School administrator reprimanded after demonstration

Friday, March 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) -- Woodward school officials have reprimanded the administrator of the district's alternative school for high school students for showing students how to use a potato gun.

Ed Winn, deputy superintendent of Woodward's public schools, said Ed Dowty received a letter of reprimand in his personnel file.

"The issue's settled," Winn said Thursday. "It was something we view as serious. There's been a warning issued."

Dowty brought his homemade gun to show to the students who have difficulty learning in a typical classroom setting. He said he saw nothing wrong with bringing the device, which fires the potatoes with Dowty said.

"It was just a difference of opinion and it's been resolved."

Potato guns are homemade and cannot be bought in stores. Usually, they're made up of a 3- to 4-foot section of 2-inch pipe, usually plastic, connected to a one-foot section of 4-inch pipe.

"Imagine a potato coming at you about 150 mph," Dowty said. '

He brought the gun to his school last month. He went outside during a break between classes and fired the gun as several students watched.

Dowty continues to serve as administrator for the alternative school.