Hoax Bomb Threat at Washington Latin

[Anonymous]

So glad digital media wasn't around when I was in HS.

Announcements were distributed by a flyer left the teachers' mailboxes when I was a student and some enterprising kids copied the template and submitted fake announcements (including notification that a vehicle in the fire lane was ticking) and it was a big deal for about two hours and then blew over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

I don't think it should make any difference whether the other student is Muslim or Catholic, although they may have thought the Muslim "connection" would make the threat more credible. If the other student had been Jack Lax Bro, I would hope that Washington Latin would have taken the same action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

They aren't being sent to prison, they are getting kicked out of school. It's amazing that you think their college acceptances are more important than preventing and punishing harassment, bigotry and inciting fear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

It depends on the conduct. And in any case, the students will go to some other high school. So that's a second chance.

Hasn't the Wilson student who brought the loaded gun to school been removed from the DC public school system? He should be, but even he will get a chance for a GED from the juvenile reformatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

They aren't being sent to prison, they are getting kicked out of school. It's amazing that you think their college acceptances are more important than preventing and punishing harassment, bigotry and inciting fear.

Are you suggesting that the harassment and bigotry angle is the bigger offense here? It's bad, but the bottom line is a bomb threat is a bomb threat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

I don't think it should make any difference whether the other student is Muslim or Catholic, although they may have thought the Muslim "connection" would make the threat more credible. If the other student had been Jack Lax Bro, I would hope that Washington Latin would have taken the same action.

It makes a difference because at the moment we are living in a world in which some Muslims are performing acts of terror and many innocent Muslims are getting blamed for it. It's akin to falsely blaming a black man for a rape in the 1960s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

They aren't being sent to prison, they are getting kicked out of school. It's amazing that you think their college acceptances are more important than preventing and punishing harassment, bigotry and inciting fear.

Are you suggesting that the harassment and bigotry angle is the bigger offense here? It's bad, but the bottom line is a bomb threat is a bomb threat.

I'm suggesting it it enhancing the crime tremendously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

They aren't being sent to prison, they are getting kicked out of school. It's amazing that you think their college acceptances are more important than preventing and punishing harassment, bigotry and inciting fear.

Amen. And another PP is right, their 2nd chance is being able to go to an alternative high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That punishment seems excessive. No wonder our children are so afraid of failure - one slip and the course of your life is literally changed forever. Suspension, community service, public apologies, there were lots of other ways to handle this.

'

For calling in a bomb threat and blaming a Muslim student? Jesus. How about if the authorities hadn't determined it was a hoax, shut down the school and dragged that poor kid into an interrogation room for hours?

Yes, honestly. Teenagers are physiologically unable to visualize consequences the way adults do. I think they could have gotten a very, very strict punishment without expulsion. I firmly believe in second chances for children.

They aren't being sent to prison, they are getting kicked out of school. It's amazing that you think their college acceptances are more important than preventing and punishing harassment, bigotry and inciting fear.

Are you suggesting that the harassment and bigotry angle is the bigger offense here? It's bad, but the bottom line is a bomb threat is a bomb threat.

I'm suggesting it it enhancing the crime tremendously.

I think that blaming anyone else certainly enhances the infraction (and the Muslim angle made it more credible). But ultimately the punishment should turn on the conduct itself, rather than the particular racial or religious characteristics of one of the victims. (The school community, of course, was also harmed here.) The punishment is certainly justified here.

[Anonymous]

I'm not suggesting that they go unpunished. I think that expelling children should be a measure of last resort for chronic offenders. Nobody died, or was injured. What's the penalty for adults who joke about bombs to the TSA agents? Prison? Loss of job? Or a fine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not suggesting that they go unpunished. I think that expelling children should be a measure of last resort for chronic offenders. Nobody died, or was injured. What's the penalty for adults who joke about bombs to the TSA agents? Prison? Loss of job? Or a fine?

So how many terror threats would it take for them to be expelled? What about assaults? Or how many times should they be allowed to bring a weapon to school before getting expelled?

There are some actions so egregious you don't get a second chance (to graduate from that particular high school). Calling in a bomb threat is certainly one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not suggesting that they go unpunished. I think that expelling children should be a measure of last resort for chronic offenders. Nobody died, or was injured. What's the penalty for adults who joke about bombs to the TSA agents? Prison? Loss of job? Or a fine?

Actually, making a false bomb threat is a Federal offense:

† Making a false bomb threat is a federal offense punishable under United States Code 18-844(e), with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine, or both. This penalty also applies to juvenile offenders (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 2003).

[Anonymous]

As a former WL parent (kid graduated) this makes me very sad. Mostly because I know Latin bends over backwards to counsel and keep kids within the fold. This clearly stepped over a red line for Latin, but I imagine it was anguishing for all involved. In terms of expulsions, DC has need of alternative high schools and these children can also look to a GED etc. , a year off, private school--I imagine their academic track record, personal circumstances, potential will all play into what they do next. Latin has a varied student body. Do not assume they are antisocial or habitually delinquent. They could be kids who usually make the right choice, and this time made the wrong. Knowing Latin, no matter who they are, the school will work with them to find their next steps in life and support them through this experience of real world consequences. My heart to the whole student community, the teachers, the student wronged and the students who thought something so dumb was "funny"--a hard lesson of growing up.

[Anonymous]

Adding on --the CAIR guy is involved? Please move the caravan on. I know Latin and there is no hate there. These kids made a dumb split second decision, a crime of opportunity. I truly feel bad for the whole community.