Attack of the 3rd-Graders?
The shocking headlines out of Waycross, Georgia— 3rd-graders plotted to attack teacher, brought knife, handcuffs —lowered the bar on school violence and raised the alarm among parents, teachers, psychologists and just about anyone with an opinion about the country’s future.
The third grade plotters—nine students between the ages of 8 and 10—were allegedly readying a revenge assault against a teacher who had given one of the children a time-out for standing on a chair.
Tipped off by a student, police seized the kids’ menacing arsenal at school, including a steak knife, duct tape, handcuffs, and a heavy paperweight. The teacher specialized in learning disabilities, including attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity, though it’s not known if any of the plotters had those diagnoses.
The sophistication of the plan—with kid-assigned jobs of covering classroom windows and cleaning up after the attack—stunned even the police.
“We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her,” the police chief said, “but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely.”
The big question—who or what was responsible for the children’s shocking behavior?—was debated across the U.S. on message boards and Main Street.
The culprits ranged from peer pressure to parenting, with violent video games and television getting much of the blame. “Kids naturally think now that the solution to everything is to shoot someone like they see on TV,” one comment read. “I weep for the future of America.”
For the present, local authorities are uncertain exactly how to proceed. In Georgia, children under 13 can’t be charged with a crime. Being declared “delinquent” by a judge may be the only legal penalty, but the state doesn’t have detention facilities for third-graders.
Tell us what you think. Given the restrictions with the law, how do you make punishment for third graders fit the crime? How much responsibility do their parents bear? And what about the rest of us—should we also be accountable as members of society?
Add Comment Share This
Comments
combination
I think the fault here lies mostly with the parents. We are programed by the environment that we are raised in. It’s up to the parents what kids are exposed to at an early age: TV, video games, movies, music, the other kids they are allowed to play with, etc.The news media over reports on school violence. Parents are ultimately responsible.
terrance tattrie | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Not so sure...
I don’t think society and violence in tv and games can really play such a large part here. When you’re that young, you experience intense emotions, and you’re not always sure what to do with them. As a young child I was kept from TV and video games and movies of all kinds. Yet when adults in my life were “unfair” I often fantasized of hurting them back. I’ve grown and changed a lot since then, and learned that retribution is not the answer. I think these kids should definitely get some help — someone to help them recognize and deal with emotions in a healthy way.
I think the kids should be removed from that teacher’s classroom, and split up if possible. They should have to do some sort of community service and some sort of therapy. Rather than detracting from society (plotting to kill a teacher) they need to learn to contribute.
I actually feel more for the kids — how angry and frustrated they must have felt, and that they felt they had noone to turn to. They had to feel so powerless, and this was one thing they COULD do. Parents and authority figures need to teach them alternatives and respect for authority (even if we don’t agree).
And noone said… KUDOS to the kid who reported the group. Did that kid get rewarded for doing the right thing despite the pressure the other kids would have put on him?
Dani O'Malley | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Yes, Community Service...
I think you’re absolutely right about community service…
Suspending the children doesn’t teach them anything (except maybe teaching them that acting badly lets them off the hook from schoolwork); juvenile hall wouldn’t teaching them anything (except how to be a better criminal by hanging out with other criminals).
Community service for the teacher may teach them something. Maybe they should come to school early every morning to wash faculty cars or paint over some tagging or pick some weeds for a month would be good ideas.
I also think the parents of the children should come with the child as he/she offers a long letter of apology and what they plan on doing to make up for their stupidity. Looking someone in the eye as you apologize really does something for our integrity, does it not?
Joyce B. | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Letter of Apology
When I was in high school I behaved particularly abominably to one teacher — not to the extent as these young children, but still… I’m not proud of my behavior. My parents made me write a letter of apology and read it to the teacher so I wouldn’t forget what I wanted to say.
And you’re right. Looking that teacher in the eye and apologizing — reading my wrongs out loud and asking to make amends — it changed me. And I haven’t treated anyone like that since. I think twice. :D
Dani O'Malley | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
3rd grade punishment
Famiily therapy for all, especially the parents of these children and adults Dr.LAura would be my first stop.
Janine | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
All should take a slice of the responsibility pie
As I see it, all of the adults, parents, school administrator(s) and the teacher should receive the biggest slices of this pie, as they all have failed to take responsibility to provide guidance to this classroom of students.
Yes, the students do deserve a slice of the pie as well, as they are the ones who hatched the plot and then decided to act upon it. So, they must suffer some form of consequences for their choice of behavior so that they learn that just because you think of doing something does not mean you have to act upon it, AND, if you do choose to act upon the thought, you MUST suffer the consequences for the choice.
Now, the parents dropped the ball in not making a point of zeroing in on their own child’s feelings that I am certain they were telegraphing to them. The teacher, I am certain, knew or sensed that she had unhappy students, (I can say this with certainty as I am a retired classroom teacher), and once she sensed there was a problem brewing, she could have sat down with her students to investigate what they ‘thought’ the problem was. Nine year olds in general are not at a level of maturity to discuss things of a feeling nature, this is an abstract thinking ability that is beyond nine year olds.
And finally the administration failed because they should have been observing the classroom on a regular basis so as to have the ‘pulse’ of the classroom.
I do not agree that therapy for the children is necessary here, but rather the teacher as she obviously has some deep seated issues that a therapist could help her come to grips with.
I do agree though with the responder who said the young boy who brought this to other adults attention deserves a round of applause and a pat on the back.
Rori Morrow | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Fontana
I concur!
Kina Barnum | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
esperanza city
I believe the world is just gonna get worse no matter what we try to do. I don’t think we will ever be able to ban violence on t.v. or that parents will ever be responsible enough to set parental controls on t.v.s or even stop buying violent video games. My 3rd grade son got beat up by a classmate while a 5th grader my size(5ft5 120 lbs)held him down, afterward they threatened to kill him. It was all because my son was walking a popular girl home.I had them both arrested at the school and the judge ordered a letter of apology to be written. I believe it helped a lot because my son and the other 3rd grader are now friends. The 5th grader hates my son even more now for us calling the cops but we do feel alot safer knowing that everyones aware of the situation. I believe that making them face the consequences publicly helps them to see others reactions to what they have done and in turn helps them to realize what they did is wrong. Also apology letters and counseling would work wonders for everyone.
Tamara Arano | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Many options...
I have a 3rd grader and he and his friends are SO impressionable. I am sure the main planning in this incident was the doing of one or two crafty students and the others were simply followers.
I think the letters of apology and community service are good ideas, but because of how impressionable these kids are, a scared straight approach might be the way to go too.
Have the children “arrested” and talked to by the police. Take them to a facility where kids are detained and let them see how they live. It might put enough fear in them to keep them from future troubles.
Natalie | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
If It Were My Kid
First of all, I’d ask him/her what the teacher had done that was so upsetting to him/her. Next, I would acknowledge his/her feelings. Then, I would try to explain how the teacher was feeling during the situation. After that, I would ask my child to write an essay detailing every reason that his/her behavior was unacceptable. More over, I would strip my child’s room down to nothing but a bed without sheets and a pillow without a pillowcase and I would ground him/her to her room for three days, only allowing him/her out to bathe, get ready for school, to eat meals with the family and a one hour sanity break to do whatever. No tv, no telephone and no friends until further notice.
Valleester | 1 year, 7 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
1 2 3 > Last » (26 pages)