APS school lockdowns

[Anonymous]

So any kids writes something stupid and everything in a school comes to a full stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They keep doing it because there’s no consequences. I was in high school when columbine happened. In the aftermath some kid made a threat. Boom, gone. Sent to the alternative high school.

It’s not so easy to track them down now. The Post ran a story about this recently.

Yes, with the bomb threats, many are coming from Africa. Not a local kid. Writing threats on bathroom walls is a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They keep doing it because there’s no consequences. I was in high school when columbine happened. In the aftermath some kid made a threat. Boom, gone. Sent to the alternative high school.

It’s not so easy to track them down now. The Post ran a story about this recently.

Yes, with the bomb threats, many are coming from Africa. Not a local kid. Writing threats on bathroom walls is a different story.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/10/04/school-swatting-hoax-active-shooter/

[Anonymous]

I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

I assume this because I work in a school. Last year a kid brought a knife to threaten classmates. He was back the next day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They keep doing it because there’s no consequences. I was in high school when columbine happened. In the aftermath some kid made a threat. Boom, gone. Sent to the alternative high school.

It’s not so easy to track them down now. The Post ran a story about this recently.

Yes, with the bomb threats, many are coming from Africa. Not a local kid. Writing threats on bathroom walls is a different story.

The last few have been written threats found in the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

I assume this because I work in a school. Last year a kid brought a knife to threaten classmates. He was back the next day

That doesn't mean that NO consequences happened. That means that the specific consequence of expulsion and suspension didn't happen. Furthermore, under the law students do get due process which means they need written/oral notice and then an opportunity to explain. Individual schools don't even have the authority to issue long term suspensions (this is from the superintendent) and only the school board can expel kids. Then there is a WHOLE set of other complications if the student has a disability. So don't blame individual schools they are generally bound by law which restricts their ability to issue certain consequences in a timely manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

I assume this because I work in a school. Last year a kid brought a knife to threaten classmates. He was back the next day

That doesn't mean that NO consequences happened. That means that the specific consequence of expulsion and suspension didn't happen. Furthermore, under the law students do get due process which means they need written/oral notice and then an opportunity to explain. Individual schools don't even have the authority to issue long term suspensions (this is from the superintendent) and only the school board can expel kids. Then there is a WHOLE set of other complications if the student has a disability. So don't blame individual schools they are generally bound by law which restricts their ability to issue certain consequences in a timely manner.

I am absolutely not blaming individual schools and worked in special Ed for many years. That wasn’t a factor in this case. There is a systemic problem with how we deal with serious behavior issues in this country, especially over the last 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

I assume this because I work in a school. Last year a kid brought a knife to threaten classmates. He was back the next day

That doesn't mean that NO consequences happened. That means that the specific consequence of expulsion and suspension didn't happen. Furthermore, under the law students do get due process which means they need written/oral notice and then an opportunity to explain. Individual schools don't even have the authority to issue long term suspensions (this is from the superintendent) and only the school board can expel kids. Then there is a WHOLE set of other complications if the student has a disability. So don't blame individual schools they are generally bound by law which restricts their ability to issue certain consequences in a timely manner.

I am absolutely not blaming individual schools and worked in special Ed for many years. That wasn’t a factor in this case. There is a systemic problem with how we deal with serious behavior issues in this country, especially over the last 10 years.

Well, I agree with that. But I do think it does have to do with the legal handcuffing of schools to handle these issues. All that being said, do you think consequences make a difference? My MIL teaches in a school in Texas that still uses corporal punishment and isn't shy about other discipline issues. They still have lockdowns and issues like this. We still have crimes being committed in this country even though there are obviously consequences. I don't think consequences are necessarily going to change or put an end to behaviors. Kids will always continue to live a life as is consequences don't apply to them.

But i know it would make other parents feel better if they knew about consequences and those consequences were severe and I don't really have a solution on how to stop the lockdowns or how to stop kids doing stupid things like this. Kids have likely been writing threats on bathroom stalls since whenever bathroom stalls were invented. We have to react to it the way we react now because we are a population that lives in fear of the next school shooting. The lockdown wouldn't have happened 30 years ago because we would have just ignored it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So any kids writes something stupid and everything in a school comes to a full stop?

Problem is it's hard to tell if it's some kid being an immature jerk, or some kid that is eventually going to hurt someone and on the backside everyone is saying "well, I guess there were warning signs".

Maybe it's time to implement some of the electronic hall pass ideas that are being discussed. Or cameras in the hallways, especially near the bathrooms which is where threats are being found, drug deals and vaping are happening, and so on. Arlington law enforcement and APS aren't really serious about discipline thanks to litigious Arlington parents and cries of equity that make everyone nervous to do anything.

[Anonymous]

I am annoyed with folks just complaining on the internet and doing nothing. Gunston had a PTA mtg last night. The principal attended and spoke about the lockdown. There were ZERO questions. None of the folks who had been ranting about Gunston's handling of the event attended.

Do people just want to hear themselves rant and then do nothing? (I am guessing the answer is yes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As well as the amount of students getting dropped by parents with Maryland plates. Also out of hand.

They probably don’t actually live in Maryland, but after 9/11 Virginia became impossible to get drivers license and register car in va without proper documentation, so they go and register in Maryland under a friend’s address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am annoyed with folks just complaining on the internet and doing nothing. Gunston had a PTA mtg last night. The principal attended and spoke about the lockdown. There were ZERO questions. None of the folks who had been ranting about Gunston's handling of the event attended.

Do people just want to hear themselves rant and then do nothing? (I am guessing the answer is yes).

Not a Gunston parent, but APS knows how parents feel and what they want done. They simply don't want to make changes to implement real discipline that will deter kids from making threats, assaulting kids and teachers, or generally acting in ways that would never have been tolerated twenty years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am annoyed with folks just complaining on the internet and doing nothing. Gunston had a PTA mtg last night. The principal attended and spoke about the lockdown. There were ZERO questions. None of the folks who had been ranting about Gunston's handling of the event attended.

Do people just want to hear themselves rant and then do nothing? (I am guessing the answer is yes).

1. I didn’t want to leave my child
2. They sent out a ParentSquare saying all activities were canceled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am annoyed with folks just complaining on the internet and doing nothing. Gunston had a PTA mtg last night. The principal attended and spoke about the lockdown. There were ZERO questions. None of the folks who had been ranting about Gunston's handling of the event attended.

Do people just want to hear themselves rant and then do nothing? (I am guessing the answer is yes).

1. I didn’t want to leave my child
2. They sent out a ParentSquare saying all activities were canceled.

The mtg was held on zoom AND they sent out a message saying that the PTA mtg was going on in whats app and on parent square. All Gunston PTA meetings are over zoom and in person so folks can attend.