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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > November > 13 > Entry
Teacher poison try too close for comfort
Right here in our backyard of Richmond, Ind., we have a case of an angry student trying to poison a teacher. This kid poured an industrial cleaner into a coffee cup. The story doesn’t have much detail, but apparently the teacher did not drink it.
With Columbine now a comfortable six years behind us, it seems we have sort of moved on from our once intense fear of student violence. But the problem is still there. Just this weekend on HBO, I caught the creepy and bizarre movie Elephant, which was inspired by the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado.
So here’s the question. Did we learn anything from Columbine and are our kids any safer today than before it happened? Or is another such incident inevitable?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: School Violence
Comments
By Mike
November 23, 2005 11:23 PM | Link to this
Have we learned anything? Sadly, no, not if we’re talking about affirmative measures that could stop a future attack. Surely, we need to be aware of “troubled” kids, and provide for them, but by itself, this will be cold comfort when another deranged kid—or terrorists (yes, we now need to consider this) attack. At that point, saying “I understand that you are angry…” to the bad guys will be spectacularly stupid and ineffective. OK, so now I step off the cliff. What do we need? Armed teachers and staff—properly trained and with concealed weapons. The people who will be in the line of fire, and therefore, on the scene, ready to save lives at the moment they’re most needed. Of course, we’re so touchy feely these days—we’re still trying to recover from the self esteem movement—that anything smacking of aggression (against those who want to kill us and out kids!) will be dismissed out of hand. Pity.By l
November 14, 2005 10:07 PM | Link to this
I am a former wayne high school student, but i feel that the problem lies in the parents hands. Even though I am currently a education major teachers do not exist to discipline students constantly. If parents would do their jobs, educators would have a MUCH better time dealing with the increase of students in the classroom. Quit blaming the teachers and administrators - they can only do so much. Honestly, you can get really sick of stuff after a while. Yes, name calling is not approporiate, but discipline starts in the home. These kids are crying out for love - whether it’s in by lack of performance, violence or other disciplinary problems. Teachers have a huge responsibility, and when the problems increase and never get better we can become VERY immune to Columbine and other related incidents.By Mary
November 14, 2005 6:53 PM | Link to this
I have shared many of the same concerns of the other “mary”(her name is not capitalized)about the school environment and discipline. I was told bullying was “normal” when I complained about 7 years ago at my son’s middle school. Sometimes, school seems like the book “The Lord of the Flies” (social breakdown when boys were stranded on an island without adult supervision.) “mary” might want to read several books to know others have researched and share similar concerns, including “Schools that do too much” (written by a teacher about how the way after school activities are conducted has impacted the school day.) At the college level there are two interesting books “Beer and Circus - How big time sports has undermined undergraduate education” (written by a professor) and “The Game of Life” (cowritten by a college president). Administrators set the tone, but I am sure there is enough blame to go around to parents, students, boards/trustees,superintendents/presidents, and our culture, in general - shaped by and shaping our education system.By maryann
November 14, 2005 5:10 PM | Link to this
I think with all pressure to be in sports and to be “cool” we will always have this right at the tip of the hand. Until we learn and can teach our kids to be nice and that though we may not all be “equal” we are all still humans with feelings and deserve to be treated with respect. I teach my kids thats its ok not to like everyone but you have to be nice to everyone.By mary
November 14, 2005 3:21 PM | Link to this
how about the high schools?why does wayne high school brag about their football team allthe time? walk the halls their is trash,fowl month kids,and i have seen the teachers turned their backs to trouble and heard a asst.principal even say that one young man was a dumass!and thats a professional?what happened to the teachers dressing up for there carriers,why do they feel the need to look like the students? if they want respect they need to dress the part and act mature,us parents that show concern are tired of being blown off by the school!!!!!!!!! dont worry about winning the footbal games,worry about taking control ofthe school back.Stop blaming the parents and look at the teachers.I was told by an asst.principal do to open enrollment and the types of students comming in to the high school that it can be hard to control things at times.Get a life and come out of your offices and look at the real problems,maybe its not always the students or parents;just emagen it could be the staff!By Dave
November 14, 2005 5:35 AM | Link to this
I my mind The answer is simple not easy. There is no dicipline, no one is allowed to, in no uncertain terms, show a “chi-uld” what “no” means. Many adults do not know what “no” means.By Steff
November 13, 2005 9:49 PM | Link to this
This story is too real. I have a son now 8 yrs old, and a step son 14, who has tried to choke, posion, sufficate, stab, and has brutialy been abusive. I think the main problem is with parents who dont step up and get their kids help. im now going through a divorce.By Mary
November 13, 2005 7:44 PM | Link to this
It sounds as if you missed a news story last week about the 14/15 year old boy in Tennessee(?) who shot and killed the assistant principal at his school. Read “No Easy Answers - the truth behind death at Columbine” written by a student who was a classmate of the two Columbine shooters (Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold?). Both Columbine shooters had ties to Ohio. Eric Harris went to elementary school in the Miami Valley. No, I do not think the lessons of Columbine have been comprehended by schools. I think some of us get it. Dylan Kleibold was identified gifted as an elementary school student. Both shooters apparently came from stable families with stay-at-home? moms. The school environment can be very toxic and hostile for highly intelligent young men as discussed in “No easy answers”.