.
Imusuallyright: I needed that laugh! Good one ;)
Bad choice for show and tell. Teacher will probably be accused of violating privacy of the preschooler and the whole issue will be dropped.
Corinne, I tried to take your advice, but I can't find where my pre-schooler put my bong.
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