I'm not clear on why he needs counseling.

Counseling over punishment.

He is obviously confused and needs help. Not that he is 'messed up', just confused with all that is going on.

I think back to when I was a little girl, we were fed a lot of things. I remember hearing some sort of alarm {I know my husband remembers what they are called as we've discussed this before} that would go off daily. I think in case of attack? Something
military.

Cancers, other illnesses, wars, drive bys, school shootings....it is pretty heavy stuff for kids. I think he was getting it out somehow.

And, 18 isn't an adult. {not that anyone questioned that}

Why not just a basic caning?

Corporal punishment is a good thing.

I'm still not sure why he needs counseling?

Thousands of kids write things like that every day. I wrote things much worse than that. I think I've said before that a group of us had actual detailed plans for poisoning the French teacher.

All the article mentions is what he wrote and there is nothing in that to indicate a need for counseling. The teacher should have said "really, do you think you can offend me so easily" and then just kept an eye out for any real signs of problems.

But based just on the that information available in that article I see nothing that warrants any action, be it psychological, criminal, or bureaucratic.

Well, yeah, but I was choosing between what they did and what they could have done.

But, I still don't think it would do harm to talk to the kid. Could be nothing, could be something.

Maybe he doesn't have anyone to talk to? Unlike yourself.

LOL Kevy Baby, I had to look twice...I thought you said to 'can' him....:blush:

"Unlike myself"?

The single most destructive thing my high school ever did to me was try and force me into counseling (because the didn't like a decision I'd made, they decided I must be on drugs).

Writing bad things is not a sign (all on its own) of problems. And if ever there is a group of people who act on the philosophy of "if you're going to treat me like I did something wrong, I might as well do something wrong" it is teenagers.

"I think I've said before that a group of us had actual detailed plans for poisoning the French teacher." Unlike yourself who had a group to discuss this 'plan' with. That is what I meant, not judging you on any level. Or being sarcastic.

Group talks can work out problems. That is why talk shows are popular.

That is unfortunate about them trying to force you into counseling. I still say, over punishing this kid, at least attempt to see if there is a problem. If they have to do something, which, with what has been going on so frequently, they probably have to.

Did I ever mention I have 3 kids? Been there sooo done that. Wait, doing that. My son turns 13 tomorrow....

When my kids have written some off the wall things, I have talked to them. Had them explain it to me. That is what a parent is for, to help guide them in their thoughts, they don't always understand why they do and say things.

Sometimes these things have been signs of other things, sometimes not.

It just strikes me as an overreaction.

Granted, an 18-year old should be old enough to realize how sensitive everyone is about shootings and that writing that might be a really stupid idea, however, it's also young enough to be obnoxious and actively break the rules in order to make a point.

Well. Hmm. Having kids in public school, I find they have a tendency to over react. Or, under-react when they should do something.

I could list a lot of things I've dealt with. Some being what pushed me to homeschool when I did.

They do try to control the kids, their thinking, and peer into what is going on at home. I just today had to deal with some issue that I felt unfair to my son, some of their 'rules'.

Yeah, I think it's a matter of choices. They're trying to throw an 18 year old in jail, as opposed to the many other options they could pursue. Counseling is a far kinder option, IMO, if they feel like something "needs to be done." Given that, I don't think anything needed to be done, but clearly, they thought something did. I'm just surprised that they went straight for arrest.