As the parents of the student referenced in the recent Standard Press articles regarding the rumored threat at Burlington High School we felt that more details are needed about the situation and how it was handled.
We think the district failed to mention important information leading up to the posting on Facebook. We also feel no parent would want their child to be treated the way that our daughter was by the administration at BHS and the district.
Any parent in the district should be appalled that three days after the shootings in Connecticut a group of students (our daughter included) brought to the attention of a teacher concerns about rumors of a shooting planned for BHS on Friday, Dec. 21. The teacher took no action. He informed no one.
The teacher’s answer to the students? “I can neither confirm nor deny that.” What kind of an answer is that? This only led the students to think that the staff did know something and couldn’t talk about it. The teacher also joked that maybe there would be a snow day on Friday and no one would be there anyway.
Were these rumors real? We all can feel they weren’t (and this, in fact, turned out to be the case). However in today’s day and age how can you not be concerned and at least take it somewhat seriously.
Part of the school’s comments to our daughter were that she was irresponsible. Was it also not irresponsible, maybe even more so, that this teacher did nothing?
On Dec. 17 our daughter heard rumors from a friend at school about a shooting planned for the 21st. Also, that the guns were already at the school so if any searches were done as students arrived they wouldn’t find anything. Our daughter and her friends were discussing this at lunch and approached a teacher as stated at the beginning of our letter.
Based on that teacher’s response the students were still concerned. Our daughter talked more with her friends and also informed another parent on the way home from school. That parent said she would be calling the school. Our daughter also informed us when she got home. We told her to let us know what the other mom found out and assured her we would probably be hearing from the district via email or letter since we figured the staff knew about it based on the teacher’s comments. We also planned on calling the school in the morning.
Before going to bed our daughter put one question on Facebook addressed to her peers “So is there really a shooting threat for BHS on Friday or is that just a rumor?”
When she arrived at school she was immediately sent to the office for what turned out to be an interrogation that lasted for four and a half hours. Sure it was proper for our daughter to be questioned but not in the manner that it turned out to be. A criminal arrested by the police has more rights than our daughter seemed to have.
She was questioned first by a vice principal and her counselor. Then by Principal Eric Burling and three police officers They were harsh, raising their voices, telling her how she had poor judgment, how they were very disappointed in her, and how there was going to be serious consequences because of this.
She was very scared and upset. She texted her mom and told her what was going on.
Mom called the school and asked to talk to someone about what was happening. She was told they were in a meeting but they would be given the message as soon as the doors opened.
After the meeting ended our daughter was asked if she had contacted her mom. She said she had and had her phone ripped out of her hands. Still nobody called her parents.
She was then moved to ISS (in school suspension). While there she asked to use the phone to call her mom. The staff person said yes but first had to hook up a device to the phone. My daughter believes the phone call to her mother was recorded!
Sometime after this a vice principal finally called her mom and asked her to come to school to discuss comments that our daughter had placed on Facebook.
Our daughter also was not allowed to go to her locker by herself for homework. She had to be escorted. Her mother had asked for homework to be provided but the staff did not do this. Our daughter also did not go to the bathroom because she would have to be escorted for this.
Upon her mother’s arrival Principal Burling briefly met with her and told her that the information our daughter told a teacher was not credible because she did not tell him enough information.
Our daughter and her friends told him they heard of a threat that was to take place on Friday. What more did they need to say?
The mother then met with Mr. Burling, a detective and Peter Smet, the school superintendent. She explained that from a 15-year-old’s point of view kids (and adults, as well) post many things on Facebook. It wasn’t meant to start a rumor as the rumors were already out amongst the students. They also see this as communicating with their immediate circle not everyone else out there.
Prior to this meeting our daughter cooperated fully. She answered all their questions, told them everything she knew, logged into her Facebook so they could read and review it. They called many other students down and found that she had not made up the rumors and did trace back where the rumors originated.
During the meeting the principal still continued to try to get our daughter to say she made parts of it up even though it was already clear that she hadn’t. Towards the end of the meeting Mr. Burling even stated to our daughter, “I have to deal with you for the next two and a half years. What can I expect?”
After investigating and determining the threat was not real they never informed our daughter of this to ease her fears. All this time she thought it was still real.
The district was very concerned that the information not get out to the public, especially as her Facebook post had been seen by reporter Jennifer Eisenbart (she is friends with my daughter through their involvement with the Haylofters). It is our understanding that Ms. Eisenbart was treated rather harshly by both school and law enforcement officials because of this.
The letter that went home from the school states: student posted on Facebook a message and that parents should discuss the importance of the appropriate use of social media. Share with them the importance that this concern should have been brought to adults, teachers, or the police and not posted on Facebook and if they ever are concerned about anything they need to seek out an adult. Posting on Facebook, Twitter, texting, etc., is the inappropriate venue for something of this nature.
It does not mention that a teacher was informed during the school day prior to this question being posted. These girls did exactly what they were supposed to do. It appears the district does not want the public to know that a teacher was informed.
It seems like the district wants to blame this whole situation on our daughter’s one question on Facebook when that is simply not true. They clearly know that this information was out among the student body prior to the post.
We are unhappy with the way this was handled and with the way our daughter was treated. We can’t believe that we weren’t contacted right away when our daughter was being questioned by the police.
Once all their questions were answered and she told them that she had informed a teacher her interrogation should have ended, not gone on for hours. There was no need for phones being ripped out of hands, recorded phone calls, in-school suspension, escorts to her locker and just the harsh treatment in general.
Our daughter did not commit a crime. She wasn’t a suspect. Why didn’t the professionals act professional?
Eric and Cathy Haglund,
Burlington
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Doesn’t surprise me at all. Some of the educators there have always been good trying to make everybody believe it is a great school and if there is trouble it is the fault of the student and thier parent(s), never the educator. Guess they don’t remember the discovered plot at BHS shortly after Columbine. It was averted because a young lady went to the City of Burlington Police and reported it. Their investigation resulted in arrests and at least 1 conviction. Thank God that young lady reported it to the police and not school officials.
Action should be taken against the educator who did nothing. The students should not be reprimanded for using their social networks to discuss something they live in fear of happening on a daily basis.
Parents need to join together and force the administrators to outling exactly what a teacher is to do if a student comes to them and reports such a rumor. This young lady did exactly what she was supposed to do. Shame on these school officials for being so dramatic and extreme with her.
A couple observations:
1. A little less time on social media and more time in the real world for everyone would be good.
2. Never trust the local yokel “authorities” or “administration” wannabees with your rights whatever age you are. They have no clue and react on an emotional basis in CYA mode. We don’t know what the facts are for sure but if its anything like the above this familiy’s civil rights may have been violated and she may have been illegally questioned and detained in a laughably clownish manner. Stay away from these fools in general is a good guideline to follow.
Looking forward to my kids going to that police state.
Guess I’m not surprised.
It sounds like a bunch of Barney Fife hicks running amok in places of power in Burlington. Good luck Eric and Cathy !!!!
Whether or not the teacher believed the rumor to be credible, shouldn’t he at least be required to bring the rumor to the attention of school administrators? Was the teacher questioned and treated as harshly as the student by the administrators and law enforcement for his handling of the situation? Was the teacher reprimanded? If I asked a flight attendant if there was any truth to a rumor about a gun being on the plane, would they simply shrug off the comment?
Anybody else wondering why these parents responded to a possible tragedy in the following manner?
“Our daughter also informed us when she got home. We told her to let us know what the OTHER mom found out and assured her we would PROBABLY be hearing from the district via email or letter since WE FIGURED the staff knew about it based on the teacher’s comments. We also planned on calling the school in the morning.”
What is lost here somewhere is the fact that they did not immediately go to the police as any concerned parent should. Why in the world would you wait until the next day, rely on the actions of another parent & assume the school was aware? How could you sleep? I see 360 degrees of blame here. Everyone involved reacted incorrectly and needs to rethink their approach. SMH
I am just appauled at this story!!! I am 100% behind this girl & her family!! Eric & Cathy I pray that u have contacted a lawyer regarding everything u have stated that happened in ur letter!! Seriously!! U have a few very solid lawsuits goin on here!! They NEVER EVER are to question any minor without a parent/guardian for one.. there’s a few other reasons u could sue for as well. But I’d rather not discuss on here!! Feel free to contact me via email to discuss this situation further privately… This is an extremely serious matter that action must be taken on immediately.. My husband and I are behind ur entire family all the way!! [email protected]
May God bless all of you!!
Thank you for your words of reason, Jeff. It seems the whole world is “sue happy” because they’ve been wronged. (See Deanna’s comments above.) It’s always someone else’s fault. I think the school did exactly what they should have. You are reading a one sided story here. In my field of work (in the corrections field), I’ve learned that there are two sides to every story and the truth is somewhere in the middle. I would also invoke some religious words here, as Deanna did, about praying for a law-suit or but it seems inappropriate to do so. I think our schools are wonderful. I hope they stay that way and some wack-jobs with hidden agendas don’t take over.
The only whack jobs we should be afraid of are the authoritarian ones like Scott above who like having unchecked power over people. Its always been human nature to do what happened here. Schools or police or corrections workers or any type of government that takes peoples rights away are the most dangerous institutions of all and should never be trusted. That is why having the best people possible with the highest of morals and holding them accountable is of the utmost importance. If you are in one of these positions and dont understand that, like Scott, you need to get out, or sadly need to be kicked out.
Good thing someone else took care of alerting the authorities! Some parents sit back & complain, but do not act in the best interest & safety of everyone. After all, one MUST assume it would be taken care of, right? Great call.