Hoax Bomb Threat at Washington Latin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For four more months? What happened to sitting down and apologizing in a mediated, guided and resolution minded way? You do know that is an extremely common occurrence in schools--as opposed to NEVER interacting with the person who may have caused conflict again?

These children's previous 8 years in the school should count to a conditional 4 months to graduation if this is an anomaly. If the child whose account was used cannot be around these kids post resolution (and you are totally assuming/speaking for them) then there are independent study or alternative schedule possibilities.

The more I think about this, the more I think the admin 'ran scared' and as a WL parent I am pretty disappointed and upset today.

I wonder how the parents of the child whose email was used feel?

I doubt they feel great. No one is saying this situation is 'happy happy joy joy'. Conflict is however, part of life and learning. Our child had, in my books, far worse experiences at WL that left us sad--and we patiently worked it out understanding that the space between birth and 18 (if not beyond) is a space where mistakes are made. We understand that for others' kids and would want it extended to our own. I just think this is a jackhammer where a hammer would have sufficed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For four more months? What happened to sitting down and apologizing in a mediated, guided and resolution minded way? You do know that is an extremely common occurrence in schools--as opposed to NEVER interacting with the person who may have caused conflict again?

These children's previous 8 years in the school should count to a conditional 4 months to graduation if this is an anomaly. If the child whose account was used cannot be around these kids post resolution (and you are totally assuming/speaking for them) then there are independent study or alternative schedule possibilities.

The more I think about this, the more I think the admin 'ran scared' and as a WL parent I am pretty disappointed and upset today.

I work in a school, and no - things like this are not extremely common. Things that are pretty common - petty arguments, teenage squabbling, recess/sports disagreements getting heated. Things that are not common - kids getting loudly called out based on their religion, race, sexuality, etc. When those latter things happen it is usually shocking for everyone involved, and if kids are lucky, they are at a school that takes the traumatizing experience seriously and steps in to make them feel safe again. It sucks that the kids are being expelled with four months left, but you're treating them like they have the mind of a kindergartener, not a senior in high school.

[Anonymous]

So because we don't have a paradigm for a kid finding an open computer account and acting impulsively we treat it harsher than a fist fight?

[Anonymous]

From the article:

But the message was in fact written by two pranksters, school officials said. The two boys, both high school seniors at high-performing Washington Latin Public Charter School, were expelled for threatening violence, said Head of School Martha Cutts.

“I was never really worried that it was a real threat, but you have to obviously take those things very seriously,” Cutts said. “It can be very unsettling for students to open an email and read that.”

The email was sent Wednesday, and it was short: “Friday there will be big boom.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So because we don't have a paradigm for a kid finding an open computer account and acting impulsively we treat it harsher than a fist fight?

Or having sex at school, or bringing/using illegal drugs at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids did something for which they could be charged with a federal crime - made a bomb threat. They falsely implicated a classmate whom they had known for at least 4 years. And his religion did play a factor.

Being expelled from school feels right to me. It was colossally stupid and very far over the line of decency. It also violating everything WL says they stand for.

Kudos to Ms Cutts for acting swiftly and decisively.

I agree with this. These are not children. They are 17 year old young adults who should be expelled and grateful they aren't being charged with a crime. Allegedly, at least one is smart enough for Princeton, and hasn't lived under a rock the last dozen years. It's hard to believe that they wouldn't know how serious and unfunny it would be to impersonate a Muslim student and send a bomb threat to 500 people.

Don't they have to report any low grades, suspensions or expulsions to any colleges that have accepted them? I hope so. They need to really appreciate the seriousness of their actions and face any and all consequences.

[Anonymous]

So this expulsion decision happened between Wed and Fri? 2 days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids did something for which they could be charged with a federal crime - made a bomb threat. They falsely implicated a classmate whom they had known for at least 4 years. And his religion did play a factor.

Being expelled from school feels right to me. It was colossally stupid and very far over the line of decency. It also violating everything WL says they stand for.

Kudos to Ms Cutts for acting swiftly and decisively.

I agree with this. These are not children. They are 17 year old young adults who should be expelled and grateful they aren't being charged with a crime. Allegedly, at least one is smart enough for Princeton, and hasn't lived under a rock the last dozen years. It's hard to believe that they wouldn't know how serious and unfunny it would be to impersonate a Muslim student and send a bomb threat to 500 people.

Don't they have to report any low grades, suspensions or expulsions to any colleges that have accepted them? I hope so. They need to really appreciate the seriousness of their actions and face any and all consequences.

I seriously hope along the line people treat your teens more charitably.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/adulthood-extended-age-25-child-psychologists-uk-257835

"Neuroscience has made these massive advances where we now don't think that things just stop at a certain age, that actually there's evidence of brain development well into early twenties and that actually the time at which things stop is much later than we first thought," Antrobus said.

Now, child psychologists such as Antrobus argue that adolescence comprises three stages, including an early period of 12-14 years of age, a middle period of 15-17 years of age, and “late adolescence” from 18 years of age to 25. Years of neurological research have shown human cognitive development to continue into the time period traditionally defined as early adulthood, as emotional maturity, self-image, and judgment evolve along with changes in the prefrontal cortex.

[Anonymous]

Okay some perspective about this bomb threat. I mentioned it to my DH who is a LEO here in the city. He said that there has been a rush of bomb threats at all most all the high schools, Wilson, Ballou, McKinley a couple in the counties. It's some kind prank that's making its way among the teens. The bomb threats have gotten so frequent that they aren't even evacuating the school's when the calls come in. The threats are however still investigated. He is afraid that at some point here will be a real threat, but no evacuation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who think expulsion was too harsh, what DO you think appropriate punishment would have been?

Even if the school punishment had been less than expulsion, it's likely that a bomb threat would have very serious consequences for college admission (and yes, it would need to be reported to the college). I've heard of a college offer being withdrawn because an admitted senior is arrested for drinking. Colleges take even more seriously conduct that involves a threat of violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay some perspective about this bomb threat. I mentioned it to my DH who is a LEO here in the city. He said that there has been a rush of bomb threats at all most all the high schools, Wilson, Ballou, McKinley a couple in the counties. It's some kind prank that's making its way among the teens. The bomb threats have gotten so frequent that they aren't even evacuating the school's when the calls come in. The threats are however still investigated. He is afraid that at some point here will be a real threat, but no evacuation

I didn't finish my statement. I want to know if Larin was evacuated upon hearing the threat.

[Anonymous]

A bomb threat AND impersonating another person is something a younger child knows is bad -- I don't care how much the prefrontal cortex is changing. Good for Latin for making a tough decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids did something for which they could be charged with a federal crime - made a bomb threat. They falsely implicated a classmate whom they had known for at least 4 years. And his religion did play a factor.

Being expelled from school feels right to me. It was colossally stupid and very far over the line of decency. It also violating everything WL says they stand for.

Kudos to Ms Cutts for acting swiftly and decisively.

I agree with this. These are not children. They are 17 year old young adults who should be expelled and grateful they aren't being charged with a crime. Allegedly, at least one is smart enough for Princeton, and hasn't lived under a rock the last dozen years. It's hard to believe that they wouldn't know how serious and unfunny it would be to impersonate a Muslim student and send a bomb threat to 500 people.

Don't they have to report any low grades, suspensions or expulsions to any colleges that have accepted them? I hope so. They need to really appreciate the seriousness of their actions and face any and all consequences.

I seriously hope along the line people treat your teens more charitably.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/adulthood-extended-age-25-child-psychologists-uk-257835

"Neuroscience has made these massive advances where we now don't think that things just stop at a certain age, that actually there's evidence of brain development well into early twenties and that actually the time at which things stop is much later than we first thought," Antrobus said.

Now, child psychologists such as Antrobus argue that adolescence comprises three stages, including an early period of 12-14 years of age, a middle period of 15-17 years of age, and “late adolescence” from 18 years of age to 25. Years of neurological research have shown human cognitive development to continue into the time period traditionally defined as early adulthood, as emotional maturity, self-image, and judgment evolve along with changes in the prefrontal cortex.

Thank you for this.

Plus, please keep in mind that not every kid comes from families like those posting on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was an opportunistic one of prank unless these kids have a history of victimizing this child or others..sorry, tat is the generally accepted definition of bullying.

Exactly. People use the word bullying so loosely without knowing the meaning. Soon the word will become trite from overuse, and nobody will pay attention.

Yes, the world will be perfect when kids can be bullied in peace.

From all that I have been able to piece together, The kid wasn't bullied. They used a kid's email account when the kid failed to sign out. I think it was more opportunistic and they used the first available unsecured account. If you think this is bullying, you have never been on the receiving end of a bully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bomb threat AND impersonating another person is something a younger child knows is bad -- I don't care how much the prefrontal cortex is changing. Good for Latin for making a tough decision.

They may KNOW its a bad idea and still be impulsive. When you are impulsive , you don't weigh things. You just DO. I can't tell you how many more times I have seen kids get in trouble for humor--not hate--humor in school. It is a sad day when the school does not have the capacity or initiative to turn that into a learning experience--with consequences, but also acknowledgment that the motive was not hateful but dumb/impulsive/attention seeking/ trying to make a bad joke. That IS education. I am very disappointed in Latin admin today.