| As the nation reeled after the latest deadly school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas, one might have expected a decrease in the (usually fake) school threats that kids make from time to time. Instead, we were confronted with a new round of them — a Hillsborough County teen who said he was armed and looking for the nearest campus, a Lee County 10-year-old texting that he planned to shoot up a school. As Lee County sheriff Carmine Marceno put it, "Right now is not the time to act like a little delinquent. It's not funny." It's also a felony. But how do we get kids to learn that lesson?
— Jeffrey S. Solochek, jsolochek@tampabay.com
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| Schools, law enforcement take threats seriously, whether kids mean them or not |
| In 2018, among the many legislative reactions to the Parkland school massacre, Florida lawmakers made clear that visible threats of mass shooting or terrorism would result in a second-degree felony charge. Teachers, principals, superintendents and sheriffs worked hard to get the message out, letting kids and others know that with such actions come consequences. "And yet, kids want to do it," said John Newman, chief of Hillsborough County schools security. "I think kids on social media think they're insulated." They often view their words or drawings as something they've shared with friends, many times in a context that isn't considered by others who might see them, said Jonathan Chasin, school psychology supervisor for Pasco County schools. "This stuff is captured, and people can view it and misinterpret it," Chasin said, using the example of discussing the online shooter game Fortnite around adults who don't play. When asked about their comments, many children will said they weren't serious. It's not new, and it's not just about things like school terrorism, Newman said, recalling such incidents as the creepy clown craze from six years ago. Thing is, schools and law enforcement can't ignore even the smallest seeming threat, Newman said. When someone notices something, online or otherwise, and calls it in, it will get a closer look. "We don't want kids running or hiding or fighting for their lives because your kid thought it was a joke," Newman said. It therefore becomes more critical than ever for parents and educators to talk with children, reminding them about how their conversations are heard and might be perceived, Chasin said. "It's a matter of understanding what's appropriate" in different circumstances, he added. People are nervous these days, he observed, and with the ubiquitous nature of news and social media, the scary stories are more prevalent than ever. So repetition of the warnings and cautions — from posters and assemblies to individual conferences — are key. "They are students. We are educators," Chasin said. "We have to be willing to sit and go the extra mile with the student who didn't 'get it.' " Many schools implement positive behavior strategies, attempting to teach about making good decisions and avoiding bad ones. Prevention is a goal. But at age 18, that processing part of the brain is still developing, Chasin said. "We still as parents and adults have to remind kids to stop and think before you post. ... We have to keep repeating ourselves, even through we've said it 10,000 times, and they'll have to hear it 10,000 more times to stick." |
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