From the "What Were They Thinking" File

[The Rabbi]

MURFREESBORO  Parents of students at a Murfreesboro elementary school are outraged that teachers and an assistant principal staged a phony gun attack on their children, telling them repeatedly it was not a drill, while the children cried and took shelter under tables.

Sixty-nine sixth-grade students from Scales Elementary school were on a weeklong trip at Fall Creek Falls, a state park about 130 miles southeast of Nashville. On Thursday, the last night of the outing, the staff played a prank on the kids, convincing them there was a gunman on the loose.
   

A teacher wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled on a locked door, pretending to be a suspicious subject in the area.

The students were told to lie on the floor or crawl underneath tables and keep quiet. The lights went out, and about 20 kids started to cry, 11-year-old Shay Naylor said. Some held hands and shook.

"I was like, 'Oh my God,' " Shay said Saturday afternoon as she recounted the incident. "At first I thought I was going to die. We flipped out. (A teacher) told us, 'We just got a call that there's been a random shooting.' I was freaked out. I thought it was serious."

Read the whole story http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070513/COUNTY07/705130406

[AmbulanceDriver]

The students were told to lie on the floor or crawl underneath tables and keep quiet.

In other words, assume the standard victim position.....

:puke:

[meinbruder]

I hope all the "so called" educators are fired over the incident, its shameful to terrify young children in the care of a teaching staff.  I notice it happened off campus, so I doubt that any weapons related charges will be filed on behalf of a school zone ordinance.  Or does the .gov gun free school zone extend to a field trip, I think it does here in Oregon by a state statute.
}:)>

[El Tejon]

All your children belong to us!

[MechAg94]

Not a good time for that particular prank.

[Stand_watie]

I'll start with my standard "assuming the news article has correct details" caveat, I don't think (assuming Tennessee has a similar statute to Texas) the local prosecutor would be out of line to take a good hard look at the terroristic threat statutes and see if a prosecution as such is warranted.

[Ned Hamford]

Well lets not forget that children are simply gristle in the goverment socialist mill or somesuch
[someone feel free to correct that quote, just seems appropriate for the occasion, from el tejon I think....]

[The Rabbi]

Well lets not forget that children are simply gristle in the goverment socialist mill or somesuch

That's great.  Didn't you say you were in law school??

[HankB]

If a child had reported - falsely - a phony attack, and had insisted it wasn't a joke or drill . . . what consequences would befall the child?

An "educator" is a in a MUCH higher position of responsibility - the consequences ought to be correspondingly higher.

At the very least, the teachers and assistant principal have demonstrated to the children that they are LIARS and not to be trusted. (An old story about crying "Wolf" comes to mind . . . )

[The Rabbi]

It was a case of such poor judgement (and thats being charitable) that I don't think they should be trusted any further.  Severe reprimands at best, dismissal more likely.

[Ned Hamford]

Starting point from my view is dismissal and ranges to jail time + personal lawsuits. 

[gunsmith]

It is illegal to have a gun in TN State Parks so the kids had nothing to worry about

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

I think the teachers need a drill in looking for a lawyer to keep them out of jail and drill to look for a new job.
I bet each one of those geniuses believe in gun control.

[El Tejon]

Ned, I think I said, "children are merely grist for the great mill of socialism" or something close to that.

Someone was using it as a signature.

[HankB]

Latest update, at World Net Daily:

"Director of Schools Marilyn Mathis has suspended lead teacher, Mr. Quentin Mastin, and assistant Principal, Don Bartch, for unprofessional conduct and neglect of duty due to actions taken with Scales Elementary School students on May 10, 2007 at Fall Creek Falls State Park," said a terse statement given to WND by district spokeswoman Cheryl Harris.

"The suspension is without pay and will commence of May 14, 2007 and continue through the end of this school year ending June 1, 2007," it said.

Well, it's something, but considering how they'd likely throw the book at a student who pulled this kind of stunt, IMHO they're getting off light.

[The Rabbi]

Two weeks suspension without pay?  Gettouddahere!

[charby]

Ned, I think I said, "children are merely grist for the great mill of socialism" or something close to that.

Someone was using it as a signature.

I was using it for a while, I can't remember what the topic was that you wrote that in

-C