This Is Wrong

From the Baltimore Sun:
The little-known trend of pre-kindergartners being suspended or expelled from Maryland schools was brought to light last week, spurring a local and national debate about how young is too young for students to receive the ultimate penalty in school discipline.
Baltimore tallied the most cases of suspension in the area last school year — 33 — a number that nearly tripled from the previous year.
Further research showed the suspension of 4-year-olds is not uncommon in Maryland, where 91 students were suspended or expelled in the 2011-2012 school year, the most recent state data available. The state Department of Education is in the process of changing discipline regulations in an attempt to eliminate zero-tolerance policies.
Advocates and experts decried the practice of suspending toddlers, saying they are too young to understand such a punishment, but one city principal says the decision is one not taken lightly and almost always comes down to safety.
Anthony Japzon, principal of the high-performing Medfield Heights Elementary School, said he suspended a pre-K student twice this year.
The first suspension came when the student brought a pocket-knife to school that extended to 6 to 8 inches long. The second came a few weeks later when the same student embedded a fully sharpened pencil between the knuckle of his classmate.
Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bal-principal-pre-k-suspensions-20131115,0,33129.story#ixzz2knKWUxca
Simply, a 4 year old doesn't understand their actions that can result in consequences.
If a student does bring a weapon to school, don't blame the kid, blame the parent and bring them up on charges or contact Child Protective Services.  And if the kid hurts another student- blame the parents and put the kid in foster care.
When the kid gets older, then blame the kid, but blame the adults when a kid is just 4 years old.