Yesterday afternoon there was a widely reported incident at a Douglas primary school. Children and staff were evacuated and the area was cordoned off by the police for several hours.
Later that evening it was confirmed that there had been a bomb threat made to the school which inevitably turned out to be a hoax.
This morning it was revealed that the call had been made by a 12 year old boy.
Social media is now full of comments about the whys and wherefores, with one side condemning the boy's actions and calling for strong punishment whilst others argue that it was just youthful high spirits.
I imagine that the incident was possibly frightening and stressful for the children and adults involved at the time so it is difficult to say which side of the argument is right or wtong.
Still, it was a very stupid thing to do. I hope he learns something from it.
What a horrible thing to do at the age of 12. He should know better at that age. He probably has all the hallmarks of a psychopath or terrorist and in 15 to 20 years time people will look back on his life and say this incident at the age of 12 showed the beginnings. I'm glad it didn't come to anything though, but the staff and pupils of the school must have been worried.
ReplyDeleteI hope he doesn't grow up to be a "bad'un".
DeleteOne of our local high schools had to close for the day last week because of a bomb threat that was emailed to the school. I heard they have been investigating but I haven't heard the results. Across the globe and we have the same troubles as you!
ReplyDeleteThere are stupid people everywhere Ellen.
DeleteBoys of 12 do very silly things. I know. They don't think the whole thing through. He probably wanted a day off school. They grow up into sensible citizens. I hope he doesn't have to carry one muistake around with him for the rest of his days.
ReplyDeleteI expect he'll get a good telling off. Hope that's the last of it then.
Delete"He probably wanted a day off school"? At the age of twelve he has surely left primary school. He is at secondary school now. I suspect that his malicious aim was to disrupt his old primary school. What reason did he have for this?
DeleteHe needs a quick clip round the ear from his dad and 100 lines from the school And then it should all be forgotten about.
ReplyDeleteThat would have happened when I was a kid. Not so sure about nowadays though.
DeleteAs a retired teacher I like Rachel's idea.
ReplyDeleteIt used to work didn't it.
DeleteHe should certainly be punished, not only to teach him a lesson, but also to show others that such things will not be tolerated.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if that works anymore.
DeleteBoys will be boys. Sounds like lots of devilment and silliness and wanting a day off school like Linda says.
ReplyDeleteTrue, northsider.
DeleteI'd like to take the 'old-fashioned' view and approach because that's my instinct but I'm not sure that children respond in the same way these days.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly don't appear to.
DeleteIt is not too dramatic to say that an older member of staff could have died from a heart attack or seizure brought on by the panic. How would the twelve year old boy have felt then? Poor little darling - he was only having a laugh! He has committed a serious crime and should be tried in a court of law.
ReplyDeleteOff with his head!
DeleteIf this lad isn't dealt with effectively, he will imagine that he got away with it. It's no good just patting him on the head and saying, "There! There!".
DeleteI don't disagree YP but it seems that leniency is the way things go these days.
DeleteThere are quite a few school incidents in the US at all levels (daily headlines). Not youthful high jinx (not that I consider a bomb threat a minor issue), but threats involving knives or guns. It seems there is a increasing dismissal any kind of common good norms that is pervading society. You only have to look at Jan 6 in WDC to see just how far some will go--regardless of their age. Great examples of stupidity and viciousness.
ReplyDeleteThankfully there are no guns here Mary.
DeleteYou know, kids do stupid things. He surely needs to suffer the consequences of his action, but when it is done, I hope it IS done. Too many times, kids are labeled as 'bad' as the result of some stupidity, and they never get a chance to be labeled as anything else.
ReplyDeleteI would hope that whatever punishment he may receive will make him realise that his prank was incredibly stupid.
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