[Vision2020] Threatening notes found at Moscow's Russell Elementary

[Gary Crabtree]

When I was in sixth grade, the girl who sat next to me in homeroom
and myself were wasting time and created a list of people in the jr. high
who we deemed to be a waste of perfectly good carbon molecules. (It was
that or study for a social studies test. What else could we do?) She
committed this conversation to paper under a heading that could easily have
been misconstrued​. The teacher came by and noticed our less than
productive use of time and observed the list that my fellow Mensa candidate
and I were collaborating on. He asked us two questions. Was his name on the
list (it wasn't) and would we kindly turn our attention to the matter at
hand? The up shot of all this was that my friend and I passed the exam
albeit with less then stellar marks, no faculty, staff or student was
injured, and the only time wasted was mine and Jeanne's (and I suppose a
few seconds of our teachers) The list was not confiscated and neither of us
were sent away for mental evaluation or any thing else and miraculously, we
both graduated out of sixth grade without any smudges on our criminal
record.

While this has little bearing on the current situation, I agree with Paul
that treating every childish demonstration of poor judgment as a matter for
homeland security and or the first indication of the apocalypse is an
overreaction to say the least.

g

On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 9:29 AM, Sunil <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Paul,
>
> I don't think it's an overreaction on the school's part, and I don't think
> it's simply the administration protecting their own jobs. Unlikely as it is
> that the threat was real, students and adults have done horrendous things
> in our schools and administrators have to take these matters seriously.
>
> I agree with you that the student who did this likely needs help and
> didn't anticipate how badly this can turn out. Children especially have a
> hard time understanding consequences. That's why I disagree with Tom when
> he says,
>
> "I am suggesting that, once the child who wrote those threats is
> identified, (s)he is punished sufficiently, allowing the imposed punishment
> to become public knowledge (without identifying the child), as to prevent a
> reoccurrence."
>
> I understand that people will want to punish the child, whose identity
> WILL soon be known by all if he or she is found and prosecuted or punished.
> I don't think the prosecution and punishment will do much to prevent a
> recurrence. People who act impulsively, particularly children, do not
> usually take consequences into account.
>
> Sunil
>
> ------------------------------
> From: moscowcares at moscow.com
> Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 14:52:51 -0800
> To: paul.rumelhart at gmail.com
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Threatening notes found at Moscow's Russell
> Elementary
>
> Mr. Rumelhart . . .
>
> I am not talking about "putting up the metal detectors".
>
> I am suggesting that, once the child who wrote those threats is
> identified, (s)he is punished sufficiently, allowing the imposed punishment
> to become public knowledge (without identifying the child), as to prevent a
> reoccurrence.
>
> Inappropriate behavior should not be tolerated.
>
> Parents are already having a tough-enough problem lecturing to their
> offspring that cheaters never prosper (what with deflated footballs and
> the wide use of steroids in Major League Baseball).
>
> Ya pickin' up what I'm layin' down now?
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still.
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
> On Feb 3, 2015, at 2:24 PM, Paul Rumelhart <paul.rumelhart at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> It's far more likely that the child in question, whoever it is, used that
> particular threat because they knew it made the grownups shit their drawers
> and because they didn't foresee the veritable shitstorm that was about to
> descend upon them because of it.  Sure, it's possible that there is some
> fourth grader polishing their AR-15 right now, thinking about how much ammo
> to bring tomorrow, but I doubt it.  Stranger things have happened, I
> suppose.
>
> I do hope they find out who it was.  It sounds like he or she could use
> some help.
>
> I guess the officials at the school had to do something or they would lose
> their jobs if the kid did bring a weapon to school.  I'm just hoping that
> we wait a tic before we put up the metal detectors.
>
> Paul
>
> On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
> So, Mr. Rumelhart . . .
>
> You are willing to write this off as a joke akin to "political
> correctness"?  When does a "joke" end?
>
> When these same kids follow-up these threats with taking their toy guns to
> school?
>
> When these same kids follow-up these threats with taking their parents'
> real guns to school?
>
> When another student is accidentally shot when these same kids follow-up
> these threats with taking their parents' real guns to school?
>
> Perhaps then we will realize that something should have been done back
> when "meaningless" threats were made on paper.
>
> Right, Mr. Rumelhart?
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still.
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
> On Feb 3, 2015, at 1:53 PM, Paul Rumelhart <paul.rumelhart at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Well, I guess the kids need to learn about political correctness and
> overreaction by authorities at some point in their lives.  Might as well be
> now.
>
> Paul
>
> On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 11:46 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
> Courtesy of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> ---------------------------------------
> Threatening notes found at Moscow's Russell Elementary; school on
> 'modified lockdown'
>
> Russell Elementary School in Moscow is on modified lockdown today after
> school officials were made aware of handwritten notes found Monday
> threatening harm to others at the school.
>
> “From the handwriting and content we believe it was a student,” Moscow
> School District Superintendent Greg Bailey said.
>
> Bailey said the writer allegedly threatened to bring a weapon to school
> because he or she hates school and reading. Teachers assembled after
> classes Monday to examine the note and try to identify the penmanship,
> Bailey said.
>
> He said the Moscow Police Department spoke to a few students and their
> families but were unable to make a determination.
>
> The modified lockdown at Russell consists of exterior doors being locked
> during school hours and when children are outside and placing extra support
> staff with students.
>
> Bailey said three plainclothes detectives and some police officers will
> keep an increased presence at the school in the meantime.
>
> Lt. Dave Lehmitz said the investigation is continuing and police and
> school officials will assess the possibility of continued precautions as
> the day goes on.
>
> “We hope anyone with information will contact the Moscow Police
> Department,” Lehmitz said. “First and foremost is the safety of children
> and staff.
>
> To provide information to the police about this situation, call (208)
> 882-COPS.
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares"
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
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