Hoax Bomb Threat at Washington Latin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading yesterdays Metro section about the FBI agent pardoned for shoving a teen. He is getting probation and anger management. He is raising three children alone after his wife's passing. The judges reasoning: " would it be in the best interest of the defendant - as a result of this isolated and unfortunate mistake of judgment - to deprive him of his employment, of his livelihood? To impact upon his children? To impact upon the service that he can bring to the community? I think not."

I expect you all will hold yourselves and your children to the same standards as you've urged for these WL youngsters when you next make an isolated and unfortunate mistake. Which you and they will. Because that is part of being a human being navigating this world.

This wasn't an instance of a WL student throwing a punch to defend himself in a fight that someone else started. It was a deliberate BOMB THREAT against the school. Moreover, in the case of the FBI agent, the kid whom he shoved had reportedly threatened the agent. However, I imagine if the agent had done something like calling in a bomb threat (or collecting porn involving minors) he most definitely would not have received probation.

Really? There's no indication from the kids' records that the kids intended it as anything more than a bad joke hence "an isolated and unfortunate mistake of judgment", yet it's been compared on this thread to child porn and rape. Gotta love it. I will be watching WL discipline very closely from here on out. No double standards. Your kid steps in it, your kid pays the price. From now on, everything must follow the handbook. From now on, no interpretation. From now on, no factoring in what you know about the kids (despite the small class size being what people cherish). From now on, no second chances. It's going to be grand for everyone! The kids will really appreciate your vigilance. I honestly think half of you posting are raising middle schoolers or even elementary. You have no idea what it's like to raise a teen and have forgotten what it's like to be one. Well, prepare yourselves.

As a current WL parent, I too will watch more closely to make sure and point out if there are double standards displayed, and no second chances.

And as a current WL parent I'll expect you to be leading the charge for forgiveness and light punishment when your child is the victim of a hoax that could have gotten him arrested or deported. I don't expect that you will say anything about your child's feelings but only focus on the feelings of the kids who did it.


I however will be reinforcing the discussions I have had with my kids about the current situation. There are some actions that cross a line and have serious consequences. I will be there for you to help you make amends and not let this define your life, but will expect you to take responsibility for your actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading yesterdays Metro section about the FBI agent pardoned for shoving a teen. He is getting probation and anger management. He is raising three children alone after his wife's passing. The judges reasoning: " would it be in the best interest of the defendant - as a result of this isolated and unfortunate mistake of judgment - to deprive him of his employment, of his livelihood? To impact upon his children? To impact upon the service that he can bring to the community? I think not."

I expect you all will hold yourselves and your children to the same standards as you've urged for these WL youngsters when you next make an isolated and unfortunate mistake. Which you and they will. Because that is part of being a human being navigating this world.

This wasn't an instance of a WL student throwing a punch to defend himself in a fight that someone else started. It was a deliberate BOMB THREAT against the school. Moreover, in the case of the FBI agent, the kid whom he shoved had reportedly threatened the agent. However, I imagine if the agent had done something like calling in a bomb threat (or collecting porn involving minors) he most definitely would not have received probation.

Really? There's no indication from the kids' records that the kids intended it as anything more than a bad joke hence "an isolated and unfortunate mistake of judgment", yet it's been compared on this thread to child porn and rape. Gotta love it. I will be watching WL discipline very closely from here on out. No double standards. Your kid steps in it, your kid pays the price. From now on, everything must follow the handbook. From now on, no interpretation. From now on, no factoring in what you know about the kids (despite the small class size being what people cherish). From now on, no second chances. It's going to be grand for everyone! The kids will really appreciate your vigilance. I honestly think half of you posting are raising middle schoolers or even elementary. You have no idea what it's like to raise a teen and have forgotten what it's like to be one. Well, prepare yourselves.

As a current WL parent, I too will watch more closely to make sure and point out if there are double standards displayed, and no second chances.

And as a current WL parent I'll expect you to be leading the charge for forgiveness and light punishment when your child is the victim of a hoax that could have gotten him arrested or deported. I don't expect that you will say anything about your child's feelings but only focus on the feelings of the kids who did it.


I however will be reinforcing the discussions I have had with my kids about the current situation. There are some actions that cross a line and have serious consequences. I will be there for you to help you make amends and not let this define your life, but will expect you to take responsibility for your actions.

? Most unlikely.

And yes, as soon as school reopens do march into Martha or Diana's offer and volunteer your child to be put in the "serious consequences" pot. I am sure they will love having parents who are first to volunteer their kids for the full handbook. And btw, we always did the same as you do (emphasizing consequences and accepting the school's decisions). We are lucky our child never faced a situation in which I would seriously hope for a little more mercy. But you throw your kid in that 'pot'. Have at it.

[Anonymous]

It was a friggin' BOMB THREAT, to blow Up the school, folks, not "some prank" where someone put a frog in the faculty room or something.

[Anonymous]

If they had a real bomb I would agree with the all caps. Since they didn't, and since jokes were flyin' on the list serve, I think lowercase is merited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they had a real bomb I would agree with the all caps. Since they didn't, and since jokes were flyin' on the list serve, I think lowercase is merited.

If they had had a real bomb, they would be looking at a long prison term.

[Anonymous]

Yes IF, but they didn't.

[Anonymous]

OMG people. It's not a bomb threat if literally nobody took them seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a kid is suspended in his or her freshman year, this needs to be explained to a college on the Common Ap. Serious disciplinary action during senior year can be devastating for some college admissions, and seniors know this very well. Bomb threats take it to a whole other level.

Exactly . BOMB THREATS take it to another level. These kids would still be on a shaky ground vis a vis college acceptance no matter what the formal consequence given by Washington Latin ( the aggrieved community here ). Unless WL swept it all under the rug to keep it hush hush and keep the colleges unaware--that's not what anyone wanted here. It's not the expulsion decision that messed things up for these kids. It was the bomb threat emailed out to hundreds of people. It's "lucky" for them they pulled this joke now and not 6 months from now at their college. In that sense. They do have a second chance. Pretty sure this would end in court/jail/expulsion if it happened at a college.

The way I read some of the postings, that's exactly what some seem to want here - to sweep it under the rug and not disclose to colleges.

Regardless of whether the students were expelled or just suspended, unfortunately they screwed the pooch as far as any acceptances to very selective colleges are concerned.

[Anonymous]

You say this as an admissions person? I would allow expect a selective college to be more thoughtful. Latin should invite them back for a PG year. They can keep their noses clean , write frickin good essays, and go on w/ their lives. I see no reason why a kid who should be headed in one direction should have to go to UDC as some Jim d of weird atonement. And I have nothing against UDC - I've taken some classes there. I do have something against the attitude on this thread that being bumped college tiers is somehow just and fitting punishment. Its bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You say this as an admissions person? I would allow expect a selective college to be more thoughtful. Latin should invite them back for a PG year. They can keep their noses clean , write frickin good essays, and go on w/ their lives. I see no reason why a kid who should be headed in one direction should have to go to UDC as some Jim d of weird atonement. And I have nothing against UDC - I've taken some classes there. I do have something against the attitude on this thread that being bumped college tiers is somehow just and fitting punishment. Its bizarre.

It's not "punishment," but the reality is that students with serious disciplinary infractions are disadvantaged in a very competitive admission process. What part of the "stay out of trouble and keep your senior grades up" talk from their college counselor were they sleeping through?

[Anonymous]

Probably the first part. But hitting send on a dumb email is teen 101. I am not saying they did not do something completely asinine, but I kind of get total teen brain farts, and I'm guessing admissions people have seen it all. They have to have something going for them if they were admitted this early on. It's only January: Early admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You say this as an admissions person? I would allow expect a selective college to be more thoughtful. Latin should invite them back for a PG year. They can keep their noses clean , write frickin good essays, and go on w/ their lives. I see no reason why a kid who should be headed in one direction should have to go to UDC as some Jim d of weird atonement. And I have nothing against UDC - I've taken some classes there. I do have something against the attitude on this thread that being bumped college tiers is somehow just and fitting punishment. Its bizarre.

It's not "punishment," but the reality is that students with serious disciplinary infractions are disadvantaged in a very competitive admission process. What part of the "stay out of trouble and keep your senior grades up" talk from their college counselor were they sleeping through?

They certainly don't deserve a spot in the school. Send them elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably the first part. But hitting send on a dumb email is teen 101. I am not saying they did not do something completely asinine, but I kind of get total teen brain farts, and I'm guessing admissions people have seen it all. They have to have something going for them if they were admitted this early on. It's only January: Early admissions

If one of them got a C or two in his senior year he probably would have a Princeton letter withdrawn also. Kids do stupid stuff and for better or worse there are often consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably the first part. But hitting send on a dumb email is teen 101. I am not saying they did not do something completely asinine, but I kind of get total teen brain farts, and I'm guessing admissions people have seen it all. They have to have something going for them if they were admitted this early on. It's only January: Early admissions

If one of them got a C or two in his senior year he probably would have a Princeton letter withdrawn also. Kids do stupid stuff and for better or worse there are often consequences.

Thats called a conditional admittance isn't it? For all we know these kids had regular acceptance. I know transcripts are sent along for all students but they are not watching like hawks for a C, nor would they withdraw an offer based on that without asking the context. Dont terrify all the parents of seniors pls.

[Anonymous]

To add on, admissions teams spend a lot of time not just choosing kids but building a class. You make it sound like they are frothing at the mouth to reject kids they accepted. If anything, the opposite.