Rate the school's reaction, please: link to news story on pg. 2

[nuttylawprofessor]

Last week, a kid brought a gun to school. Reports are mixed as to whether it was a toy, but it almost certainly was a toy. The kid showed the gun to kids on the bus and told the kids that they would all get in trouble if they told. Clearly, the kid knew that he was doing wrong. The other kids, being kids, didn't tell anyone about it. A few days later, two of the kids tell the dad about the gun after seeing pictures of guns during a news story. The dad called the school and insisted the school investigate.

The next day, the school pulled the two kids who told (a Kindergartener and 1st grader) and brought them room-to-room to identify the kid who had the gun. They identified the kid, another 1st grader. Their dad is now raising heck.

What would you do if you were the dad? Did the school act appropriately?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Last week, a kid brought a gun to school. Reports are mixed as to whether it was a toy, but it almost certainly was a toy. The kid showed the gun to kids on the bus and told the kids that they would all get in trouble if they told. Clearly, the kid knew that he was doing wrong. The other kids, being kids, didn't tell anyone about it. A few days later, two of the kids tell the dad about the gun after seeing pictures of guns during a news story. The dad called the school and insisted the school investigate.

The next day, the school pulled the two kids who told (a Kindergartener and 1st grader) and brought them room-to-room to identify the kid who had the gun. They identified the kid, another 1st grader. Their dad is now raising heck.

What would you do if you were the dad? Did the school act appropriately?

Well what happened after they identified him? I'm confussed about the question...They needed to identify the child...yes, not neccessarily for punishment(since they are so young) but definately so he can be talked to.

And if I were the father I wouldn't really have any feelings unti there is some kind of action taken...

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'd be livid. There's no reason they couldn't have shown photographs or had the children make the identification in a way that protect the privacy of the kids who told. If the kids were already afraid enough that they didn't tell for 2 days, the school needs to respect that, even if they don't think there was an actual risk (e.g. if they were sure it was a toy, and that the child was bluffing).

If they knew which bus the child rode, and presumably at least his gender, there's only a handful of kids it could have been. Easy enough to gather pictures (Most schools have class photos by this point in the year) and show them to the kids.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, because if it was a real gun and they did not investigate someone could get hurt or killed.

I would not want that on my conscience.

 

[suejai]

No. I think they could have been a little bit more discreet in how they identified the child with the gun. Sometimes I wonder if school administration has a clue about how playground politics works.

That ranks right up there with how my son's school handled a bullying complaint. They called the child who complained to the Principal's office over the PA and then shortly after that called the offending children to the office. Do you think they made the connection

Now if you are asking whether or not the school should have investigated at that point? Possibly, depending on the behavioural history of the kid with the gun. If this is a first alleged offense then maybe a general discussion about why this would be an inappropriate action and then pay attention to him in particular. If, on the other hand, it isn't his first incident then pulling him aside, in private, and diccussing the issue would be a good idea.

But in no way should the kids who told on him be identified.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I'd be livid. There's no reason they couldn't have shown photographs or had the children make the identification in a way that protect the privacy of the kids who told. If the kids were already afraid enough that they didn't tell for 2 days, the school needs to respect that, even if they don't think there was an actual risk (e.g. if they were sure it was a toy, and that the child was bluffing).

If they knew which bus the child rode, and presumably at least his gender, there's only a handful of kids it could have been. Easy enough to gather pictures (Most schools have class photos by this point in the year) and show them to the kids.

I get this...but whose parent is upset? The kid who told...or the one who brought it

 

[agnes!]

This is a mess all around.

Some adults at that school - a teacher or an administrator - took the kids around to each individual classroom and now EVERY single kid in that school knows who "snitched". Including the kid who brought the (toy?) gun to school and then told everyone on the bus not to tell.

This will create so many problems between the two families, of the kids who did what they were supposed to (told an adult) and the kid who did *not* do what he was supposed to.

No easy way out.
agnes!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I get this...but whose parent is upset? The kid who told...or the one who brought it

I assumed from the "their" dad that it's the dad of the 2 kids, not the one.

 

[jen0610]

IDing the gun bringer did not reguire taking the kids to each class room. As long as they knew the gun had been seen at the bus stop, all the school needed to do, was pull the bus route records - each of our schools has a complete list of who gets on at what stop - see who's on the list and work from there backwards, elimanating the 2 who told, the boys or grils (depending on the gender), then go with a picture lineup of the rest of the kids to find out who had the gun. The only way this would have been harder, is if the kids said that the person with the gun didn't normally get on/off at that stop, then they would have had to go thru the whole buses rider assignement.

So no the school did not do the right thing, by not protecting the identity of the kids who told and it would make me upset with the school.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Sorry for the confusion. In my efforts to be neutral, I lost my clarity.

The dad of the "snitchers" (for lack of a better term) is the one who is irate. He is upset and worried about retribution. He is angry enough that he called the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, television stations, and our alderman. He was passing fliers out at the bus stop, encouraging the parents to call each of the above as well.

As for how difficult it might be to identify the kid, here are the logistics. The school is a K-5, with 3 classes per grade. The bus route in question has one stop, but many kids do not ride the bus consistently. There are many days where parents drive different kids to or from school. The "snitchers" are relatively new to the area (started in January). They knew the kid was in 1st or 2nd grade, but couldn't remember his name. Class pictures came out 2 weeks ago.

Anyone have any new input or ideas?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Sorry for the confusion. In my efforts to be neutral, I lost my clarity.

The dad of the "snitchers" (for lack of a better term) is the one who is irate. He is upset and worried about retribution. He is angry enough that he called the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, television stations, and our alderman. He was passing fliers out at the bus stop, encouraging the parents to call each of the above as well.

As for how difficult it might be to identify the kid, here are the logistics. The school is a K-5, with 3 classes per grade. The bus route in question has one stop, but many kids do not ride the bus consistently. There are many days where parents drive different kids to or from school. The "snitchers" are relatively new to the area (started in January). They knew the kid was in 1st or 2nd grade, but couldn't remember his name. Class pictures came out 2 weeks ago.

Anyone have any new input or ideas?

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[luvmy3]

I could see him being upset and he does have a valid reason however I think its a huge overreaction to be calling the CEO of schools, the Aldermam and television stations and handing out fliers. Did he go into the school to discuss why they did it the way they did and how in the future they are going to change that We are talking about K and 1st graders telling but how old was the kid who had the toy gun, was he the same age or older?

ETA I re-read the OP and see it was another first grader, so yes I definitely think the father is over-reacting.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think he's overreacting. I could maybe even see calling the school board if he didn't get an immediate profuse apology.

But if he's concerned that his children's privacy wasn't respected, going to the media seems . . .

Having said that, all they had to do was to show the pictures to the kids. Maybe point out each child of the right gender and right bus route.

All this is assuming everyone is clear it was a toy gun. If there was any chance it was real, then my answer changes. My kids would be out of that school, and I'd be calling for a transfer.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I think he's overreacting. I could maybe even see calling the school board if he didn't get an immediate profuse apology.

But if he's concerned that his children's privacy wasn't respected, going to the media seems . . .

Having said that, all they had to do was to show the pictures to the kids. Maybe point out each child of the right gender and right bus route.

All this is assuming everyone is clear it was a toy gun. If there was any chance it was real, then my answer changes. My kids would be out of that school, and I'd be calling for a transfer.

It was most likely a toy gun, but no adult has placed eyes on the object in question. As for a transfer, that's not likely to happen either. This is already one of the top-rated, safest neighborhood public schools -- even if it is in the shadow of what was once the most dangerous neighborhood in America, but that's a whole 'nuther thread.

 

[brmom]

Might be okay in first grade, but in the public school environment in my town, my children would at the best not be riding the bus and if it were at all possible would be in a different school. Of course, I am SUPER paranoid about public schools and retribution.

 

[brmom]

Just Curious, Are we the only city where kids/parents can report this type of situation anonymously through Crimestoppers?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would have been livid about the kids being asked to ID the "perp".

But my issue is--at this point, how can they prove the incident unless little Tommy fesses up?

What if they made up the story about the gun?

The whole situation was poorly handled and it seems the school and the parents need to do something so that a real gun isn't kept secret the next time.

Retribution in this day and age can be real--in the days of school bullying and sadly there is no age minimum for torment.

Dad should have elevated the issue of course--but the whole scenario stinks.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Well, there was a news crew at the bus stop this afternoon. I don't know if they'll air the story. The only parent who agreed to be interviewed sounded a bit crazy. I'm sure the school will have a bigger response now. And it will probably involve a new zero-tolerance policy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, there was a news crew at the bus stop this afternoon. I don't know if they'll air the story. The only parent who agreed to be interviewed sounded a bit crazy. I'm sure the school will have a bigger response now. And it will probably involve a new zero-tolerance policy.

Zero tolerance would not have helped in this situation if the children don't feel safe coming forward to report it.

I wonder if they had it in place already and this is a matter of the school not making it safe to report any gun they see.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Zero tolerance would not have helped in this situation if the children don't feel safe coming forward to report it.

I wonder if they had it in place already and this is a matter of the school not making it safe to report any gun they see.

Well, the perp told all of the kids that they'd all be in trouble if anyone told. It was somewhat effective, for a day.

The bus is pure chaos. I wish we could do without it, but we just can't make it work. Had there not been a ramp-up and run to the media, perhaps we could have had a meeting with the principal to talk about common-sense solutions to the bus problems. Now, everyone will be defensive.

When will people learn that running to the media and/or lawyers is rarely the most effective way to solve problems?