Hoax Bomb Threat at Washington Latin

[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.

+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.

I totally agree with you. I really feel for everybody involved and the vitriol on this thread against these kids really disturbs me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's funny (sad) that you think that teaching ALL students is not the job of PUBLIC charter schools.

Don't like it? Then pay for private school.

[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.

Latin parent here - these are not "problem children". Just kids that made a gigantic mistake thinking they were being funny. They are paying a very heavy price for this one mistake. Too heavy IMO.

[Anonymous]

If these kids are really not so bad, they should stay at WL. Latin parents, you should support the appeals of these students to remain rather than passing the buck.

A DCPCS student who is expelled should be treated the same as a DCPS student who is expelled. No IB for the DCPS student, then no IB for DCPCS.

[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.

Latin parent here - these are not "problem children". Just kids that made a gigantic mistake thinking they were being funny. They are paying a very heavy price for this one mistake. Too heavy IMO.

So . . . They are white?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's funny (sad) that you think that teaching ALL students is not the job of PUBLIC charter schools.

Don't like it? Then pay for private school.

No, I think you don't know as much as you think you know about education if you don't know that full immersion in PUBLIC schools is an education trend. and charters are simply doing what MOST public schools used to do as is their prerogative. Don't like it? Talk to Kaya and ask her to buck the trend = good for all kids receiving public dollars (DCPS and public charter).

[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.

Latin parent here - these are not "problem children". Just kids that made a gigantic mistake thinking they were being funny. They are paying a very heavy price for this one mistake. Too heavy IMO.

Crap. As an ex Latin parent we lived through it all. I know all the goody kids and how dumb / brilliant they can be. What can we do to help PP?

[Anonymous]

As a current WL parent, I am very sad about this recent sequence of events, but I am extremely impressed with the integrity, clarity, compassion, and overall efficacy with which the school leadership responded. While I know that my information is not complete (but probably more complete than the general readership on this listserv), I have a lot of confidence that the school made deeply deliberated decisions and will continue to offer important support not only to the young man who experienced the very serious violation, but also to the two young men who were expelled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a current WL parent, I am very sad about this recent sequence of events, but I am extremely impressed with the integrity, clarity, compassion, and overall efficacy with which the school leadership responded. While I know that my information is not complete (but probably more complete than the general readership on this listserv), I have a lot of confidence that the school made deeply deliberated decisions and will continue to offer important support not only to the young man who experienced the very serious violation, but also to the two young men who were expelled.

+1 Latin seniors are so in love with their school, so in love with each other, so in love with their teachers.. this breaks my heart. Could they not do a separation? Honestly praying for them. Black/white immaterial. They are all good, sometimes dumb, sometimes brilliant kids. They are a family--and families have problems.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of assumptions in this email thread. It's not fair to assume that you have all the facts. It's not fair to make assumptions about the two students who exercised such poor judgment (their backgrounds, motives, disciplinary history, reputation, etc..). It's not fair to make predictions about their resilience and/or future. It's not fair to assume that the Head of School and Principal didn't apply developmental lens (i.e. an understanding of adolescent impulsivity). it's not fair to assume that the administration and Board of Trustees didn't think very deeply about the repercussions for these two students. It's easy to be reactive, but -- for the sake of the three students involved - I think this situation calls for respectful, careful discourse.

[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.

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

Juveniles can absolutely be charged with hate crimes.

How is this a "hate crime" (a concept of dubious constitutionality, in any event)? This was apparently a bad prank. Mind you, prank or not, I think that expulsion was the appropriate punishment. They thought it would be humorous to frame a Muslim student, but I fail to see how that constitutes a hate crime.

[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.

Latin parent here - these are not "problem children". Just kids that made a gigantic mistake thinking they were being funny. They are paying a very heavy price for this one mistake. Too heavy IMO.

So . . . They are white?

FU, bro.

[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.

+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.

Maybe so. But the content of their prank wasn't accidental. That particular account of that particular students made them think it was okay to use a bomb threat as a "prank", as opposed to, say, send out lewd comments or a joke of some sort.
Therein lies the crime. Knowing that part of the story really makes a difference for me in assessing the reaction here, which I initially found excessive but don't anymore.

[Anonymous]

Sweet Jesus. brain studies have said kids are SO stupid until about age 25, but we expect the MOST of them at this time in their lives. There is a difference between physceally assaulting someone and a quick, dashed off dumb ass prank. Did these two kids have a history of bullying? Did they do harm throughout HS? Was this the final straw? Whatever, we will never know. I hope the punishment fits the crime and the arrival of CAIR just makes me laugh. They have NO validity with me. None.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Sweet Jesus. brain studies have said kids are SO stupid until about age 25, but we expect the MOST of them at this time in their lives. There is a difference between physceally assaulting someone and a quick, dashed off dumb ass prank. Did these two kids have a history of bullying? Did they do harm throughout HS? Was this the final straw? Whatever, we will never know. I hope the punishment fits the crime and the arrival of CAIR just makes me laugh. They have NO validity with me. None.

It doesn't appear that CAIR "arrived". The guy just got quoted in the article. You don't believe that CAIR had anything to do with the punishment do you? There is no indication of that at all.