LANSINGBURGH — A small pocketknife given to Matthew Whalen by his grandfather to use in his car may affect the rest of his life.

Whalen was suspended from Lansingburgh High School last month after administrators found the 11/2-inch key-chain knife in his glove compartment, an infraction of the district's zero-tolerance policy for weapons on school grounds. It was a gift from his grandfather, Robert Whalen, chief of the Hoosick Falls Police Department.

Now, Whalen is concerned the school's 20-day suspension may hurt his chances of gaining admission to West Point, a dream of his since he brought in his grandfather's medals from Vietnam for show-and-tell in first grade.

"I just want to be able to go back to school," Whalen said. "I didn't intentionally do anything wrong. I don't even consider it a weapon."

Whalen's story went national Tuesday, as he traveled to New York City for an appearance on the Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" show to discuss his suspension.

District Superintendent George J. Goodwin said Tuesday that he thinks the punishment was "appropriate and fair." He said the district has to equally enforce its zero-tolerance policy, even for students like Whalen who don't have any past record of misbehavior.

"Sometimes young people do things they may not see as serious," Goodwin said. "We look at any possession of any type of knife as serious."

Goodwin said he is open to the possibility of contacting West Point to ensure that the incident does not affect Whalen's chances of admission.

Whalen, an Eagle Scout and member of the National Guard, likes to be prepared. He learned CPR at age 12, and in 2005, when he was just 13, he saved his aunt's life by performing CPR on her after she had a grand mal seizure and stopped breathing. He was given a Lifesaving Heroism Award by the Boy Scouts of America.

Now, he carries water bottles, a sleeping bag and a change of clothes in his 1999 Mercury Sable in case it breaks down. He considered the key-chain knife part of that preparedness kit.

Whalen, 17, said he forgot the knife was even in his car when a school administrator confronted him in late September and asked if he had a weapon. He volunteered that he had the pocket-size blade in his car, and walked a vice principal out to his car, where he turned it over without thinking much of the incident.

He is not sure how officials knew the knife was even in his car, but thinks another student may have told a school administrator, probably as a prank.

He initially was given a five-day suspension by an assistant principal. He found out his suspension was extended to 20 days after a meeting at which the principal and athletic director were present. He said he can understand five days, but the extra 15 days struck him as overly harsh.

"In the past 200 years, America's gotten by just fine without zero tolerance," he said. "Why do New York state schools have to have it?"

Robert Whalen, Matthew's grandfather, said he understands zero tolerance because his department regularly enforces a similar policy with drunken drivers. But he said the school's 20-day punishment was overly harsh, particularly in light of how it could affect his grandson's life plans, and said officials should use "common sense" when disciplining students.

"He's been planning this for years," Robert Whalen said of attending West Point.

Matthew Whalen will return to school on Oct. 21, about a week before the first part of his West Point application is due. He said he is worried about all the school he is missing since he can only receive two hours of tutoring a day at the district's offices. "I'm falling behind big-time in my classes," he said.

Scott Waldman can be reached at 454-5080 or by e-mail at swaldman@timesunion.com.