More Death Notes Abound
This time via Journalista: a school in South Carolina has joined Virginia, Tennessee, and Massachussetts and become yet another school to deal poorly with a kid who keeps a “death note.” In this particular case, a teacher confiscated a “death note” that a student had written seven names in– and was expelled.
Now, I want to take a particular quote from the article:
“We treat situations like this the same as if a student called in a bomb threat or brought a weapon to school,” [Hartsville Middle School principal Chris Rogers] said.
…Really? You treat writings in a private notebook the same as actively threatening a school with a bomb? I mean, unless the kid was actively going around showing the “victims” that they were in his death note and otherwise trying to threaten them, I’d say that a kid with a “death note” should probably be treated the same as, say, a kid who keeps a diary in which he suggests that he’d like some people to die.
You wanna be cautious, sure. But as cautious as you would be with an active bomb threat? Gimme a break. That kid’s life has taken a serious hit for the future, and in all likelihood, he was just venting privately.
Tags: death-note, msm, wtf
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 am
I suggest you to check the forums in ANN about this article.
While you may believe the kid was trying to relieve stress, his intention could be also harmful if he really wanted to kill someone. In an area where school shoot occurs every month or two (exaggeration ^^) being caution is about cases like these are important for the safety of other student.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Virginia Tech Shooting? Being caution isn’t wrong but the school overreacted if you ask me.
Side note: the kid should had left his Death Note at home.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
@zeris: I suggest you check what I said: “You wanna be cautious, sure. But as cautious as you would be with an active bomb threat? Gimme a break.”
In case that’s too flippant, let me translate: caution is commendable, but overreacting is not. And treating what is effectively aggression in a private diary in the same manner as a bomb threat is absolutely overreacting. (I did make a point that if the kid was using this “death note” to intimidate or threaten other students, that’s a different story– but we have no report that this happened.)
As for the ANN forums: it appears to be all speculation, as is my own interpretation. :)
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Ah yes I should had taken my time reading your post. Sorry.
As mention above I agree with you on this event.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Enjoy your freedom while it lasts — you’re heading towards a nanny-state, and the brakes were cut long ago.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Hey, you DID say that! Well, great minds, etc., etc…
March 4th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I do not lie!
And we do have pretty great minds.