What if the child also drew a knife? |
This is what you care about? Ethan Crumbley was doing the exact same thing. REPORT IT NOW. |
I think we should all take it down a notch. I agree that OP should go to the school. But many many kids (and this kid is just 10-11) express fantasies like this. There’s a massive difference between normal (albeit undesirable) expressions and serious mental illness + guns that happened in the Crumbley case. |
| Report and document. 5th grade, if it’s repeated behavior, school is doing nothing, etc. I’d honestly consider consulting the police. |
| I would definitely go to the police. And also notify the principal and the superintendent. Make sure the troubled child is immediately removed from the school. Makes sure all school communications are in writing. If they have warning and then there’s a school shooting that they didn’t prevent then they’ll be in a lot of trouble so they’ll probably take it seriously. |
Not sure what you mean. It has been reported. If you mean police, what would they even do? |
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I’m not a professional. But drawing pictures of guns and knives is a step above saying “I’m going to kill you!” in an argument. |
OP. The picture was drawn on a class assignment asking students to picture what they wanted in the new year. |
Literally no. I work in this field and can tell you that this is the age when these signs first manifest themself. Many kids do draw pictures of weapons and fights, but few draw specific pictures targeting one individual. Also, if the child is disruptive or bullying, I would see it as a serious concern. Having worked with parents of school shooters and violent juveniles, I would be at the school first thing and want a target hardening report done of the school as well as a threat assessment of the child. |
Thanks. These are our concerns. What is a target hardening report? |
Reported where, I didn't see the OP mention reporting it. I would report first to the principal (not teacher) and the school guidance counselor if they have one. If I didn't get an immediate response that assessments were being done, I'd go to the police. |
This protocol is ludicrous because it takes so much time that the threatened child could have been killed. Kid who threatened is expelled immediately. |
Also, what kind of threat assessment? Who would have access to the results? |
A report done by the school which shows how they keep it safe. Example, if they don't have magnetometer (which elementary schools rarely do) what steps do they have in place to ensure no weapons, etc. Do they only have one locked door during school hours, how are people allowed into the building, etc. |