www.esryle.comLOCAL NEWS ACROSS THE NATION
Posted on 03/01/2005 6:29:28 AM PST by esryle
Another Utah community is on edge after a junior high school student is suspended for creating a "list of special friends."
This time it's in the town of Pleasant Grove. And unlike recent cases in two others schools, there have been no weapons found, or any evidence of overt threats of violence. But, officials are investigating it as an "implied threat."
Students at the school felt uncomfortable, even worried when they found out another student put their names on his list.
The only list students expect to be on is the class roll call. But another list emerged recently at Pleasant Grove Junior High. One a student made. And it got him suspended.
Jerrilyn Mortensen/ Alpine School District: "The nature of the list itself concerned some students. They didn't know or understand why their name would be on a list."
The school doesn't seem to know either. But a note was sent home to parents about what happened. Concerned Parent: "I'm rather concerned. It's a little disturbing. I hope that a thorough investigation is done and I hope they determine whether this kid is a serious threat or whether it's some kind of practical joke. I don't know."
In the letter, administrators say: "This list had a potential or implied threat, although we do not believe any specific threats or plans had been made. Your student's name was on the list."
Parent: "She doesn't understand why. She hadn't had much contact with him. Knew who he is."
The local police department is also investigating. They say the list included the names of 90 classmates and was titled "special friends."
Parent: "From my understanding, this young man has a history of emotional disturbances, a history of problem behaviors."
Administrators say they are taking the incident seriously, especially after what happened last week at other Utah schools. A Granger High School student was arrested Thursday for allegedly threatening to kill other students and a teacher. And a Northridge High School student was arrested the same day for having a loaded handgun at school.
Jerrilyn: "I believe there has been a real heightened awareness when there have been instances in the state."
School officials say the boy will be suspended until the investigation is completed. They say he and his parents are cooperating.
Well, gee, maybe it's because he gets expelled at the drop of a hat?
Wow, the thought police are working overtime now. No threat, but it was "implied".
I guess I don't know how I'd feel if it was my daughter's name on the list, though.
I was looking for Scrappleface as the source. A list of "special friends" is a threat?
That's odd.
Note to officials: please do not take the above comment as an implied threat.
Who would name a boy "Jerrilyn?"
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"-Hillary Clinton
(Yes, she really said that
Peggy Noonan
The Case Against Hillary Clinton, pg 55)
Who would name a boy "Jerrilyn?"
Was his parents names also on the list?
I keep a list of special friends everywhere I go. I keep getting banned, and signing up somewhere new. Now I'm here at Free Republic, and I want all of you to be my special friends. Who wants to be first on my list?
I think Jerrilyn was the name of the school district's spokesperson...maybe a woman?
sign me up!
Well obviously in the interest of tolerance and inclusiveness his list should include everyone! (sarcasm)
I think I'm going to have fun here!
Maybe it was a GILF list.
In all of this, did anybody bother to ask the kid what the list was all about?
I think I'm going to add you to my list.
As I remember it, back in my day, we made lists of classmates too. For holiday cards, birthday invitations...
Mixed emotions on this one - while schools do some asinine stuff when it comes to taking precautions and discipline, this smacks of something that needed to be taken seriously. How often do signs get ignored and end up in tragedy?
Burn 'em quick before they come after you.
I keep my list of *special friends* in a little black book....
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