Parents of an 11-year-old boy are suing their local school district in the US to ensure that their son can attend public school. Jim and Mary Brennan of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, are taking proceedings against Neshaminy school district. A row erupted when their son Timothy, who suffers from Tourette's Syndrome, shouted a vulgarity at another pupil in his elementary school. At a subsequent meeting with the school principal, Jacqueline Rattigan, he shoved a table at her. Nick Iampietro, supervisor for special education in Neshaminy said: "You have to balance the student's right to a fair and appropriate public school education against the goal of promoting a safe environment in the school for students and staff."

There is a policy of "zerotolerance" of pupils who threaten violence in US schools following some high-profile incidents on school premises.