School Shooting discussion gets my son in trouble??

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I hope you didn't misunderstand me, my child does not have Autism, he does not have PDD, he's normal mentally as far as that's concerned, but does have a learning disability, very similar to dyslexia, he can't translate from his head to written language. As to being unpredictable, I understand that there are children in his class that could be like that, but he was being treated the same as if he was in any classroom, it's just the way they think of things that differs from how I, and several others (Canadian perspective mostly) think compared to the American paranoid view of life. It's really sad that they had to go through what they went through to get there, but I guess the same could be said after the Dunblane massacre in England creating the handgun ban in the UK, I'm sure there are many that think that was overboard, but they're doing what they can to ensure it won't happen again. I don't think the methodology is really preventative in any way, but they can pat themselves on their back and say they did all they could to prevent something, even when it's unlikely to happen statistically in any given instance. I believe there still continues to be a gun problem there regardless of the ban...

I would hate for a child moving there to be questioned and labelled a threat because they ask questions about the ban, and why it was there, and saying that it can still happen even with the ban, for that is the world my son lives in now. Thank goodness they haven't started in on 911, as he will have a ton of inappropriate questions (from the American perspective I'm sure) and I fully expect another phone call...

You've hit it on the head right there.....My daughter has had similar experiences here. She came as a 15 yr old and she simply didn't have the same knowledge of US history that everyone else did and the same attitude which is cultivated by living here.

A recent example of her 'ignorance'. We were recently at the Air and Space museum looking at a plane that was involved in the Nuclear bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. My daughter (now 20) very openly and innocently said she could not believe how they made a nuclear bombing sound so great and glorified when in fact it killed millions of people horribly. I totally 'got' what she was saying. She simply isn't from that generation that remembers WWII or understands. We got a very dirty look from some other museum attendees who appeared to be former military. Not knowing her they couldn't possibly where sh was coming from. I had to remind her that she needed to keep some opinions to herself or be ready for some comments in case she has offended someone.

Anyway..... I don;t think thsi si a situation where you could help your son avoid the conflict, he was being an innocent child....kick the principal's butt

[CDN2US 10]

In high school (circa 1995), we were encouraged to keep journals. It was supposed to be private between us and the teacher, and in one entry I wrote that I could understand why some people might be motivated to commit suicide. Mind you, I didn't write that I wanted to commit suicide, just that I could understand why others might find it a viable option. Whoosh, I was whisked to the counselor's office and had to speak with about three different professionals in order to make sure I wasn't suicidal.

At the time I felt betrayed by my teacher, but now, as an adult, I can understand that she was bound by policy, procedure, and a duty to protect her students. It damaged our teacher/student relationship (I sure as heck didn't write my true thoughts in "private" journals anymore), but she did what she had to do...

[Stuart and Thea 95]

And I bet your mom was mad, right?? Again, as a parent, even in your situation, I would prefer to be contacted to be part of the decision making process on whether intervention is necessary, I'm sure your mom felt the same way, and would have preferred they call her and talk to her first. It might have prevented you from being mistrustful of your teacher, and later in life, if it's affected you. (I'm only guessing that it must, as betrayal at a young age hurts a lot more, especially from a private, authority figure type if you looked up to them at all)

[GnBnL 50]

Just reading through...no a 12 yr old should not be expected to know about columbine no more than I was expected to know about JFK being shot when I was 12...Sorry for the trouble. I'm shocked they didn't have him talk to a counsellor first before deciding he was a threat. Don't they at least watch law and order? sheesh. Anyway, I'm sorry that this set him back. Kids suffer enough on their own without feeling like teachers don't trust them. The education system is turning into a joke! What don't education majors understand that they are put in a position of child care as well as education...they do need to get paid more, but only the ones who actually give a **** about helping kids develop into well rounded functioning adults, not the ones who decide to get an education degree because they need to go to school for something and are tired or delivering pizzas. Ridiculous. I think becoming a teacher should be harder than it is, because these people are caring for children hours a day, everyday.

[Canadiandggal 49]

First of all I would be making a appointment at the school to have a nice discussion about them "red flagging" my child for asking some questions. I understand that bad things happen and that most people are "trying" to avoid future violence, but how does making a 12 year old feel humiliated help the situation. I know as a 12 year old I would have started skipping school if I was made out to be a "bad" child for simply trying to get some answers. However I would have a chat with him and let him know that in the future acts of violence are not to be discussed but he can always come to you for the answers instead. Explain that some people are worried about future mishaps and to not take it personally if thats even possible.

Granted I am Only 25 years old..... I JUST had to read about "columbine". Not sure How I missed it but Maybe I was Not interested In seeing or hearing what was happening. I do not find it hard to believe that a 12 year old would not know, you guys recently moved to the states. Heck Ive been here over a year and I still don't know a whole lot. This does scare me if they are using your sons small disability against him. Tons of children have different types of disabilities, My son has a few so I can relate in a small matter. I hope that having him retested will help him to maybe be moved into a class more related to his disability. My son is in a regular class but has a speech therapist and a Special ed teacher come help him a few times a month.

Let us know what happens

[CDN2US 10]

And I bet your mom was mad, right?? Again, as a parent, even in your situation, I would prefer to be contacted to be part of the decision making process on whether intervention is necessary, I'm sure your mom felt the same way, and would have preferred they call her and talk to her first. It might have prevented you from being mistrustful of your teacher, and later in life, if it's affected you. (I'm only guessing that it must, as betrayal at a young age hurts a lot more, especially from a private, authority figure type if you looked up to them at all)

You know, I don't think she ever knew, or if she did, we didn't discuss it. That's how my family is. And, no, it didnt affect me much. The teacher helped boost me into advanced classes, so I didn't dwell upon it too much longer, nor did it prevent me from looking up to other teachers. I guess I just learned how to interact with that teacher in particular. In fact, I didn't think about until I saw your post.

[warlord 73]

I still don't get how anyone couldn't have heard about Columbine, it's still in the news from time to time, hell I've just recently seen it on the BBC website on the front page even. Anywhere I have traveled to around the world people find out I'm from Colorado and they bring up Columbine to me. So really have no clue how people couldn't not be aware of it. My relatives in Canada's kids know about it, same with my all my nieces and nephews there, so just can't figure out how some people just have never been aware of it...

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I still don't get how anyone couldn't have heard about Columbine, it's still in the news from time to time, hell I've just recently seen it on the BBC website on the front page even. Anywhere I have traveled to around the world people find out I'm from Colorado and they bring up Columbine to me. So really have no clue how people couldn't not be aware of it. My relatives in Canada's kids know about it, same with my all my nieces and nephews there, so just can't figure out how some people just have never been aware of it...

My daughter didn't know and she's 20...in fact I was telling her about this thread...she simply wasn't exactly sure. You have to realize kids only know about what they've been exposed to - I can guarantee neither of my Canadian nieces (11 &13) have heard of it. Although my daughter was 7 at the time, I didn't feel the need to tell her about every horrible thing in the world.

You know about it front and center because you're from the area.....it's simply not a big reality for everyone.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I still don't get how anyone couldn't have heard about Columbine, it's still in the news from time to time, hell I've just recently seen it on the BBC website on the front page even. Anywhere I have traveled to around the world people find out I'm from Colorado and they bring up Columbine to me. So really have no clue how people couldn't not be aware of it. My relatives in Canada's kids know about it, same with my all my nieces and nephews there, so just can't figure out how some people just have never been aware of it...

I don't expect a 12 year old from another country to know about Columbine.

If you're from Colorado, then yes, that explains why you and your relatives would have knowledge of it.

My nieces don't know what it is, and I doubt any of their friends do.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Coconuts

[Stuart and Thea 95]

We didn't have cable tv in Canada, and a program about violence is certainly something I wouldn't let him watch online, as to the news, I can honestly tell you that my son wouldn't have watched much of it, and I'm not sure he was even born when it would have even been on the news! Certainly not appropriate television for a baby, nor a young child...

FWIW, I didn't hear about Princess Diana's death until 3 days after the fact...

[Udella&Wiz 325]

We didn't have cable tv in Canada, and a program about violence is certainly something I wouldn't let him watch online, as to the news, I can honestly tell you that my son wouldn't have watched much of it, and I'm not sure he was even born when it would have even been on the news! Certainly not appropriate television for a baby, nor a young child...

FWIW, I didn't hear about Princess Diana's death until 3 days after the fact...

How has it worked out - did you visit the school yet?

[warlord 73]

Well of course I heard about it, my nephews and nieces in Canada however have never been here and are only teenagers now and have learned and heard about it up in Canada. That's what I was saying, that it actually was pretty well publicized in Canada during the time and even now it's still mentioned up there from time to time. Of course I've heard of people never hearing about Bin Laden being killed either so, guess not everyone is exposed to the news as others had been.

All I know is years after it happened people in Canada were always asking me about it like I knew anything more than what they knew. Even people in Europe in the past 2 years have asked me about it. So yes it really was big news around the world...

Edited January 10, 2012 by warlord

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Yes, it was big news at the time. But the child in question was either NOT born at the time or JUST born. I don't remember the last time I heard about it, other than in this thread. Doesn't surprise me at all that children wouldn't know what it was.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Coconuts

[warlord 73]

Yes, it was big news at the time. But the child in question was either NOT born at the time or JUST born. I don't remember the last time I heard about it, other than in this thread. Doesn't surprise me at all that children wouldn't know what it was.

'

I don't know the CBC had an article on it last April http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/04/21/columbine-littleton-mall-fire.html

Toronto Star also had articles about it in 2010 and 2009. So it's still very much a topic of news not only in the US, even 10+ years later.

And here's an article from the UK news just from August of the past year.

Again, just depends on how much people pay attention to the news, not everyone does. Kids though are still hearing about it in their schools though in Canada, maybe not every kid as it appears, but a good majority still have heard about it just because any violence now seen in schools are all related back to it. And you see that quite often in the news still around the world...

Edited January 10, 2012 by warlord

[BBCC 16]

As a father, I would get my butt down to that school now and give them a piece of my mind.

Ha ha. Good one. The US is a fascist state. Period. Free speech? Any open, constructive debate? Forget it. Particularly in public schools. Case in point- the murder of an 11 year old by police in Texas. And this kind of criminal misconduct by school and law enforcement can only get worse given their immunity from prosecution.

They won't give someone's piece of mind any attention whatsoever.

A properly filed lawsuit by a finely tuned attorney would, however, get their attention.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the only recourse in the end is to move outside the country to live under cooler, more rational heads. You won't find it in the US.