Hoax Bomb Threat at Washington Latin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

I'm glad to hear that. I had some close calls in HS. This is a tough lesson. I honestly, from the bottom of my heart, believe they were being teens (unless the kid they impersonated comes forward and said they specifically had a long history of harassing him/her and then I would feel otherwise). My heart goes out to everyone. If you know the Latin community, you know this hurt everyone because they are a family.

[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?

Nobody dies when Wilson student brought gun on campus, should he not be expelled? Please. If "nobody died or injured" is your test for expulsion, that's pretty sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

Why should their IB high school have to deal with Latin's problem children. I'll bet the IB high school has enough challenges to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Nobody dies when Wilson student brought gun on campus, should he not be expelled? Please. If "nobody died or injured" is your test for expulsion, that's pretty sad.

I'm saying I don't think the punishment fit THIS crime. Just my opinion; you don't need to get angry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

Why should their IB high school have to deal with Latin's problem children. I'll bet the IB high school has enough challenges to deal with.

Because everyone has the right to attend their IB high school.

I"m sure the parents are probably readying some sort of appeal to OSSE anyway to overturn the punishment. Because it's DC and that's what people do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

Why should their IB high school have to deal with Latin's problem children. I'll bet the IB high school has enough challenges to deal with.

Because everyone has the right to attend their IB high school.

I"m sure the parents are probably readying some sort of appeal to OSSE anyway to overturn the punishment. Because it's DC and that's what people do.

I'm not arguing about the rules. Clearly it works just as you noted.
I am pointing out that there is an equity problem on situations like this. They're both public schools, but one gets to dump a notable problem on the other. And guess how much money their IB school is going to get fit these troublemakers...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

Why should their IB high school have to deal with Latin's problem children. I'll bet the IB high school has enough challenges to deal with.

Because everyone has the right to attend their IB high school.

I"m sure the parents are probably readying some sort of appeal to OSSE anyway to overturn the punishment. Because it's DC and that's what people do.

I'm not arguing about the rules. Clearly it works just as you noted.
I am pointing out that there is an equity problem on situations like this. They're both public schools, but one gets to dump a notable problem on the other. And guess how much money their IB school is going to get fit these troublemakers...

And that's why charter school s work and public schools don't...because public schools embraced full immersion, even of kids with complete oppositional stance disorder. That means YOUR kids file out of the classroom in public schools while someone's kid throws tables. Don't like it? I don't either. Don't take it out on charters. Ask DCPS to create alternative schools, small size, small teacher student ration for aggressive, recalcitrant, ODD kids. There is nothing in the above article though, to suggest these two are that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No need for an alternative school - they can go to their IB high school. I think the punishment was totally appropriate.

Why should their IB high school have to deal with Latin's problem children. I'll bet the IB high school has enough challenges to deal with.

Because everyone has the right to attend their IB high school.

I"m sure the parents are probably readying some sort of appeal to OSSE anyway to overturn the punishment. Because it's DC and that's what people do.

I'm not arguing about the rules. Clearly it works just as you noted.
I am pointing out that there is an equity problem on situations like this. They're both public schools, but one gets to dump a notable problem on the other. And guess how much money their IB school is going to get fit these troublemakers...

And one gets a lot more funding than the other.

[Anonymous]

So the Wilson student was expelled and removed from the DCPS system? Did he/ she return to his/her IB? What happens to other students expelled from their IB? Do they go to another DCPS school?

[Anonymous]

So...Latin kicks out some student and umm they still have rights to their IB HS?

Would if Latin was a IB school? What's happens in that case? Street Academy, Luke C. Moore.

This is something OSSE needs to look at.

[Anonymous]

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.

It was a hate crime are the old enough to be charged?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So...Latin kicks out some student and umm they still have rights to their IB HS?

Would if Latin was a IB school? What's happens in that case? Street Academy, Luke C. Moore.

This is something OSSE needs to look at.

Yes, the above is a possibility.

Also had the students been at Walls, Banneker, McKinley or one of the other application schools they could be sent back to their IB school too. Or one of the alternative schools.

[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.

It was a hate crime are the old enough to be charged?

Juveniles can absolutely be charged with hate crimes.

[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.

+1000 and I'm a Latin parent. They did a very stupid thing - like any kid might do. Maybe not that in particular, but kids (and plenty of adults) do stupid things. They didn't target a Muslim kid. Just so happened a Muslim kid didn't sign out of his email. The school figured it out quickly and the kids admitted doing it. It's a very sad situation all around.