An adorable 5-year-old girl was thrown out of school because she “threatened” other students during make believe – with a stick that was shaped like a gun.
Officials at the kindergarten in Hoke County in North Carolina suspended Caitlin Miller for a day, saying she violated the school’s zero-tolerance policy by threatening others with the stick, ABC affiliate WTVD reported.
“Hoke County Schools will not tolerate assaults, threats or harassment from any student,” the school policy said. “Any student engaging in such behavior will be removed from the classroom or school environment for as long as is necessary to provide a safe and orderly environment for learning.”
Caitlin was playing an imaginary “King and Queen” game with her friends in which she used the stick gun to protect the royals and shoot intruders.
“One minute she’s playing with her friends and the next her teachers are dragging her to the principal’s office. She’s confused nobody explained anything to her,” said mom Brandy Miller.
In a letter, the school said the reason for Caitlin’s suspension was for “turning a stick into a gun and threatening to shoot and kill other students.”
Miller said explaining everything to the little girl wasn’t easy.
“We know why it’s bad. We watch the news but then I have to tell my kid you’re not allowed to play like that in school because people do bad things to kids your age,” she said.
Caitlin returned to school Tuesday after serving the suspension – and now her mom is demanding an apology.
“I just want them to apologize to her and tell her, ‘It’s OK. You can be five and have an imagination,’” Miller said.