Kids and guns

[PrincessFiona]

Yesterday Andrew came home from school and was upset...about an hour later he told me that one of the boys in his class had told him that he was going to "die tomorrow" because the boy said he was going to bring a machine gun in and shoot him...or else drown him. 8O

A few years ago I might not have thought quite as much of these comments, but yesterday it freaked me out. I considered not sending him to school today...I did call the teacher and talk to him and he assured me that he would get to the bottom of it...

But honestly....this made a strong argument for me yesterday for homeschooling Thomas was so upset he could barely see straight.

Do you think I overreacted by calling the teacher or that we're taking this too personally/seriously?

kris

[Meenah]

No, you did the right thing. When my girls were younger I used to ask parents (before play dates or sleep overs) if there were firearms in the house, and if so were they locked up. I'm sure they thought I was nuts, but I felt it was important. I went to school with a girl who was shot in the stomach by her brother, playing with a family gun. Fortunately she survived.
Luanne

[mommax3]

I don't think you overreacted at all. Chances are (I hope! 8O ) the kid was just blowing smoke, but he needs to learn that that kind of talk is unacceptable. I hope the powers-that-be at school scare him silly.

Poor Andrew, he is having a tough time lately.

Luke (same age) is having a hard time right now because it is time for "grandfriends day" which is a HUGE deal (probably because a lot of the grandfriends contribute bucks to the school) and Luke remembers from last year that "everyone" in his class got to go out to eat with their grandparents after the program, but not him. He has been blowing off the work they are doing in class to prepare for this, to the extent that I got a call from his teacher yesterday. I talked to him about it and he cried because none of his grandparents will be there and he won't get to go out to lunch. So I said I would come, and DH said he would come as soon as his clinic was over and take both boys out to lunch (I have a hair appt. ~desperately needed!~ so I can't go). I hope that improves his attitude.

Sometimes he acts like a pre-menstrual female adolescent.

Sally

[SueC]

I don't think you over-reacted either Kris. In this day and age, you never know what kids are going to try to pull. Just yesterday I heard on the news that a 12 year old boy here brought a gun to school. Apparently he was being bullied and wanted to retaliate.

[Flynn]

I think you did exactly the right thing. Calling the teacher was/is really important to get to the bottom of this!!!! I hope the child who did the threatening admits he did it...otherwise it's one child's word against the other and if his parents support him...it gets messy.

The rules in all schools are different however, if this child had been in either high school I have taught in, he would have been emergency expelled, required to go to a psych evaluation, and might have even been reported to the police. He may be let back into school eventually or not..depending on the facts.

Since this child was younger than high school age, it is not any less of a serious situation but the "minor" (legal) issue comes into play.

I would persue this to the fullest extent so you have the whole story (or as much as you possibly can get)!!!

I would also eventually want a meeting with the teacher, a counselor, an administrator, you, your spouse, the other student and his parents. I think it's VERY important that Dad's are included in this meeting.

On another note, I am really glad your son felt comfortable enough to tell you about this. MANY MANY children would have kept this to themselves for fear or embarassment.