Where does a 5 year old get this?

[meshmar]

Parents read it in the papers or see it on TV. Parents talk about it. Children overhear parent talking and don't really understand how serious it is. Parents don't talk it over with their children. ... Bad things happen.

Parents just aren't parents as much anymore.

 

[Celluloidgal]

So what happened when you dropped off your little one off today? Was the other child there?...Did he bring anything?

 

[Aidensmom]

So what happened when you dropped off your little one off today? Was the other child there?...Did he bring anything?

The other child was not there when I dropped by son off today. I may speak to the teacher about it more when I pick him up today, after reading all these replies. I really thought that it was probably more "hot air", but I guess maybe I should be a little more concerned.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Poor Aiden and poor you. And some of the information on this thread is downright SCARY. Makes you want to keep your liitle ones under your wings at all times (I know you can't, but still).

 

[fabumouse]

, after reading all these replies. I really thought that it was probably more "hot air", but I guess maybe I should be a little more concerned.

Personally, my big concerns would not be with the child actually following through (although in some circumstances, it looks like even very young ones do bring guns to school), but with how it makes the other children feel about school and their safety during the day, and how prepared your school system is to deal with issues like this effectively.

For the teachers to say "we've spoken with the parents" or for them to just acknowledge the incident wouldn't make me feel comfortable. And I'm far from a hysterical parent. Threatening to kill my DD and her classmates is definitely a line in the sand for me.

 

[meshmar]

Personally, my big concerns would not be with the child actually following through (although in some circumstances, it looks like even very young ones do bring guns to school), but with how it makes the other children feel about school and their safety during the day, and how prepared your school system is to deal with issues like this effectively.

For the teachers to say "we've spoken with the parents" or for them to just acknowledge the incident wouldn't make me feel comfortable. And I'm far from a hysterical parent. Threatening to kill my DD and her classmates is definitely a line in the sand for me.

I agree on this. Affirmative action is needed. If the schools don't have a plan in place, then they are begging for something bad to take place in the future ...

 

[fabumouse]

I agree on this. Affirmative action is needed. If the schools have a plan in place, then they are begging for something bad to take place in the future ...

Woobie - do you want to edit your post to say if the schools "don't" have a plan in place???

 

[agnes!]

I am an adult.
I have NEVER said to someone that "I am going to kill you" or "I am going to shoot you". Neither my DD(teenager) or any of her friends have threatened to do so. Neither has my DH or my mother or neices or nephews or my siblings. This verbal harassment and behavior might be based only on what a child has seen or what a child has heard and *might* not mean that a child (or even an adult) would actually *harm* someone, but that doesn't mean that I can or should condone it. I won't take that chance. If I EVER hear about another person threatening to kill any member of my family, charges will be filed with the appropriate authorities so fast the perpetrator's head will spin.
I don't care *what* age the perpetrator is, this type of harassment is a symptom of a disturbed psyche and of other anti-social tendencies. I mean, think of it this way...if a fellow human being (child or adult) is willing to say things like this in public, what do they do when no-one else is around? Pull wings off flies? Hurt pets? Physically abuse people weaker than themselves?
Plan a violent future attack on their classmates, on anybody who has supposedly wronged them?

To the OP: Best of luck with this situation, whatever you decide to do. The things that many kids have to go through these days fill me with grief for all of us.

agnes!

 

[jodifla]

I am an adult.
I have NEVER said to someone that "I am going to kill you" or "I am going to shoot you". Neither my DD(teenager) or any of her friends have threatened to do so. Neither has my DH or my mother or neices or nephews or my siblings. This verbal harassment and behavior might be based only on what a child has seen or what a child has heard and *might* not mean that a child (or even an adult) would actually *harm* someone, but that doesn't mean that I can or should condone it. I won't take that chance. If I EVER hear about another person threatening to kill any member of my family, charges will be filed with the appropriate authorities so fast the perpetrator's head will spin.
I don't care *what* age the perpetrator is, this type of harassment is a symptom of a disturbed psyche and of other anti-social tendencies. I mean, think of it this way...if a fellow human being (child or adult) is willing to say things like this in public, what do they do when no-one else is around? Pull wings off flies? Hurt pets? Physically abuse people weaker than themselves?
Plan a violent future attack on their classmates, on anybody who has supposedly wronged them?

To the OP: Best of luck with this situation, whatever you decide to do. The things that many kids have to go through these days fill me with grief for all of us.

agnes!

When I was growing up in the wild 60s and 70s, it was quite common for us to declare we were going to kill each other, other the principal, or whatever. We didn't mean it, of course, and no one took us seriously.

Adults and schools over-react too often these days. Did the kid have true intent? Or is he just being a kid.

 

[pigletz]

Yes, it was common for some of us to say "I'm going to kill you" when we were younger and not mean it especially if someone embarassed us or divulged some information they weren't supposed to. However, that is very different from "I'm going to bring a gun to school and kill you". We have to over-react these days. There have been too many real incidents of this happening recently that we can't ignore any threat. Unfortunatly many times the schools hands are tied either by laws or by school board decisions. I know in Ohio at least if a child has an IEP or a 504 he or she can only be suspended for 10 days total during each school year. They can be removed for a longer period if they pose a threat to other students, but there is a ton of paperwork and I'm not sure one threat would qualify as enough to get that child out of the school. There have been other cases where my principal has suspended students or recommended them for expulsion and then been ordered to allow the child back into the school. We had a child last year throw a lock at another child's face. The principal recommended expulsion because this was not her first offense and the other girl ended up in the hospital. Two weeks later she got a call from the superintendent ordering her to withdraw the recommendation. Turns out the girls parents threatened to sue and the administration thought it would be better to just let her back in school. It's frustrates us that when we try to protect the students and deliver the best education we can, the administration decides to send the message that all you have to do is threaten to sue and you can do anything you want.

 

[agnes!]

When I was growing up in the wild 60s and 70s, it was quite common for us to declare we were going to kill each other, other the principal, or whatever. We didn't mean it, of course, and no one took us seriously.

Adults and schools over-react too often these days. Did the kid have true intent? Or is he just being a kid.

I agree that sometimes schools do over-react, like in cases of plastic knives being packed in school-lunches & students getting suspended because of that "weapons violation". But it seems that we cannot afford to take that chance anymore , because as we have sadly learned, sometimes adults (and even sometimes just kids) *do* mean it.
Columbine taught that particular lesson all too well.

agnes!

 

[jodifla]

I agree that sometimes schools do over-react, like in cases of plastic knives being packed in school-lunches & students getting suspended because of that "weapons violation". But it seems that we cannot afford to take that chance anymore , because as we have sadly learned, sometimes adults (and even sometimes just kids) *do* mean it.
Columbine taught that particular lesson all too well.

agnes!

But this kid is 5, he's not in high school. The 5-year-olds I know say some dumb things. I'm shocked that so many people are shocked at this. I'm also shocked that people want him thrown out of school or things written on his permanent record. If there's a pattern of anger against other kids, that's one thing. A 5-year-old making a comment, that's another.

 

[lbgraves]

Last year a kid brought a toy gun in his backpack in DS's Kindergarten class. He was suspended.

A 4th grade girl at the school was given a rifle for Christmas this past year. Let's just say that she doesn't seem very stable at times. She is picked on alot. That is not a great combo but we are here in NC & it is normal for some people to have guns around the house.

 

[Evil Queen]

But this kid is 5, he's not in high school. The 5-year-olds I know say some dumb things. I'm shocked that so many people are shocked at this. I'm also shocked that people want him thrown out of school or things written on his permanent record. If there's a pattern of anger against other kids, that's one thing. A 5-year-old making a comment, that's another.

It does need to be dealt with and NOW.

DS10 when he was in day care, was bullied (kid jumped on his chest after knocking him down)........I had never heard of a kid kicked out of day care until that time. Glad they did, my son was happier after that (and my son was bigger than that kid, but didn't like trouble-so tried avoiding other kid). I still wonder about that kid.

Sad to hear the stories about the kid's my son went to K thru 3rd grade with and were mean (just in general to others)........they are always in the office with the principal and parents.

 

[agnes!]

My son came to me earlier and told me that a little boy in his Pre-K class told him today that he was going to bring a gun to school tomorrow and shoot everyone. My son of course was anxious about it, and wanted to know if the little boy was really going to bring a gun and if so could I come and get him.

What I am wondering, where the heck does a 5 year old get that kind of idea about bringing a gun to school? It actually is a bit scary to me to think that a child that young can think like that.

I thought it might be useful to have the OP re-posted further along in the thread, especially to refresh *my* memory. Yes, kids do say dumb things, kids (& sometimes even adults) say/do things without thinking them through, *but*...
this kid did apparently say something alongs the lines of
"I am going to bring a gun to school tomorrow and I am going to shoot everyone."
Maybe he didn't say those exact words, but he certainly gave that impression to at least one fellow classmate(and maybe the entire class), that in and of itself gives me cause for concern.

jodifla - No, I don't want this alleged "perpetrator" thrown in the penitentiary for life, but what do you think would be the appropriate course of action?

agnes!
PS - I grew up during the '60s/'70s as well.