Student Suspended for Threatening Classmate with a Magic Ring

On 30 January 2015, the Texas newspaper Odessa American reported Aiden Steward, a 9-year-old student at Kermit Elementary School, had been suspended for telling a classmate he would make him disappear with his magic ring.

Steward's father, Jason Steward, told the New York Daily News his son had just seen the The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies and was merely pretending he was in possession

of the "One Ring," a powerful artifact forged in the fictional Mount Doom: "I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend's existence. If he did, I'm sure he'd bring him right back."

Principal Roxanne Greer declined to comment on Aiden's suspension, saying "all student stuff is confidential." Steward did not provide any documentation to Odessa American proving his son had in fact been suspended for attempting to wield the power of Sauron. Steward has reportedly requested the school send him something in writing explaining why his son was suspended.

While we cannot verify Aiden's story at this time, we should take a moment to ease the supposed concerns of Kermit Elementary School. The One Ring enables the ringbearer to become invisible, but does not allow the ringbearer to make other people invisible. Also, only those with sufficient willpower, namely elf-lords and extraordinary hobbits, can properly wield the One Ring.

Last updated:   2 February 2015