Hoax Bomb Threat at Washington Latin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of these posters who are swiftly coming to the defense of these two "pranksters" are the reason why these kids NEVER mature. Parents are so quick to swoop in and fix whatever problem Jr. got himself into. Making mistakes, failing, losing the full-ride to Princeton are all learning experiences that children need to go through to become functioning adults. College students are now calling their parents 24/7 because they are incapable of making any decisions for themselves. Just maybe these two kids will not have their lives irreparably damaged. Have you ever considered that the expulsion may actually positively impact their lives? Maybe they've learned to be more compassionate and empathetic. Would these life lessons be learned if mommy bailed them out and somehow lobbied their children to stay in Latin?

Oh please. Nobody is saying that these two children ought not to be punished or face serious consequences is too harsh for the nature of this crime. The expulsion for the last third of their senior year seems particularly cruel - it gives them no opportunity to rehabilitate themselves at a different school. If they were expelled as sophomores, they could go to a different school, behave and perform well for two years, and be able to say to colleges or employers that they made a mistake and learned from it. This expulsion gives them no second chance - no opportunity to build a clean record at a different school.

Typo abvove. Should read:

Oh please. Nobody is saying that these two children ought not to be punished or face serious consequences - it just that the punishment is too harsh for the nature of this crime. The expulsion for the last third of their senior year seems particularly cruel - it gives them no opportunity to rehabilitate themselves at a different school. If they were expelled as sophomores, they could go to a different school, behave and perform well for two years, and be able to say to colleges or employers that they made a mistake and learned from it. This expulsion gives them no second chance - no opportunity to build a clean record at a different school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it odd that a PP said that the expelled students sent that email and he victim just happened to be Muslim. I think it's much more likely that the students chose the content of their prank BECAUSE the victim is Muslim. Had a non-Muslim student been logged into that computer would the prank have been a bomb threat or something else?

You have no idea and you sound like a fool when you base your assumptions on no actual knowledge of the children involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it odd that a PP said that the expelled students sent that email and he victim just happened to be Muslim. I think it's much more likely that the students chose the content of their prank BECAUSE the victim is Muslim. Had a non-Muslim student been logged into that computer would the prank have been a bomb threat or something else?

You have no idea and you sound like a fool when you base your assumptions on no actual knowledge of the children involved.

Another way to look at it is it is such a small school (about 60 kids in a class) that everyone is diverse and unique, including the white kids. These kids have been together since fifth grade. Sometimes when you are comfortable with people and like them, you also feel comfortable zinging and roasting. Sounds like the jokes were flying. Was this one tasteless and over the line? Of course. But to read a malicious intention along the lines of above I would like to see these kids had a record of victimizing others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So, which is it? Was the kid congenitally unable to make a good choice because his brain was underdeveloped? Or was he unable because his parents were "not like DCUM posters" even though his parents DID have the wherewithal to get him into a highly competitive charter?

Even if BOTH are true, I can see why Princeton might decide that someone congenitally unable to make good decisions might be a bad bet for a highly coveted spot.

[Anonymous]

No one is saying the child's brain was underdeveloped. Children, all children, have moments of impulsivity. They also lack experience that factors in to what they do. Teenagers pay higher car insurance for this reason, no?
That combined with WLs somewhat inconsistent approach to discipline (this would be the first and only veer towards tough love I've heard of from them) is a recipe for disaster. I would hope Princeton shows compassion and looks at the sum of the child rather than one splitsecond poor decision.

[Anonymous]

What I love is that if this was a Muslim student who was responsible for the bomb threat you all would be speculating on how he got radicalized. But since it was non-Muslim students impersonating a Muslim, all of a sudden it's a harmless prank, or a tragedy that they faced consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea but am pretty sure the prior joke emails weren't bomb threats and also pretty sure they didn't have the potential to do long-lasting harm to another child due to his ethnicity. It's the combination that led to the expulsion.

Now you're speculating. Didn't Cutts originally state that the boy wasn't targeted because of his religion? And when did ethnicity get in the equation? When and where has his ethnicity been mentioned?

No Cutts did not say this. I don't know the kids who sent the email but from the school rumor mill, I don't believe they meant the email as a hate crime. However, unintended consequences can be much worse than intended ones. I'm a WL parent who supports the administration's decision. This is harsh punishment but I believe deserved in this case. From emails the parents have gotten, it appears that Latin is working with the kids who were expelled to help in the transition to a new school. This can be a huge opportunity for these kids and others to learn the importance of thinking through what they say and do. They will not learn if there are not consequences for their actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I love is that if this was a Muslim student who was responsible for the bomb threat you all would be speculating on how he got radicalized. But since it was non-Muslim students impersonating a Muslim, all of a sudden it's a harmless prank, or a tragedy that they faced consequences.

And you agree with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea but am pretty sure the prior joke emails weren't bomb threats and also pretty sure they didn't have the potential to do long-lasting harm to another child due to his ethnicity. It's the combination that led to the expulsion.

Now you're speculating. Didn't Cutts originally state that the boy wasn't targeted because of his religion? And when did ethnicity get in the equation? When and where has his ethnicity been mentioned?

No Cutts did not say this. I don't know the kids who sent the email but from the school rumor mill, I don't believe they meant the email as a hate crime. However, unintended consequences can be much worse than intended ones. I'm a WL parent who supports the administration's decision. This is harsh punishment but I believe deserved in this case. From emails the parents have gotten, it appears that Latin is working with the kids who were expelled to help in the transition to a new school. This can be a huge opportunity for these kids and others to learn the importance of thinking through what they say and do. They will not learn if there are not consequences for their actions.

Thank you, rational WL parent. I appreciate your contributions to this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea but am pretty sure the prior joke emails weren't bomb threats and also pretty sure they didn't have the potential to do long-lasting harm to another child due to his ethnicity. It's the combination that led to the expulsion.

Now you're speculating. Didn't Cutts originally state that the boy wasn't targeted because of his religion? And when did ethnicity get in the equation? When and where has his ethnicity been mentioned?

No Cutts did not say this. I don't know the kids who sent the email but from the school rumor mill, I don't believe they meant the email as a hate crime. However, unintended consequences can be much worse than intended ones. I'm a WL parent who supports the administration's decision. This is harsh punishment but I believe deserved in this case. From emails the parents have gotten, it appears that Latin is working with the kids who were expelled to help in the transition to a new school. This can be a huge opportunity for these kids and others to learn the importance of thinking through what they say and do. They will not learn if there are not consequences for their actions.

Thank you, rational WL parent. I appreciate your contributions to this thread.

So the WL parents (and kids) who don't agree with this decision are not rational? Ok....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea but am pretty sure the prior joke emails weren't bomb threats and also pretty sure they didn't have the potential to do long-lasting harm to another child due to his ethnicity. It's the combination that led to the expulsion.

Now you're speculating. Didn't Cutts originally state that the boy wasn't targeted because of his religion? And when did ethnicity get in the equation? When and where has his ethnicity been mentioned?

No Cutts did not say this. I don't know the kids who sent the email but from the school rumor mill, I don't believe they meant the email as a hate crime. However, unintended consequences can be much worse than intended ones. I'm a WL parent who supports the administration's decision. This is harsh punishment but I believe deserved in this case. From emails the parents have gotten, it appears that Latin is working with the kids who were expelled to help in the transition to a new school. This can be a huge opportunity for these kids and others to learn the importance of thinking through what they say and do. They will not learn if there are not consequences for their actions.

Wouldn't logical consequences be an appropriate response to the unintended consequences of their action? Or are you conflating the unintended consequences of their actions (hurt and pain caused) with the intentional consequences of the administration (expulsion)which I'm agreeing these two students most likely did not expect. For the unintended hurt or disruption caused by their thoughtless actions wouldn't the route of an apology, working to repair it with the community through service or education bring about the most learning for everyone? How does exclusion help here exactly for the kids involved and the kids in the 'to learn' as you state above? Please explain. And feel free to check out the diagrams of the "expulsion to prison" pipeline in the sources below.

http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/content/unintended-consequences-school-discpline

https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/sites/default/files/sssta/20110323_Implementation5.pdf

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/112/5/1206.full?cited-by=yes;112/5/1206

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea but am pretty sure the prior joke emails weren't bomb threats and also pretty sure they didn't have the potential to do long-lasting harm to another child due to his ethnicity. It's the combination that led to the expulsion.

Now you're speculating. Didn't Cutts originally state that the boy wasn't targeted because of his religion? And when did ethnicity get in the equation? When and where has his ethnicity been mentioned?

No Cutts did not say this. I don't know the kids who sent the email but from the school rumor mill, I don't believe they meant the email as a hate crime. However, unintended consequences can be much worse than intended ones. I'm a WL parent who supports the administration's decision. This is harsh punishment but I believe deserved in this case. From emails the parents have gotten, it appears that Latin is working with the kids who were expelled to help in the transition to a new school. This can be a huge opportunity for these kids and others to learn the importance of thinking through what they say and do. They will not learn if there are not consequences for their actions.

Thank you, rational WL parent. I appreciate your contributions to this thread.

So the WL parents (and kids) who don't agree with this decision are not rational? Ok....

Considering I haven't seen a single WL parent other than PP express any concern for the victim, correct. For all the "we've known each other since 5th grade, we love each other" I hear when it comes to the bullies, folks are pretty silent on the victim. It makes me think this really was a bullying incident by popular kids against someone less so, and/or that the school isn't as tight as they like to believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure sending a bomb threat would get a kid expelled from almost any school. No?

The fact that they did it from a Muslim kid's email makes it even more despicable. I'm sure they thought it was really funny. Bet they're not laughing now.

I feel terrible for the kid who they impersonated.

+1. Bomb threats will get you expelled from any school and fired (and arrested) from any job.

Can't believe the posters making excuses for the two idiots.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, if the two kids were Muslim would anyone be questioning the expulsion? Feel sorry for them, maybe, but not arguing that in this climate that's the right thing to do. How is arguing against expulsion here not just white privilege expecting understanding treatment of kids who obviously never would do anything bad and just didn't think things through, whereas if the kids were black and/or Muslim there would be an unspoken understanding that there was some problem with their home life or upbringing that ultimately led the kids to these bad decisions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure sending a bomb threat would get a kid expelled from almost any school. No?

The fact that they did it from a Muslim kid's email makes it even more despicable. I'm sure they thought it was really funny. Bet they're not laughing now.

I feel terrible for the kid who they impersonated.

+1. Bomb threats will get you expelled from any school and fired (and arrested) from any job.

Can't believe the posters making excuses for the two idiots.

This.

Kids called in a bomb threat when I was in high school (before the internet...!) and they were expelled. Who has tolerance for this kind of shit? No one, that's who. Welcome to the real world.