The thing I don't understand about this situation is that a butter knife does not fit the definition of "an illegal knife, one with a blade longer than 5 and a half inches that is 'designed to cut or stab another by being thrown,' according to the Texas Penal Code" (quoting from the article in the DallasNews, linked by Jed). The blade length is longer than 5-and-a-half inches, but it's not designed to cut or stab!! It's designed to take butter from the butter dish and spread it on bread!!!!!! As far as I can tell, the school superintendent is not acting in accordance with the law, and I don't understand how he can throw up his hands and say "I wish I didn't have to do this" when, under the law as stated, he doesn't have to.