Heck I always thought it was a state law that if you were male you had to carry a pocket knife!!! Every boy in school had one, we even made leather sheaths for them in art class. My son was very worried about forgetting to take his pocket knife out some day and get caught with it in school. I told him if you realize its in your pocket, don't say a word and don't take it out, they ain't gonna search you. Of course its a small rural school so no metal detectors etc. I carry usually two one good sharp higher quality knife like a benchmade with a clip or even a Byrd or Gerber, and a rough duty pocket knife if the other pants pocket something like a camillus electricians knife with an edged blade and a screwdriver blade. Are you sure there isn't a law in the midwest that requires a boy to have a pocket knife?