Oregon third-grader's death threats spark controversy
BANDON, Ore. (AP) - Some parents in the Bandon School District are upset because they were not told that a third-grade student wrote threatening notes.
The World newspaper of Coos Bay reports that more than a dozen parents complained at a school board meeting this week.
Parents said the third-grader left notes in the desks of several fellow students in November, with messages such as 'You will die" and 'I'm going to kill you."
The teacher discovered the notes and referred the student to the principal.
One parent, Dutch Hauser, alleged that the school principal tried to sweep the incident under the rug because the student's parent is on the school board.
Superintendent Dian Buche denied a cover-up, saying the district followed its safety procedures.
The World newspaper of Coos Bay reports that more than a dozen parents complained at a school board meeting this week.
Parents said the third-grader left notes in the desks of several fellow students in November, with messages such as 'You will die" and 'I'm going to kill you."
The teacher discovered the notes and referred the student to the principal.
One parent, Dutch Hauser, alleged that the school principal tried to sweep the incident under the rug because the student's parent is on the school board.
Superintendent Dian Buche denied a cover-up, saying the district followed its safety procedures.
Another possibility is that this child is mimicing something he has seen & heard on TV or in a movie. How many times do characters have problems with each other and as a result say "I'm going to kill you"? Not an excuse by any means, but before everyone here completely condemns the parents (without knowing anything whatsoever about them), let's try to consider ALL the possibilities.
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When my son was this age, one day out of the blue he told me he was SO upset about something (I do not even remember what at this point) that he was going to kill himself. I asked him why he would say that. My nephew (his cousin had committed suicide a few years prior to that, so talking of killing oneself was NOT a joking matter to me. My son told me that he had seen something in a TV show at his Dad's house where a person was upsdet & said that. I talked to him about it, how that wsa NOT the solution to ANY problem, I notifiued his teacher (just in case". I watched him like a hawk for the nexty few weeks.
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Sometimes, when you hear hoofbeats, it's NOT a zebra.
Because parents need to teach their children the difference between make believe (videogames, tv shows, even music) and real life.
Are you kidding me? I tend to be as non reactionary, and pragmatic as possible, but I would be very upset to not be told. It is amazing and disturbing to me how much fumbling school admins often do. Things that are minor are blown out of proportion and things that should be dealt with, aren't.
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And before you attempt to change my mind, just know that it is based on factual situations. I have seen it over and over and over ad nauseam...
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And it is very clear that this was a case of cover-up due to the parents' status.
those are very harsh words for a child at such a young age. makes you wonder what this child is exposed to. hopefully there will be some sort of investigationÂ
Damn, I'm almost afraid to even think of this kid's parents.
Yes, there are privacy laws, etc. but at what point should a school inform other families of a possible violent student? I would say, listen the the teacher and other staff who work w/ this student. Does he have a history of violent behaviors at school? Believe it or not, staff/teachers often report such behaviors, but the administrators DO SWEEP most of it under the rug. I remember when students would and could be referred to B.D. (Behavior Disorder) programs. NOT anymore! Nope. It's NOT politically correct! And because schools have to be so PC, many violent students remain in general ed classrooms. Teachers are expected to "hold down the fort" with such bad behaved children (some w/ psychoses) and yet, expected to RAISE test scores. See the real problem that plagues our schools?? It's not the teacher, but the assinine policies of administration. No wonder parents were crying for Charter Schools to be erected. At least in Charter Schools, they have the discretion to weed out the poorly behaved students.
@Koawoodplayer The kid wrote a few notes. Do you know the kid, do know what prompt him to write the notes, do you know who he wrote the notes to? Lot of question are not answered in this story.
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Dutch Hauser, maybe his kid got a note.
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Much of your comment is not to far off. But programs were cut because school suffered big cuts and cut many teachers. Any tax that was attempted to help schools was voted out.
Private schools and charter schools do have discretion all right, they can pick and chooese thier students. Leaving the BD types to public schools.
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As for this 3rd grader. lets not make him out to be the next Columbine agressor type just yet.
Why did this 3rd grader feel that he needed to leave these notes? I just can't picture a child loving school, and his friends, to wake up one morning and decide to write notes to some students. There is a reason for this. Have it be a chemical imbalance somewhere or a bully situation. Something is going on.Â
 @Just my say The last two boys that I know who have done something like this had one common denominator: Neither had a father in his life. I wouldn't be surprised to find the same thing in this case. The boy is simply crying out for male affection and affirmation.
 @James127  @Just my say
 Usually when a child this young, either male or female, makes statements like these it's because of an abusive family life, not a missing father. Young children don't display violence on this type of scale unless they're exposed to it at home, and statistically speaking the father is more likely to be the abusive parent. Chances are pretty high that this poor kid, along with his mother and any unfortunate siblings he may have, are phywically, emotionally, and psychologically abused by his father on a daily basis, quite possibly including threats exactly like the notes he left in his classmates' desks. That may, in fact, be part of the reason the school didn't notify other parents. There may be a police investigation underway, and the school may have been ordered not to discuss the incident pending the outcome.
@Mikeftm @Just my say You could be right. If there is a father in the house, he is likely a POS. The two cases I referred to were similar and resulted in suspensions from school. In both cases, I feel the boy made as much "noise" as possible to get the attention he so badly wanted, which was from a father he never had.
 @James127 That is so sad when a child does not both parents in their life. Our family takes on kid, who dad is in prison, and mom screwed up on drugs. He is court order to live with his grandma, but he wants the family life so bad. I think he stays with us more then he does his grandma. He is a good kid, with great goals. I would hate to see where he would be if we did not run into his drug dealing butt when we first moved here. We got him away from everything, and back in school. His grandmother is about 91 and he was unable to get what he needed from her.Â
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 @the unvarnished truth My friend has family there and she told me.Â
Academics have this real fixation with hiding sh** if they can. Argue with me all you want, but faculty and administration really have a culture of believing they alone get to decide for everybody and they are wrong. I can't explain it. Look to UPenn for the worst case outcome of that part of the culture.Â
@Citizen#3457899654 I would agree with you on the bigger problems and issues that would bring shame to a school. Bigger the school, the thier apt to cover up.
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In this case, what is there to sweep under the rug? How many times to here kids scream "I'm going to kill you"Â in the play yard.
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You know how many cowbys and indians i killed when i was in the 3rd grade. The kid left notes, maybe he needs to have a talking to. Also schools have a privacy issue, they cannot disclose punishment to the public.
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Sounds like Dutch Hauser just looking to start crap.
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