Government schools are a wreck. School shootings do happen. Perhaps they took this girl’s threat to kill someone and then herself seriously.
Playing cowboys and indians around the schoolyard is one thing. But to say, “I’m going to shoot you and I will shoot myself” seems to be something else ... very eery, very dysfunctional.
We don’t know the tone. If she giggled while saying it, in the context of playing a game, that’s one thing. But if she looked deadpan serious, a kid made cynical by too much violent TV and movies, that is something else ...
We homeschool, so I don’t have to worry about this kind of thing with my kids. FWIW ...
We've just experienced a horrific shooting at an elementary school after which the perpetrator shot himself.
In response, the pResident surrounded himself with young children who allegedly wrote letters to him begging him to save their lives (or some such thing) and he gave every indication that he would do just that.
That a sizeable proportion of our youngsters have been exposed to this tragedy and convinced that government action is the solution is obvious.
I think it possible that the little girl in the story has been exposed to the details of this story. Her parents may have assured her that this happens very rarely and that she need not be concerned.
Having now been educated to the possibilities, the girl acts out the scenario in a safe, secure environment in which no persons are injured and only bubbles are at risk.
Much like a young child will attempt to use a word that she has just learned in order to master it, children play at situations that they are curious about.
I couldn't help but laugh inwardly as my grandson during a recent visit informed me that, "Little boys don't say 'damn it!'". He just loved telling me that and told me at least half a dozen times. He's a smart kid and undoubtedly loved the irony that he could relate the lesson taught him by his parents with only little concern that he was violating the parental admonition.
It's too bad more of our school teachers are not loving grandfathers. If they were, there would be much simpler solutions to these near non-problems.