Attack plots by children troubling

May 16, 2008 07:08 am

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We were shocked a few weeks back when we heard about a group of third-graders in Georgia plotting to kill their teacher because she had meted out some discipline to one of them.

The plot by as many as nine boys and girls was taken as a serious threat by local police, who said students brought to school a broken steak knife, a roll of duct tape, handcuffs, ribbon and a crystal paperweight in a bid to kill the teacher.

Our relief that such incidents involving 7-to-9-year-olds always occur elsewhere were dashed this week, however, when we heard about the second-graders at Margaretville Central School allegedly hatching a plot to harm a classmate.

The seven students were arrested last week for allegedly planning an attack, and were charged by state police as juveniles with fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor.

While the fact that such a plot could occur with children so young is disturbing, we can't find fault with the reaction by school officials and state police.

Clearly, the threat was felt to be serious, and not only because the alleged target felt threatened enough to tell a parent.

A letter sent home to parents said the students were planning to ``hurt'' one of their classmates. An anonymous tip sent to The Daily Star said they planned to kill the classmate and were expelled from school. That fake information is what happens when rumors are spread.

Being expelled at such a young age without having actually harmed anyone is not going to occur. A parent who called The Daily Star on Monday said it was his understanding that the school penalties ranged from one- to five-day suspensions. The lesser sentences apparently were for knowing what was being plotted and not telling authorities.

But the question remains concerning how 8-year-olds get to the point of plotting a ``serious'' gang attack on a fellow student _ as opposed to the playground scuffles that have been going on for generations.

Who knows? Television, video games; they're easy targets. But not all kids who watch and play end up planning attacks on classmates or teachers.

Some experts say such a conspiracy to harm someone indicates a need for serious help, which likely is why the school reacted by calling police and why the troopers reacted by filing charges. Such reactions have a good chance of reaching parents and forcing them to acknowledge that their children need assistance.

As one expert pointed out, it's a lot easier to redeem children at age 8 than when they get older and more troubled.