'Homeschooler terrorists' subject of exercise

Mlive.com ^ | September 20, 2004 | Lynn Moore

[Peter J. Huss]

Mock attack will test terrorism response

Monday, September 20, 2004 By Lynn Moore CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

Terrorists will strike a busload of students in the Whitehall area on Tuesday, killing more than a half-dozen and sending dozens more to hospitals.

It's not a crystal ball that allows such a disaster to be foreseen. It's all in the plans -- disaster preparedness plans, that is.

...............

The exercise will simulate an attack by a fictitious radical group called Wackos Against Schools and Education who believe everyone should be homeschooled. Under the scenario, a bomb is placed on the bus and is detonated while the bus is traveling on Durham, causing the bus to land on its side and fill with smoke.

(continued)

http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-5/109569331454310.xml

[Peter J. Huss]

Main offending line:

"The exercise will simulate an attack by a fictitious radical group called Wackos Against Schools and Education who believe everyone should be homeschooled."

[Charlespg]

more like wakos against homeschooling

[grellis]

That line was offensive enough for me not to bother reading the rest of the article!

[grellis]

Homeschool ping

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Contact info:
(734) 997-7090

List of advertisers:
Selected MLive Advertisers
• Best Western Regional Marketing
• Carroll's Corporation (Burger King)
• Cedar Point
• Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Ford Motor Company
• Garb-Ko (7-11 Stores)
• Grand Hotel
• Hartman and Tyner
• McKinley
• Michigan Virtual University
• National City Bank
• Robert Half Personnel
• Schwan's Foods
• Traverse Bay Casino Resorts
• Varsity Ford

[netmilsmom]

This apology came through one of the Homeschool boards....

> > Statement from the MAISD Superintendent
> > Michael H. Bozym, Ph.D.
> >
> > September 21, 2004
> >
> > Contact:
> > Kristin Tank
> > Public Information Coordinator
> > MAISD, (231) 767-7263
> >
> > The Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) shared
> > the disappointment of others when we learned the September
> > 21, 2004, emergency preparedness drill referenced home
> > schoolers as the fictitious group responsible for a mock
> > disaster. We apologize. The MAISD and local districts were
> > not aware of the scenario, and it was not shared with
> > students or parents who took part in the exercise.
> >
> > According to Dan Stout, Chief Deputy, Emergency Services of
> > Muskegon County, this scenario was constructed in his office.
> > A sample scenario was required in order to receive the
> > necessary funding to stage the event. The Muskegon Area
> > Intermediate School District and our local schools did not
> > construct the scenario, but participated with other county
> > agencies, hospitals, and emergency responders in conducting
> > the drill.
> >
> > This exercise was meant to sharpen the skills and response
> > time of our emergency services personnel, but was
> > unfortunately clouded by the choice of this fictional group.
> > We believe this exercise had everything to do with testing
> > emergency response time and the protection of our children.
> > It had nothing to do with the home school population.
> >
> > As educators, we believe that the first and most important
> > teacher is the parent, whether in home schools, public
> > schools, or non-public schools. We all work together to
> > ensure a safe and secure environment for our children to live
> > and grow.
> >
> > We sincerely regret offending home school educators. We
> > believe that all parents are educators and do important work
> > at home with their children.
> >
> > # # #
> >
> > Please forward all additional questions and comments to the
> > Public Information Coordinator at the Muskegon Area
> > Intermediate School District at ktank@r... or
> > (231) 767-7263.
> >
> >

---

> >

---

> > Apology from Emergency Services of Muskegon County
> >
> > Daniel Stout: (231) 724-6341
> > stoutda@c...
> >
> >
> > In the world today Homeland security is very a important
> > issue. The training of our nation to respond to the many
> > threats we face is of utmost importance. As part of a full
> > scale homeland security exercise on September 21, 2004 in
> > Muskegon, I wrote about a fictional group and fictional
> > scenario for the exercise. This fictional group and scenario
> > made reference to fictional people who are against schools.
> > This fictional group and scenario was not meant to offend any
> > home school students. It has nothing to do with any home
> > school population. Home school students and former students
> > are a very important part of our nation. This scenario will
> > not be used again.
> >
> > Daniel Stout
> > Muskegon County Emergency Services
> >
> > # # #
> >
> > Kristin Tank
> > Public Information Coordinator
> > MAISD
> > 630 Harvey Street
> > Muskegon, MI 49442-2398
> > Phone: 231-767-7263
> > Fax: 231-773-3498
> > E-mail: ktank@r...
> > Visit our Web Site: www.muskegonisd.org
>
>

[SlowBoat407]

So, they would ra^ther push the notion that homeschoolers are dangerous to their children than the notion that Islamic fundamentalism is a very real danger? Are they afraid of offending the Arab-American population there? This is offensive and absurd.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

They'd rather offend a group of people who would never even consider attacking children than offend a group of people who have a proven record of doing so.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Home schoolers are much more dangerous to the NEA than any terrorists.

[Rodm]

Your article in the Muskegon edition titled "Mock attack will test terrorism response" is a veiled attempt to slanders home educators. Home educators produces good, productive and responsible citizens. The groups that would harm school children are radical islamists bent on destructing all that public, private, and home educators value in our great nation. It is a politically correct cheap shot, but then, it's easier to deride fellow Americans than confront the reality that fanatical islamist terrorist want to kill us and our children

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Organized by the teacher's union, no doubt.

[knuthom]

Why a list of MLive Advertisers? They were only reporting what the idiots who planned the exercise were doing? I appreciate that.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Oops.. I forgot to add.. Will MILive run the apologies we have seen. I think they should.

[knuthom]

I checked and they have a follow-up article today.
Home-schoolers incensed by drill scenario

[knuthom]

I checked and they have a follow-up article today.
Home-schoolers incensed by drill scenario

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Ok.. I will have to take your word for it ;}