Have you heard the horrifying news about nine third grade students who plotted to kill their teacher after she reprimanded one of them for standing on a chair??

The students planned out a strategy and brought their items for the attack to school on the day that another student notified an authority that the girl who was the ringleader had a weapon.  The items included a steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape, a crystal paperweight – and it’s chilling to learn that kids this young had come up with a detailed plan, including knocking the teacher out with the paperweight, then handcuffing her and finally stabbing her to death.  Different kids were assigned roles – one to cover the windows so no one could see, another to clean up afterwards. 

No one can know if the kids would have carried out their plan or not.  But I think if the kids had the degree of emotional disengagement from what they were doing that they could plan an attack like that without any compunctions, it’s highly likely that they could have gone through with it. 

It’s scary to think of having your children in a school with kids who could come up with a plan like this – but these kids were all considered ‘good kids’.  

What’s that oh so important question that every homeschooler hears about – oh, yes, the importance of socialization?   Kids can’t develop healthy emotional skills without being around their peers, right?  Hmm…seems like the shoe is on the other foot now.

Avivah