[ironjw]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/...hildren_s_plot

WTF?

By RUSS BYNUM, Associated Press Writer
58 minutes ago



WAYCROSS, Ga. - A group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, police said Tuesday.


The plot by as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said.

"We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely," Tanner said. "We feel like if they weren't interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don't know."

The children, ages 8 and 9, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said. A prosecutor said they are too young to be charged with a crime under Georgia law.

School officials alerted police Friday after a pupil tipped off a teacher that a girl had brought a weapon to school, Tanner said.

Police seized a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape, electrical and transparent tape, ribbons and a crystal paperweight from the students, who apparently intended to use them against the teacher, Tanner said.

Nine children have been given discipline up to and including long-term suspension, said Theresa Martin, spokeswoman for the Ware County school system. She would not be more specific but said none of the children had been back to school since the case came to light.

The purported target is a veteran educator who teaches third-grade students with learning disabilities including attention deficit disorder, delayed development and hyperactivity, friends and parents said.

The scheme involved a division of roles, Tanner said. One child's job was to cover windows so no one could see outside, he said. Another was supposed to clean up after the attack.

"We're not sure at this point in the investigation how many of the students actually knew the intent was to hurt the teacher," Tanner said.

The parents of the students have cooperated with investigators, who aren't allowed to question the children without their parents' or guardians' consent, he said. Authorities have withheld the children's names.

Police expected to forward the results of their investigation to prosecutors, Tanner said.

Children in Georgia can't be charged with a crime unless they are at least 13, District Attorney Rick Currie said.

Martin told The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville, Fla., that administrators would follow school system policy and state law in disciplining the students.

"From what I understand, they were considered pretty good kids," Martin said. "But we have to take this seriously, whether they were serious or not about carrying this through, and that's what we did."

Four mothers of other third-grade students at Center Elementary called for the immediate expulsion of the suspected plotters.

Stacy Carter and Deana Hiott both cited school system policy stating that any student who brings "anything reasonably considered to be a weapon" is to be expelled for at least the remainder of the school year.

"We don't want our children around them," Carter told the Times-Union. "The one with the knife could have stabbed my child or someone else's child at lunch or out on the playground."

"This is an isolated incident, an aberration. ... We have good kids," Center Principal Angie Coleman told the newspaper.

[flyer333]

... wow what is this world comin to....

[wuufer001]

holy crap.
ages 8 and 9

[TurboFan]

And I bet the parents try to blame the teacher. My kid would get his ass handed to him for pulling something like that.

[Couch]

I'd really like to see pics of these little punks. The parents/family definitely needs to be looked at. My guess is parents are gang bangers.

[ironjw]

Originally Posted by flyer333

... wow what is this world comin to....

Originally Posted by wuufer001

holy crap.
ages 8 and 9

thats what i said. kids have too much power in terms of laws to protect them. back home i would get my ass beat from teachers or at home for even disrespecting a teacher or my parents.

my neighbor's kid is about 10 years old and i have seen him cursing his mom out a few times now. i feel like going there and beating his ass

[Hawkeye]

Wow... just wow.

[Taittinger]

Seems like good organizational and planning skills for third graders.

[ironjw]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Seems like good organizational and planning skills for third graders.

you are right!!

lol

[Couch]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

And I bet the parents try to blame the teacher. My kid would get his ass handed to him for pulling something like that.

One of my friends teaches 2nd grade. She disciplined (no recess) a girl for being disruptive. That parent came up and yelled and bitched her out.

My friend couldn't do anything. If she so much as talks back to the parent she get's in trouble. That is another HUGE flaw in our school system.

[Kitz]

i bet these kids will be serial killers in the future..

[06-325]

moderate spanking should be legalized in the USA!

[ska///235i]

blame it on Rap music

[UncleWede]

April Fools???

I have had people compliment me when I scolded my son in public for disrespecting the entire restaurant. I have NO PROBLEM with a quick spank on the butt (or even giving one to my son )

My niece is a single parent and has a lot of problems with her son just because he was let go. At one point he learned about 9-1-1 and called them a few times when he was disciplined. Now she is afarid, despite the fact the CPS came out and found NOTHING wrong. I've counsoled her not to worry if she's doing nothing worng, and my wife takes NOTHING from this kid, she even hands him the phone when he throws out the threat. Police have never been called on "The Warden" and she uses a mean chankla on butts!

[BMW F22]

A friend of mine told me about this last night- it's definitely some crazy stuff. Lately there have been a lot of shooting at schools and even churches around the Bay Area and it's causing a lot of concern.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by 06-325

moderate spanking should be legalized in the USA!

It is legal. Kids these days don't fear shit, and that's a problem.

[335i4u2nv]

sweet its in the milk i tell its in the milk

[Year's_End]

This country has so many things wrong with its justice system. Forget "moderate" spanking, I'm thinkin all out hardcore ass woopins are needed.

[Comet]

guess that catch phrase is out the window

[mpimping]

They said they were in special ed when I saw it on tv..