Research by Katherine Newman in *Rampage: The Social Roots of School Shootings* (New York: Basic Books, 2004) indicates that threats should be taken seriously. It is fortunate that this one came to light before an incident occurred. The student should be placed on indefinite suspension until he has had a mental health evaluation and not returned until it can be proved he (because would-be school shooters are invariably male) is stable enough to return.

The Olweus method of dealing with bullying, as implemented by past principle Dr. Denise Holmes, involves the whole school community in improving school climate. Research proves this method effective; it is more than a "flashy PR campaign." School administration should investigate whether this program is still being followed at West Middle. It might be time for a refresh. However, it should be recognized that a foiled plot is a success. Parents who are rightly concerned about the safety of their child, should understand that the whole community shares the safety concern. Moreover, approaches to such incidents that are overtly punitive to any of the members of a school community can backfire by discouraging children from reporting threats or adults from acting upon them. Safety only works if it is a shared concern, and parents would do well to avoid a narrow NIMBYism.

My son was in the classroom when this "list" was discovered. So yes, I do know which student wrote it, and have some details about the notebook it was in.

Life isn't always so black and white as the press and many readers seem to think it should be. I am thrilled this teacher, and school, took appropriate action. That said, one student's foolish writing In a notebook is very different than the writing/preparation which preceded the massacres we are all traumitized by. We will never know if this student's fantasy would have blossomed into something horrific someday, if left unchecked. That said, I have no worries having him return to school, knowing he'll be monitored and get counseling. Sadly, there are many kids much more disturbed who are not getting the counseling/oversight they need. People should direct their energy where it can be most effective...not just toward the story of the day.

In the Andover schools, a child who is deemed to be a potential threat to himself or to others is not admitted back into school until a mental health professional has done a risk assessment -- if this child was already under the care of a psychologist or counselor (and so many kids these days are), that is not a long, drawn out process. I agree with Andover resident, above. It is understandable for parents to be concerned for the safety of their children at school, particularly in this media-saturated age that brings horrific stories from all over the place into our living rooms for days on end. It is a very, very shaky thing, though, to assume that we know all of the facts about this child or this situation from rumor or media reports. I hope we can stay calm and let the people who have the facts and the training do their jobs.

If the student does nt get a mental eval - who at APS can say the school body is not at risk??

As a policy recommendation based on research, Katherine S. Newman is against zero tolerance policies. They prevent the reporting of threats.

The fact that the threat was caught is a positive thing for all involved.

To say that "we'll never know" if the violent writings would have developed into an incident is small consolation to the families of those who have experienced just that, both the parents of shooters and the parents of victims. Research shows that violent writings are a marker for a troubled mind, and the inability of schools to detect troubled youth are a necessary cause of school shootings.

When evaluating policy options, our emotions are properly placed with all of the parents and students involved, and our minds should be properly focused on what we do know empirically about such incidents, not just the "authority" of the school administration. As this is a democracy, we can't always assume that "they know best." So it is perfectly appropriate to create public awareness—not of the individuals involved, but of the principles we know can keep us all safer. One last thing is that school shootings occur paradoxically in places it is considered to be a "good place to live," suburban and rural areas. We can't make the assumption that "someone must know" about someone's trouble, and that everyone knows what they're doing in response.

I really hope the children on the "list" are also being investigated and evaluated because what did they do to this child to make him come to writing a list?!? And stop blaming the anti bullying program people...it starts at home...you are their parents...teach your children to be nice and celebrate differences!! There are way too many mean children in this community and guess what? The schools didn't raise them you did!! Yes I do believe some teachers and staff ignore some things they see because they believe kids will be kids but it is so much more than that!! It starts at home people!!

Katherine Newman's research shows that rampage school shootings occur because of social marginality, magnified by mental illness, which school surveillance systems fail to detect, violent media providing cultural scripts which the mentally ill take seriously, and the availability of guns.

It's not sufficient to simply say that "this starts at home." Partly this is victim-blaming. The parents of school shooters are also victimized by their errant, damaged children and by community reaction. It may be true that this starts at home, but it is also true that it continues in social environments. Children do not grow up merely in the vacuum of their homes.

Zero tolerance policies and profiling of students either backfire or target the wrong students. Improving school climate through proven anti-bullying programs like the Olweus method benefits everyone.

This is frightening. Do we know that this was "bullying?" No (truly, no -- does anybody know whether this list was written to intimidate or threaten, or even to be published to any other person?). Do we have facts to know that this child is "damaged?" Heavens, no -- I don't even know what that means, unless a child was dropped on his or her head. Do we have facts to know why these other children were named? Of course we don't, certainly not enough to start pointing fingers and making nasty insinuations. Do we know what the notebook was, what the writing was a part of, how the writing was found, what the history of this particular child is, or anything at all about any of the facts of this situation? No, no, no, no, no. This is exactly what I meant above. I do rely on the school authorities, the mental health professionals and the police, who are all working together here -- they know the facts, they are trained, they are experienced. They are the authorities for good reason. Certainly, they make mistakes, but we, the general public, trained in other fields and in posession of incomplete facts, are much more likely to get it quite wrong and hurt someone in the process. It happened, the school found it, the police are involved, it's being handled. We can and should examine our mental health system (sooner rather than later), the values we teach our children, and the programs operating in our schools, but dear God, calm and compassion, please.

Compassion....for all involved!! Not all people are strong so we need to teach our children not to say hurtful things because that one thing that one time can break someone!! That's all!!

Dear Richard Hudak; Thank you for the informative posts.

Dear Richard Hudak, who are you to be giving Andover parents advice on how we should accept this behaviour? And please stop promoting one book by one author Katherine Newman with one opinion, even if it may be an educated one. I have worked with kids as a volunteer in several capacities for many years, and one school of thought doesn't work for every situation, every kid, every parent, every school... so stop paraphrasing someone else's work. My opinion, shared by me...this child was caught red handed, so to speak, writing lists, with children's names, faculty, times etc... does not belong in our school... he just reached out and told us that. Put him back in the school and it will be much worse for him. I don't know this child but he needs help and I hope he gets it, but not at WMS... WHY? First my child attends the school and I have every right to be concerned about my child. Second, in this information age, I already know this child's name... and so will everyone in the school as soon as the kids go back to school. Children talk a lot more than adults and with less concern for the outcome. So what happens to this child then??? If you really want to help the community, send this child to a proper school that is equipped to help him. This is a responsible way to help all the other innocent children in our school system.

Innocent? Not all!! Ugh...the people on the list should be able to go back to WMS? Why? so they can do this to another child???They need just as much help as the child who wrote the list!! I am in no way saying that child should go back but what about the others?? Also...this is "Andover" we will never know the truth or facts!! Just like so many other cases here in Andover!! Thanks for all the input hudak...freedom of speech....everyone can voice their opinion!!

How do we know that the kids on the list were bullies? These are young teenagers. Some kids are hated or disliked because of what other kids perceive...prettier, smarter, more popular etc...to assume the kids on the list bullied this kid is an assumption and shouldn't be made until you know the facts.

Ya...good point. I grew up in the 70's with old world parents. I got 1butt kicking when I was a child. Its a lot to do with respect as a child parent. We do spoil our kids. I have a tween daughter and whe. I look at her she knows to stop. And I don't have to touch her. A lot COULD have to deal with a absent parent??? Tv does have a lot to do with it....from young age if they watch aggressive tv shows/cartoons. They will act aggressive. Compared to shows with family values and nurturing.

Who is Andrea trotter? Bblameseveryone else ..... Just like newtown & CO ... It's never the perps fault is it? Back in the good old days .... You got together with a few friends and took the Billie out with a few punches, now the Trotters of the world say its ok for alledged victims to create "lists!" Hahhhhh. If the bullying is that bad (and I doubt it at WMS) leave .... I know my boys would be taken out.

No reason for this kid to be in WMS without a psych eval. None!!! All liberals who want touchy feel crap should be happy this Monday as we all get in touch with our inning feelings. What about the kids on the list - what about the rest of the school body who now live in fear?

The one who made the list most likely lived in fear everyday!! Just want people to realize there are others involved not just that one child who made the list!! Who am I? A concerned citizen who has every right to voice her opinion!!

You are correct there is more than one side to every story:
1) Any kid that prepares a "hit list" needs a pscyh evaluaiton before being allowed back to school
2) If kids on the list bullied him then they should be investigated thoroughly and appropriate action taken
3) What about the rest of the Student Body who will now go to school in fear next week....I do nt hear much emphaty for them in all your posts about "blaming those on the list....".

Its always someone elses fault in this day and age,,,,,,,,,,someone made me do it, somone made me cheat, someone made me haze someone at a basketball camp.

if the kid has issues lets get him help before he goes back to school!!!!!

Agree...lets get him help!! Totally with you on that :) if you look back to my other posts you will see that all I said was your #2 the names on the list investigated!! The point I wanted to make was a person can only take so much before they break!! I am not one to blame others...I simply want to know what made this child do this and to answer this question we need to ask the names on the list!! Once we answer the why?? Then we can work towards it not happening again...but to simply say as one parent on here did ...he is disturbed and prey for him is not ok!! Lets ask ourselves and our children why?? And that's when I said lets teach our children to be nice and celebrate differences...what I want some people to remember is that it only takes one hurtful thing one time to be said to break someone!! I have lots of empathy for the rest of the children that's why I want the people on the list to be investigated so that "if" they were bullying they don't break down another child...we all know that the one who made the so called list will not return to WMS for so many reasons...so lets protect others by investigating the names!!

Andrea ...... Great post

Not justifying just want to know why?? Not lashing out just want people to see that others behaviors affect people! Sorry you feel that way!!

Certainly not...but do u know the one who wrote it?? Why he wrote it? What was going on in his life? What brought him to it? No you don't but you are making statements about him based on what? I guess we are both guilty of the same thing!! I did not criticize the names on the list parents I said we all need to teach our children to be
nice and celebrate differences...what u are accusing me of you are doing the same thing! I hope they don't release the name of the one who wrote it!!

nice. and celebrate differences!! I hope

Arkansas shooter Andrew Golden came from a nice, "stable" extended family. "Back in my day," "old-fashioned values" approaches just do not wash as policy recommendations. Improving mental health services and school climate helps everyone, whether they were making the list or on it.

Andrea Fotter, thank you for using your real name and taking ownership of your comments. News providers find that the quality and civility of commentary improves when people do so.

It is time to reevaluate the lack of guidance counselors in the middle schools. I cannot believe that such an important service was cut for students at their most emotionally vulnerable age.

I saw a beautiful and powerful animated short on bullying today. http://www.upworthy.com/bullies-called-him-pork-chop-he-took-that-pain-with-him-and-then-cooked-it-into?c=upw4#

What? I did not wish bad things upon anyone! Guess what? You can scroll back up and see exactly what I wrote!! I said the names on the list need to be investigated and evaluated along with the one who wrote the list!! Get YOUR facts straight!! Ugh...

If you say so!! Do you know the facts of the letter?? No you don't so you are doing the same thing by calling him sick...all I am saying is "I hope they investigate the names" and u r saying "they had their lives threatened so leave them alone???" That makes no sense....don't you want to know why their lives were threatened?? I guess we just need to wait for ALL THE FACTS...and agree to disagree...being different is what makes this world beautiful...if we were all the same it would be boring!!

I was told the child who wrote the list, was NOT bullied. Did he fit in? Did he have a lot of friends or was he a loner? This is not the appropriate place to comment. I know that if my child came up with a hit list of kids to kill, I would get them help asap and say he or she is sick. Sick of not fitting in, sick of being alone, whatever context you can live with it.....an adult, or a child, who wants to kill is sick, spiritually, mentally, physically, whatever context you choose as politically appropriate. Say it how you want to but he/she needs help. So okay, I will agree that I disagree with your comments.

http://valleypatriot.com/chief-solomon-search-your-childrens-rooms-read-their-diaries/

Please read the above article and see how Methuen Highschool recently avoided another Columbine because a student reported the same threat we just had at West Middle.