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With all of the wonderful minds here, I had to get your thoughts on this one:

R.I. School Essay Brings in Secret Service

WEST WARWICK, R.I. ” The Secret Service is investigating a seventh-grader who wrote a school essay that authorities say advocated violence against President Bush, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and others.

The boy's homework assignment for English class was to write what he would do on a perfect day. In addition to the president and Winfrey, the boy wrote that violence should be directed at executives of Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart, police and school officials said.

"His perfect day would be to see the destruction of these people," Schools Superintendent David Raiche said.

The Secret Service investigation is ongoing, but the essay may have been a "cry for help," said Thomas M. Powers, resident agent in charge in Providence. Threatening the president is a felony, he said.

Authorities would not identify the boy or his teacher or release a copy of the essay. He was not arrested, police Detective Sgt. Fernando Araujo said.

"It wasn't any detailed, minute-by-minute plan," Araujo said. "It didn't meet the criteria for a criminal charge."

The boy has been temporarily barred from school, but as a mental health rather than disciplinary precaution, Raiche said.

Why would you want to kill Oprah?

Like it said, it was a cry for help. The youngster will get some mental therapy and help to have a better attitude-let's hope!

Sounds like he's been listening to StupidCowboyTricks too long. :yh_rotfl

or chiptbeef

DesignerGal wrote: With all of the wonderful minds here, I had to get your thoughts on this one:

R.I. School Essay Brings in Secret Service

WEST WARWICK, R.I. ” The Secret Service is investigating a seventh-grader who wrote a school essay that authorities say advocated violence against President Bush, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and others.

The boy's homework assignment for English class was to write what he would do on a perfect day. In addition to the president and Winfrey, the boy wrote that violence should be directed at executives of Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart, police and school officials said.

"His perfect day would be to see the destruction of these people," Schools Superintendent David Raiche said.

The Secret Service investigation is ongoing, but the essay may have been a "cry for help," said Thomas M. Powers, resident agent in charge in Providence. Threatening the president is a felony, he said.

Authorities would not identify the boy or his teacher or release a copy of the essay. He was not arrested, police Detective Sgt. Fernando Araujo said.

"It wasn't any detailed, minute-by-minute plan," Araujo said. "It didn't meet the criteria for a criminal charge."

The boy has been temporarily barred from school, but as a mental health rather than disciplinary precaution, Raiche said.


More than likely is is parroting the views of his parents. It's not likely that he would come up with these ideas on his own. His parents are the ones that the Secret Service is interested in I'll bet.

Without knowing any more than this kid wrote *something* concerning violence against *some* people, you all are ready to jump on the band wagon and ay he's "messed up" needs to have a "better attitude" and whatever else, when you really don't know what was in the essay. They have not released the essay and no one except the people involved know what it says. It's not for us to decide if he's messed up or needs an attitude adjustment, we don't know enough about the situation.

BabyRider wrote: Without knowing any more than this kid wrote *something* concerning violence against *some* people, you all are ready to jump on the band wagon and ay he's "messed up" needs to have a "better attitude" and whatever else, when you really don't know what was in the essay. They have not released the essay and no one except the people involved know what it says. It's not for us to decide if he's messed up or needs an attitude adjustment, we don't know enough about the situation.
I only noted 2 that said he's wacky. I think SCT needs help. :-3

You know BR, you have a good point. Alot of kids that age write all kinds of things-whether they know what it means or not. If teachers turned in every hate filled essay or note or assignment, it would be ridiculous. I don't think they understand it some of the time-not at 12.

If I find something kind of bad written by astudent, I talk to them. If I think they need to see a counselor, I suggest it and follow it up. I have never encountered anything worse then that, and I teach the same age group.

Accountable wrote: I only noted 2 that said he's wacky. I think SCT needs help. :-3
I don't even see SCT in the thread anywhere....

BabyRider wrote: I don't even see SCT in the thread anywhere....
How does that alter facts?

Accountable wrote: How does that alter facts?
OK, SCT does need help, but what does that have to do with the subject at hand?



JAB wrote:

You'd think the Secret Service would have something better to do than read homework papers. As a threat level, I would think this would be way down the list of priorities.


You would think. What makes me wonder is, how did the Secret Service get involved? Somebody in the school system actually thought this was relavent enough to inform them?

SnoozeControl wrote: I think Big Brother really is watching. Scary.
Oh, I have no doubt of that, Snooze, and it is extremely scary. Next thing you know, we'll be implanting microchips in babies as soon as they are born. It freaks me out sometimes. It's what folks mean when they say, "I love my country, but fear my government." Rings true for me!

BabyRider wrote: Without knowing any more than this kid wrote *something* concerning violence against *some* people, you all are ready to jump on the band wagon and ay he's "messed up" needs to have a "better attitude" and whatever else, when you really don't know what was in the essay. They have not released the essay and no one except the people involved know what it says. It's not for us to decide if he's messed up or needs an attitude adjustment, we don't know enough about the situation.


Relax. Its just a good topic for discussion. Let them speculate all they want. If it gets a good conversation going about things, whats the problem? No one is putting the boy in front of an actual firing squad.

Its entertainment conversation for the rest of us.

DesignerGal wrote: Relax. Its just a good topic for discussion. Let them speculate all they want. If it gets a good conversation going about things, whats the problem? No one is putting the boy in front of an actual firing squad.



Its entertainment conversation for the rest of us.
A) I am relaxed, why wouldn't I be?

B) Speculation is not cold hard fact, and when someone accuses another person of being whacky or loony, don't you think they should have something more concrete than an unread 7th grade essay?

C) There is no problem I am merely adding my insight and views to the topic, hopefully expanding on the conversation. That IS all right with you, isn't it? :yh_eyebro

D) And who, exactly are "us"??

Accountable wrote: Sounds like he's been listening to StupidCowboyTricks too long. :yh_rotfl


Get a Job Mr Faux:sneaky: -we know what you listen to

JAB wrote: the principal overreacted and erred on the side of caution.
I'd say the principle, (if that's who alerted the Secret Service) erred on the side of paranoia.

DesignerGal wrote: or chiptbeef


..................................................................................:sneaky: - or designer gal

Far Rider wrote: I didnt get the article to open did it mention wether he got a good grade? Was his writing good? Was he just being creative? What if he's really a genious?

And I read Lons post too, and I must say hes on to something, but we must remember that parents may not be the only ones to strongly influence a child... could be other siblings or relative or just other kids.

I used to draw pictures much like a naturalist would, often if I saw a dead animal I'd draw it and study it and try to figure out how it died. I also dissected animals and drew them at different stages of dissection. I did it because I was interested in how things worked, I never tortured these animals in fact most often they were dead already.

I wonder if today some phsychologist would see my intricate drawings and wonder about my poor corrupted brain?
I've seen some interesting doodles over the years, all of those kids turned out to be normal teenagers. You turned out all right too, Far.

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: Get a Job Mr Faux:sneaky: -we know what you listen to
You know you have a crush on me. Just admit it. :yh_hugs

WOW!!!!

a seventh-grader who wrote a school essay that....

...advacates...violence against President Bush, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, In addition to the president and Winfrey, the boy wrote that violence should be directed at executives of Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart,

"His perfect day would be to see the destruction of these people,"

Sounds like many of the points of views I read here.... (ANTI big business)

Maybe he is just going with the NEW point of view in our country handed down by our liberal friends?