My name is Ana.I'm a sophomore this year and not the smartest, but with a grade point average of 3.8, I'm not that bad. I was Lincoln Prep in Kansas City for the past three years and it is, without a doubt, the best school here in Kansas City. So I had huge dreams of college and art being my passion of course I wanted to go art colleges. I've done 100 hours of community service in one summer, with hopes to add to it and better my chances for a scholarship. I was also in the A+ program, in drama club, on the soccer team. Needless to say, I was the model child. I speak in the past tense because my dreams were dashed in one day. Who knew that one foolish mistake could lead to the end of my dreams? I'll be the first to admit that it was my mistake, and no one else's, but I'll let you be the judge if the punishment fits the crime. On March 9, 2011, my friends and I were talking about how so many things get past the metal detectors. One student brought steak knives to school on a regular basis. Another has a pocket knife on her key-chain. Another has a lighter(not that i know why), and another student has a Swiss Army Knife. This, of course, is funny to us. I showed them my pocket knife that I've had ALL year. I had taken it to school every single day, getting past the metal detectors, the security guard that inspects belongings and even teachers that had seen me use it occasionally to peel oranges. I carry it for protection, I do live in a bad neighborhood. But on this day, a substitute teacher saw the knife and told me he needed to confiscate it. I obliged without any incident and didn't think anything of it until the Vice Principal and two security guards came to pull me out of class and tell me I was suspended for ten days. I was informed that there would be a hearing, at which point it would be decided if I could come back to Lincoln. The Vice Principal, knowing me well and knowing what a great student I was assured me that I would be let back. My teachers would be given an opportunity to comment on my work and behavior and he didn't foresee any problem at all in letting me come back. This was just procedure. A week later, my mom and I went to the long awaited hearing. I was anxious to set the record straight about myself. I was no disciplinary problem. True, the knife was a mistake, but there was no intent to harm, no violence, no maliciousness. I was sure that a ten day suspension would be the worst of it. I was wrong.At the hearing, we were told that I'd be suspended for one year. This was state legislation and there was nothing we could do about it other than appeal it. That decision had already been made before we even had a chance to speak. My grades, attendance, community service, extracurricular activities, none of it was taken into consideration. We were talked down to by a lawyer speaking on behalf of the school board and there was nothing we could do or say at that point to change it. This was the first lie.

I had to request an appeal to the superintendent in writing, which I did, and was told that he could see us the following day. You have to understand that at that point, I was angry. I was being treated like a criminal and I had been lied to about the hearing being just a procedure that was required to allow me back to Lincoln. It wasn't. According to state legislation, bringing a weapon to school, no matter what, will always get you a year suspension. So we told the principal that this was an atrocity. The punishment did not fit the crime and to smash a childs dreams of going to college and graduating with her class was just over the top. My only hope now was to convince the superintendent to overturn the sentence. Superintendent Covington, I was sure, although I don't know why because I never liked him before, would see how unjust and unfair it would be to keep such a bright young student out of Lincoln for a year and he would have to overturn the sentence. This man and this man alone held my future in his hands. I hoped that finally, someone would listen to my side of the story and base his decision on evidence and facts, and not be swayed by a flawed and unjust law. Once again, I was wrong.

As soon as we sat down, Superintendent Covington gave me dirty looks and threw harsh judgements our way while the lawyer read over the case file. I felt like a criminal, and I didn't even do anything. We hadnt even said a word. When the lawyer finished, he began lecturing me and raising his voice. Of course, my mom had to butt in at that point and say,I've had enough of that! I will not let you criminalize my daughter any more! She made a mistake! She knew that on March 9th. I apologize and she apologizes, but there is no need for you to raise your voice at her! He then proceeded to raise his voice at me. Every time I tried to speak, he would speak over me until finally he just said, Okay, done. I'm Done! Where is her home school?I could have answered that, but seeing that he would just talk over me, I kept silent and let the lawyer look it up. It was Northeast High school. After an uncomfortable silence in which he put his hands over his face and seemed to be praying, he came back with the verdict. He would overturn the sentence and allow me back to school, but not to Lincoln Prep. I started crying and mom asked him if he cared at all about the children. He said he did and it was up to her to do with me what I wanted, but she couldn't go back to Lincoln. My mom went on to tell him that she was currently homeschooling her oldest son because would not dare send him to Northeast. My brother could have been in middle school at Gladstone but, Covingont was the one who decided to close all middle schools! He repeated once again, it was up to mom.Had I not been in such shock, I would have asked him what was the point in overturning the sentence if I couldn't go back to the school I loved? What exactly was he trying to punish? What was he trying to prove? Was I not worth a second chance? It wasn't until hours, and several tears later that I came to the conclusion that he simply did that because he could. There didn't have to be a reason. He had the power to either help or hurt a child, and he chose to hurt me. A child that goes to Lincoln cannot go to Northeast. They are two different worlds. And a child with aspirations of scholarships and college could not waste a year at Northeast. He knew this. This is simply the most blatant abuse of power I have ever witnessed. I carry a pocket knife for protection. Sending me to Northeast would be sending me to the people I'm trying to protect myself FROM!! So at sixteen, Mom let me decide what I wants to do. It didn't take me long to answer that I'd take the GED. It would be hard getting over having a chance at scholarships taken away, but there was no way I could tolerate Northeast. I would like to ask Superintendent Covington, why is he trying so hard to keep kids out of school, and why is one man alone given the power to crush a childs dreams? I honestly think, had this been reviewed by a group of peers, or some type of jury, that could see my grades and her accomplishments, I would have been given a second chance. Both my principal and Vice Principal said they would like to see me come back. I am very shocked, appalled, angered, hurt, crushed. This despicable behavior should not be tolerated. I am writing this in order to appeal to your better senses, and I have every intention of shouting this incident out to the entire world, if necessary. I will be heard. I hope there is something you can do about this blatant abuse of power, and if there isn't, I at least hope this incident moves you to try and do something. This man should not be superintendent of anything, let alone schools. And perhaps leaving one man with sole control over our childrens lives is not the best policy. Now I have alerted the news media and government and legislators and ANYONE who will listen. The man who interviewed me has informed me of something important......The Safe Schools Act (which has the mandatory one-year suspension) excludes pocket knives under 4inches! My pocket knife is in fact 3.5 inches. Superintendent Covington knows that and Tonya Gilbert (the lawyer on behalf of the school board) has that written on the evidence sheet. I should not have needed a hearing. I only needed a 10-day suspension.