Student takes razor from classmate hurting himself, gets suspended and faces expulsion [UPDATED]

Will Lerner
·Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

Last week, Virginia Beach, Virginia sixth grader Adrionna Harris noticed her classmate doing something terrible – he was cutting his arm with a small razor. The Bayside Middle School student knew that was wrong, so she stepped in and took the razor away, and threw it out. It was an act that one mightthink would earn her praise from her school. As WAVY 10 On Your Side News reports, it instead earned her a suspension and possible expulsion.

 

 

That’s right, Adrionna received a 10-day suspension, the only reason being because she had admitted what happened. With the weapon disposed, it was her truthfulness that led to the punishment. Adrionna’s mother, Rachel Harris, is understandably frustrated with the school’s actions. She told WAVY, “I felt she did the right thing…There was not a teacher in sight while this boy was cutting himself. She felt like it was almost a 911 situation, that she had to help immediately, like there wasn’t time to find a teacher…The school system over-reached absolutely.” As Adrionna herself put it, “…I was just trying to help.”

On top of not agreeing with the school’s severe punishment, Rachel was not happy with the lack of response she was getting. She told the station her calls were not being returned. Finally, when WAVY started inquiring, the school started to get in touch with Rachel. Currently, a hearing regarding the suspension is scheduled for today. The Harrises hope for Adrionna’s immediate return to the classroom.

 

So, with all this turmoil, would Adrionna do it all over again? Knowing how quick she was to act to help a classmate, her answer isn’t all that surprising. She told the station, “Even if I got in trouble, it didn’t matter because I was helping him … I would do it again even if I got suspended, yes.”

UPDATE March 20, 2014 5:37 PM PDT

WAVY is reporting Adrionna will return to class tomorrow.

More info: WAVY