Officials say 9-year-old threatened to stab classmates

[proud2BlibKansan]

Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. - A 9-year-old student at White Elementary School has been suspended after taking three knives to school and threatening to stab classmates, officials said.

The pocket knives were confiscated from the boy's desk Monday after he showed them to students "to back up his threat," police Lt. Darras Delamaide said Tuesday.

The boy allegedly threatened four students, telling them "be quiet or I'll stab you" and "if anyone messes with me, I'll kill them," Delamaide said. The boy apparently never drew the knives, which had blades up to 3 1/2 inches long.

The boy was questioned by school officials and released to his mother, Delamaide said. Because of his age, he will not be charged with a crime.


http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/15732496.htm

[woodsprite]

1. Last week an 8yo brought in a 7" kitchen knife into my nephew's school.

Luckily, he was showing it off to friends and one asked the teacher if she would like to see it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I am sure it happens more often than we realize

[bluestateguy]

2. We need more common sense knife control laws

Why is it so easy for children to get knives? We need licensing and registration of all knives and mandatory training for all knife owners.

Sorry, for the snark. Just thought it would be interesting to engage in the absurd.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Actually it is pretty obvious

that we have a mental health crisis in our country. We need mental health care - either free or inexpensive - and accessible to all who need it.

Kids bring weapons to school when they feel threatened. The men who invaded the schools in CO and PA were obviously mentally ill or emotionally disturbed.

So, IMO, the answer to all these school violence incidents in the past few weeks is not in arming teachers or in more punitive laws against weapons in schools. We need to figure out WHY and go at it from that perspective. Treat the disease, not the symptoms.

[goddess40]

5. You are so right

These kids are reacting to the threat they feel, either due to bullying they are putting up with or the threat they see on the news.

On monday, they told my kid at school if there is a gunman in school they should do their best to hide - wow! what a great plan. My son is greatly relieved - NOT, now he's more anxious about school.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. OMG That is terrible

I have deliberately not said a word about any of this to my students. I have no intention of frightening them. I know that in any of these situations lately there was absolutely nothing any adult at the school could have done to resolve the situation.

[walldude]

6. Arming teachers... brilliant plan..

Our kids are growing up in a nation that teaches that violence is the solution to all our problems. It's no wonder they don't have any problem solving skills. Our solution to terrorism is to make up some bullshit reasons they are attacking us, ie: "they hate our freedoms" that leave you no choice but to go to war with them. Then we claim innocence, righteousness, and the fact that god is on your side and we have all we need to justify violence as a means to an end.
I see stuff like this and I look at my kids, and I'm grateful that I was taught that it may be much easier to get rid of weeds with a lawnmower, but if you work harder and smarter and pull them out at the roots they won't come back.