Suse,

Of course they are useful items for school but if cutting and stabbing things should not be in schools then those things should not be there either, their presence makes schools dangerous places.
No one in this day and age needs shoe laces, there are other more effective ways of securing footwear; likewise waist belts have been superseded by other forms of securing the trousers/skirts.

All geometric studies can be done/simulated on the computer so no need for sharp pointed instruments,
Pens and pencils can be done away with and only soft writing implements used.

Think of the children.

//Is Mise, as you well know, all the items you mention in your post above are useful items for school.//

Hijabs are not. But any scarf properly wielded can be used to garotte somebody. Should we also ban hijabs?

No, that would be silly. This isn't France. If we let the Christians have their crosses and the muslims have their hijabs, then we must also let then Jedi have their lightsabers, the rastafarians their marijuana and the sikhs their kirpans.

Toni,

"//Is Mise, as you well know, all the items you mention in your post above are useful items for school.//"

All the items can be done without.
I forgot to mention that particularly deadly weapon, the chain and padlock used to secure the children's bicycles; this is a nasty one and features in more than one internet list of improvised weapons.

"Violence in our schools has always been a problem, now more than ever before. Each year many students are injured and some are even killed during so-called 'school-yard brawls.'; In fact, more than 1,000 students are seriously injured per year during school violence in California alone. (http://www.geocities.com/area51/stats/7403.html) In most cases of serious injury, weapons were involved, including common school supplies such as pencils and pens....."
http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=93259

It goes without saying that leftists, (Big) Statists all, would always be in favour of increasing State control over the individual.

Among them, the radfems from last Millenium would definitely be out for more control of boys.

No-one would be expecting OLO's entrenched totalitarian leftists to reconsider their jaundiced world views and opinions. However, others who enjoy open discussions and relish free speech would be interested in this research,

School Violence Myths
Curry School of Education, University of Virginia
http://curry.virginia.edu/research/projects/violence-in-schools/school-violence-myths

I guess that should carry a warning to the resident hoplophobes and boy/men haters that their opinions might be challenged (and they can rest easier). Just joking, there is no way Suseonline and her lock-step mates would read anything that isn't in accord with the opinions (prejudices) they have nurtured since the year dot.

otb,

Isn't it interesting that for somebody who's
supposedly for "free speech" et cetera, its
always those that stoop to personal insults
and attacks -
against people whose views disagree with theirs?

Hmmm.

The Dagger should only come out for the same reason the Kilt or other National Dress. On the National Day of that Country. In the Case of Sikhs Dagger on their Ceremonial Temple Days.