Ok, this is absolute insanity. As a parent I would not imagine receiving THAT phone call. I could however imagine what my parents would have done had they been the ones to get the call!! What is going on???????? And kudos to "Texas Teacher" for her comment. (see below) I think I need to go pray! :-) People, do the world a favor and hug your (or any) child today! SheNotes***************
The Associated PressPublished on: 04/01/08 Waycross, Ga.
-- A group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, police said Tuesday.
The plot by as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said Tuesday.
"We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely," Tanner said. "We feel like if they weren't interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don't know."
The children, ages 8 and 9, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said.
They could be expelled, but a prosecutor said they are too young to be charged with a crime under Georgia law.
Tanner said school officials alerted police Friday after a pupil tipped off a teacher that a girl had brought a weapon to school.
Police seized a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape, electrical and transparent tape, ribbons and a crystal paperweight from the students, who apparently intended to use them against the teacher, Tanner said.
The alleged target is a veteran educator who teaches third-grade students with a range of learning disabilities, including attention deficit disorder, delayed development and hyperactivity, friends and parents said.
Tanner said the scheme involved a division of roles. One child's job was to cover windows so no one could see outside, he said. Another was supposed to clean up after the attack.
"We estimate between six to nine students were involved. ... We're not sure at this point in the investigation how many of the students actually knew the intent was to hurt the teacher," Tanner said.
The parents of the students have cooperated with investigators, who aren't allowed to question the children without their parents' or guardians' consent, he said. Authorities have withheld the children's names.
Martin, told The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville, Fla., that administrators would follow school system policy and state law in disciplining the students.
"From what I understand, they were considered pretty good kids," Martin said. "But we have to take this seriously, whether they were serious or not about carrying this through, and that's what we did."
By Texas Teacher
Apr 2, 2008 2:12 PM
As an educator myself and a parent I feel it is our responsiblility to be accountable for our children(s) actions. All this time out and counting to 10 isn't the answer. The children today doesn't respect authority. They feel as if they are the exception to the rules. Society have given these kids so many rights that most parents feel like their hands are tied. I've always told my son if you call CPS make sure they bring you something to wear because how you came into this world is how you will leave the CPS agency. We definitley need to stop the balming game and start taking charge of our children. Let's wake up America and stop upholding their wrong doings.
For complete story and all of the comments go to http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/04/01/threat_0401.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab.
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