Teen pleads guilty to text threat

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A 14-year-old Dyersburg High School student accused of sending a text message warning other students about a possible school shooting has pleaded guilty.

The boy pleaded Oct. 21 in Dyer County Juvenile Court to a charge of being unruly. He was placed on probation, ordered to perform 20 hours of community service work and was told to write a letter of apology to the Dyersburg Police Department.

The boy's text message alleged that shootings would occur Sept. 4 and Sept. 10 at DHS.

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Our youth at its best. Blame the parents for not teaching him right from wrong and giving him a cell phone to take to school. This should not be allowed! NO cell phones used in the schools. Then, why bring them???? 20 hours of community work? Get real, he and his buddies will laugh over this. Is he going to be in the alternative school? 14 yr olds know better, at least some do.

-- Posted by CitizenTn on Wed, Oct 28, 2009, at 7:32 PM

CitizenTn, could or would you please explain why you say blame the parents? Although I do agree that the kid should have never had a cell phone, unless HE was paying for it, I fail to see how it could in any way be considered the parents fault. Did it ever occur to you, that maybe he WAS taught right from wrong, and HE simply chose to do the wrong thing? The parents can teach right from wrong, but once the child is out of their reach, it's up to the child to DO right from wrong.

I think it would be far better to hold the child responsible for his own actions, and allow the parents to apply the proper punishment. People without children teach parenting classes! While other people tell parents that they can't whip their children, but then say everything the children do, is the parents fault!

Until it gets back where the parents are allowed to raise their own children, it's only going to get worse!!!!!

-- Posted by Lil' Arkansas on Thu, Oct 29, 2009, at 12:37 PM