Today during recess my daughter and her friend were threatened by another classmate.My daughter who is 6 yrs old told me that a boy in her class said "I'll shoot you with my .22" because they didn't want to play the game that he wanted to.My wife is going to send a note to the teacher and principal informing them of what has transpired so the situation can be adressed.Are we going overboard or is this the correct course of action?
Threatened to shoot my daughter with a .22
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I wouldn't send a note, I'd make an appearance. We had a little boy tell my (then 5 year old) that he was going to "cut her face off". We paid a trip to the principal and the child's family too...
I wouldn't send a note, I'd make an appearance. We had a little boy tell my (then 5 year old) that he was going to "cut her face off". We paid a trip to the principal and the child's family too...
id call that overboard
You should absolutely report it to the teacher and principal. I tend to agree with Paul that you should tell them in person. I'd only talk to the family directly, however, if you know them and are on pretty good terms with them.
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My daughter told us he has gone hunting with his dad.i don't know how she knows this unless he has talked about going hunting.If he has then I would have to assume he knows what happens when you shoot something.
Seeing the family? We knew them. If you think it's acceptable to let kids threaten your family, then we have different values
EDIT: Not to mention the fact that I have the ability to talk to people about serious things in an appropriate way. Sitting back and letting things fester and brew isn't really my style
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I do not know the child or his family so do you think contacting the principal is the right first step.This is the first time one of my children or myself has been in this situation.Do you think it is possible that this child is just throwing a fit cause he didn't get his way.
Yes it's actually likely that he's just throwing a fit because he didn't get his way. However, the fact that you can't threaten to kill people needs to be taught. Having conversations about stuff isn't a bad thing. It can be done without a lot of confrontation. We've been on both sides of similar kinds of conversations and it's all been fine.
I'd definitely talk to the principal (at least) though.
Being a parent myself. I would definatly pay a visit to the school. That type of behavior can be a precursor to more violent tendancies. Somebody needs tk know about this.
Just my two cents.
Josh.
Just my two cents.
Josh.
As a parent myself, I think I'd rather risk offending someone rather than pretending like it didn't happen and not address it, only to have something actually come of it. You can always say you're sorry if someone is offended, but you're gonna have a much harder time trying to fix the other result. I'm not saying you should be rude about it, though. Sometimes kids say things... sometimes adults says things... e.g. "I could just kill him/her". But that's not to say that you don't have the responsibility to at least validate the context in which it was said and ensuring that it won't be followed through upon.
Seeing the family? We knew them. If you think it's acceptable to let kids threaten your family, then we have different values
EDIT: Not to mention the fact that I have the ability to talk to people about serious things in an appropriate way. Sitting back and letting things fester and brew isn't really my style
Ahh you didnt say you knew them......
I would also notify the police
+1
Spot on Paul.
Even if he didn't know them, having a conversation about threats is not a bad thing.
Particularly in view of the fact that things sometimes do escalate.
No one thought that 11 year old kid in PA was going to kill his Dad's fiance with a shotgun, but it happened.
A conversation is a small price for peace of mind.
I don't think anyone is suggesting the kid be kicked out of school or anything of the nature.
Just look at the threat and assess it like adults should do.
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Being that I'm not that good at conversation I'm hoping the school administrater knows how to handle this discretely.My little girl doesn't know what the boys statement means but she is worried that her teacher will be mad at her (she's sensitive) and the boy will also be mad at her for telling.It is hard trying to get her to understand that she did nothing wrong.I hope the school can help all parties involved through this with no ill will.
Definately not overboard these days. 30 years ago you could take your hunting guns to school in the back window of your pickup. Not anymore. Now that kids think thats how you settle disputes it can get bad real quick. Even with a 6 year old.
The sad but true of it is you have to bring it to the schools attention, and they will have to tell the police, whom will have make some kind of charge. Its better then having buy turn up with a .22 but its not at all ideal.
I'm glad children aren't in my future, I'm sure they are a joy and all, just not for me and this is one reason why.
I'm glad children aren't in my future, I'm sure they are a joy and all, just not for me and this is one reason why.
I wouldn't be surprised if I heard that a kid was expelled for such a statement. The zero tolerance policies that a lot of schools are implementing these days often lead to that sort of overreaction...
But thats not the concern of the parent of the threatened child. Something should absolutely be said to the administration. Ideally they would speak to the parents, then perhaps sit down with them and the child and explain that threatening other children is not appropriate and that there will be consequences.
Unless they are an especially competent sort, this is way above an elementary school Principal's pay-grade. Very, very high chance they will tell you what you want to hear but then never follow up out of fear of starting a throwdown with the threatening kid's parents. Always backstop yourself with a little visit to the school board at their next meeting. That way you will get your concerns on the public record and no one can ever say they never heard about it or from you.
Plus, school boards live in constant fear of being sued or being found liable, so they will actually care, whereas most principals won't.
Plus, school boards live in constant fear of being sued or being found liable, so they will actually care, whereas most principals won't.
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