False Bomb Threat in School Not Taken Seriously

**Crimebytes2** · 01-07-07, 02:00 PM

Earlier this week a student attending the same school as my son made a bomb threat. He claimed it would go off at 3p. Several students reported this to school officials. They were able to trace the rumor back to the student responsible who admitted making up the threat. The police were never called or the parents notified. Instead, a letter was sent home the following day. The student received a one-day suspension... nothing more. Do you agree or disagree with this? As a parent, I think the punishment, or lack thereof, didn't fit the severity of the crime (if you can call it that), especially when one considers everything going on today (terrorism, school shootings, etc.).

The letter the principal sent home says, "We applaud the students who reported this rumor so that we could investigate and ensure everyone's safety. We encourage this type of courage and openness in our school. Thank you for helping us reinforce these messages with you child." OK. But, what kind of message does a one-day suspension send? I'm not saying we should lock him up and throw away the key. On the other hand, we're not talking about a first grader making a firecracker threat; we're talking about a sixth grader making a bomb threat. Am I wrong to feel this way?

**TXCharlie** · 01-07-07, 02:14 PM

Certainly you have a right & responsibility to have the school's leadership fired for not calling the police and evacuating the school - Show up at the next School District's meeting with signed petitions in hand!!!

And if your kid was at the school, it seems to me that you have grounds to file charges against the little bastard yourself, whether the school likes it or not, if it was indeed a threat.

As far as I know, there is no harm in filing charges even if you have no standing, as long as it's a truthful filing - The DA would simply reject the application if you don't have standing. At least that's how it worked when I filed embezzlement charges against a Chamber of Commerce employee once - She stole $50,000, but because I was only a doner and not a member of the org, the DA let her skate with no criminal charges and a $50,000 civil restitution plan.

That DA got himself un-elected this past year, for a number of little things like that

**Willowdared** · 01-07-07, 07:56 PM

Depends on what he actually said vs what the rumor grew into.

**Ducky** · 01-07-07, 08:01 PM

That used to be grounds for expulsion. Of course, I went to school knowing if I screwed up, I'd be in line for the vice-principal and his paddle. Somehow growing up knowing that EVERY adult could dole out some pain if I was an asshole made me a better person.

**Piggybank Cop** · 01-07-07, 08:10 PM

Good thing he didn't have a GI Joe or NRA T-shirt; he could have had the cops called on him and been expelled.

**TXCharlie** · 01-08-07, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by 1sgkelly

Good thing he didn't have a GI Joe or NRA T-shirt; he could have had the cops called on him and been expelled.

Yeah, one kid in another school district around here was almost expelled for having a shotgun shell in his car - Not a gun, just a loose shell (he had been hunting the previous day, and he had dropped it on his floorboard, which someone saw thru the window). Actually it wasn't even illegal, and I think they dropped the expulsion.

A girl suspended for giving a classmate a Mydol (over-the-counter pain/cramp remedy).

and another suspended for bringing a water pistol to school.

Still another one almost got expelled because she had a steak knife in her lunchbox (her mother packed it for her steak lunch).

And another for spitting at a bus stop... Police even filed assault charges on him. He was like 8 years old.

It's getting rediculous.

**phoenixrose** · 01-09-07, 10:43 AM

For what it's worth, if this kid carries a label, such as BD (behavior disorder), the school's hands are legally tied in what they can and cannot do.

There would have to be a hearing to determine if the behavior was or was not tied to his disability

, and if it WAS....disciplinary action is/will be minimal.

In our district, we have something called Inclusion...which means...ALL kids are in the regular educational classroom. Does not matter if they can read, write, or control behaviors. If you have a child who is violent, spitting, throwing furniture, pulling chairs out from under other students, etc., etc., etc., you do what you have to do to get them out of the room to protect the other children, and so you can teach the kids that are there to learn. Sometimes, that means a kid that is basically a juvenile delinquent, gets processed into the system as a Behavior Disability.

If teachers in early to middle grades are successful in getting a problem child labeled, it ensures they have help with that child in the classroom, and can have them taken from the classroom to a BD room when they get out of control and/or violent. BUT, it also means, normal disciplinary recourses are EXTREMELY limited...by law. You cannot punish a child for behaviors that they...supposedly...cannot control.

That's all I'm going to say on the issue, as it is one of my pet peeves...and I personally think most of these labels are a crock of shit.

**TXCharlie** · 01-09-07, 11:00 AM

I bet that still does not preclude other parents from filing charges on the little bastard, especially if terroristic threats were made in the presence of their children.

And I know it doesn't preclude them from causing a huge stink at the next School District meeting to insist that the school take threats more seriously, which the newspapers will probably report on.

**phoenixrose** · 01-09-07, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

I bet that still does not preclude other parents from filing charges on the little bastard, especially if terroristic threats were made in the presence of their children.

And I know it doesn't preclude them from causing a huge stink at the next School District meeting to insist that the school take threats more seriously, which the newspapers will probably report on.

If it were ME...if my children were in that school...I'd make a ruckus...a BIG one. Too often, the rights of the majority are stepped on trying to help one or two that do not want to be helped, or cannot be helped. In many ways most parents just don't know or understand, the public schools are VERY limited in what they can and cannot do...legally. This is one reason my kids went to a parochial (sp?) school, despite the fact that I teach in a public system.

**dlocke1419** · 01-09-07, 11:57 AM

I would be pissed for them not evacuating the school, if there is a threat its better to be safe then sorry.

**BEB** · 01-09-07, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

I bet that still does not preclude other parents from filing charges on the little bastard, especially if terroristic threats were made in the presence of their children.

And I know it doesn't preclude them from causing a huge stink at the next School District meeting to insist that the school take threats more seriously, which the newspapers will probably report on.

Speaking of papers...

We had quite a rash of bomb threats here for a couple years. Paper would put it on the front page the next day, local radio would report live from the school. Morning show host decided on day to quit talking about it and the rest at the station went with him on it. No more discussing it, no more live remotes, and it only made the news wrap-up when someone was caught. Newspaper editor followed to the extent that while they still reported on the threats and evacuations, they now don't get front page.

The frequency of threats fell off dramatically. Instead of two a month there were just two more the second semester. None so far this year. Anecdotal, yes. It could just be coincidence, and I'm not claiming the schools and law enforcement sat idly. The media brownout sure doesn't seem to have hurt though.

**Piggybank Cop** · 01-09-07, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by phoenixrose

For what it's worth, if this kid carries a label, such as BD (behavior disorder), the school's hands are legally tied in what they can and cannot do.

There would have to be a hearing to determine if the behavior was or was not tied to his disability

, and if it WAS....disciplinary action is/will be minimal.

That's all I'm going to say on the issue, as it is one of my pet peeves...and I personally think most of these labels are a crock of shit.

I don't care if the little shit is barking mad. Get rid of him. There is crazy and then there is dangerous.

**OFK** · 01-10-07, 04:33 AM

Originally Posted by Crimebytes2

Earlier this week a student attending the same school as my son made a bomb threat. He claimed it would go off at 3p. Several students reported this to school officials. They were able to trace the rumor back to the student responsible who admitted making up the threat. The police were never called or the parents notified. Instead, a letter was sent home the following day. The student received a one-day suspension... nothing more. Do you agree or disagree with this? As a parent, I think the punishment, or lack thereof, didn't fit the severity of the crime (if you can call it that), especially when one considers everything going on today (terrorism, school shootings, etc.).

The letter the principal sent home says, "We applaud the students who reported this rumor so that we could investigate and ensure everyone's safety. We encourage this type of courage and openness in our school. Thank you for helping us reinforce these messages with you child." OK. But, what kind of message does a one-day suspension send? I'm not saying we should lock him up and throw away the key. On the other hand, we're not talking about a first grader making a firecracker threat; we're talking about a sixth grader making a bomb threat. Am I wrong to feel this way?

I guess they are rewarding him for admitting it by only giving him a day? I dunno, far less serious offenses get a minimum of a week suspension. Seems a bit unbalanced.

**Piggybank Cop** · 01-10-07, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by OFK

I guess they are rewarding him for admitting it by only giving him a day? I dunno, far less serious offenses get a minimum of a week suspension. Seems a bit unbalanced.

Who is the little shit related to?

**Dudleydoright** · 01-10-07, 10:33 AM

Here is the policy for the school district that I work in. I won't submit the whole policy but the pertinent part:

Any threat that includes the mention of a weapon or explosive device will result in a 10-180 days out-of-school suspension with a possible recommendation for expulsion and legal authorities will be notified. K-5 students will be subject to an out-of school suspension for up to 180 days or expulsion.

Please understand that there are always extenuating circumstances. But, your school district should have a written policy and consequences. Ask to see it. Hope this helps.