Teacher leaves gun threat to class on blackboard

Threats WBBM-TV reports a Lake Station, Ind. high school teacher admits leaving are seen on blackboard. Teacher has been removed from class pending results of investigation. / WBBM-tv/cbs

LAKE STATION, Ind. A high school business teacher has been removed from the school after admitting he posted a threatening message to some of his students on a chalk board last week, reports CBS Chicago station WBBM-TV.

The message, written on Friday to a group sophomores and juniors taking a personal finance class at Edison Junior-Senior High School in Lake Station, Ind., read:

"Period 6: (only)

(a) You are idiots!!!

(b) The guns are loaded!!!

(c) Care to try me?????"

The teacher was told to leave the school Friday morning, Lake Station Supt. Dan DeHaven told the station.

"He had been absent two days prior, and he was reacting to some comments that were made by the substitute teacher," DeHaven said.

The 28-year veteran teacher, who is the son-in-law of a school board member, won't be back in school Tuesday or Wednesday, and his future at the school is uncertain pending an investigation, DeHaven said.

Leaving the message may be a felony, police tell WBBM.

The message came to the school's attention after a student snapped a cell phone picture of it and posted it to Facebook, DeHaven said.

District leaders took the apparent threat seriously and immediately ordered the business teacher off school property.

"We're not saying in fact that there is a threat. That's what we're determining by interviewing the students, the staff," police chief Kevin Garber stressed.

A district-wide phone call went out to parents Monday, three days after the incident, saying in part, "Your student was never in danger" and "The staff member is currently not in school."

But one parent interviewed by WBBM said it was too little, too late.

"He could have had (a gun) with him," said the parent, who asked not to be identified. "It could have been in his suitcase it could have been in his car. It could have been on him."

The feelings of frustration spilled over at a packed community meeting held Monday night at City Hall.

"My daughter is scared to go to class," one parent said.

A school field trip that the teacher was supposed to lead in Indianapolis this past weekend was canceled.

[KPeters_from_UK]

"He could have had (a gun) with him," said the parent, who asked not to be identified. "It could have been in his suitcase it could have been in his car. It could have been on him."
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But I thought that's what the NRA wants? I thought they want to have armed teachers along with armed guards. Remember how everyone was talking about teachers having guns kept in their desks? Guess it was a good thing this Business teacher didn't have access.

[eteamer]

OK so we are for arming teachers my NRA freinds?

[KPeters_from_UK]

ASKAGAIN

It is a cautionary tale. A perfect story to illustrate the folly of armed school staff.

[1stAmendRts]

If a student had done this, he/she would have already been arrested and explled. The same should be true for a teacher, arrested and forced to leave.

[AmazingGrce]

So many parents these days have no idea of how their children act at school. Threats to teachers and to classmates are too common these days in schools and that is the primary reason so many schools already have guards and various security measures in place.

This teachers action was inappropriate and did warrant his removal from school. Should it be a permanent removal ? That should be decided only after all the facts are in and that includes most likely a psych exam of the teacher. The clearest evidence of his possible problems is that he was so stupid as to write the comments on the chalkboard and create evidence that can and will be used to remove him from the school systems. In that point I believe he should be removed from the education system for some period of time.

Teachers are and should be held to higher standards, BUT that does not excuse or change the facts that in some school systems now, the thugs walk the hallways disguised as students because too many people are afraid to weed them out and put them where they belong in prison or centers for dangerous minors.

In this story we have no information about the overall conditions at that school. This may have been a school where just getting from home to school and back again is a risky proposition.

What is more troublesome are the threats and complete lack of knowledge about today's schools systems displayed by those posting to this board. And worst of all is the attitude in this country of virtual thought controls being attempted by too much of our nations leaders and systems. Labels like "hate speech," "hate crimes," and "terroristic threatening" are being attached to virtually anyone who disagrees with a wide variety of groups in this country including some of the more extreme liberal factions.

[[oweghn]

The police should have been notified immediately. The teacher should have been in custody until it was determined if he had the ability to carry out his threat. The police should have known at the outset whether a law had been broken and should have enforced accordingly. This is another fine example of someone showing up on the radar and nothing was done. Mental health is the issue, not the tools the mentally ill use to commit their actions.

[skeezix06]

Cool. Let's hurry up and arm the teachers. Be sure to put low paid guards in the hallways because the schools can't afford enough books to go around so they won't be able to pay a decent salary for guards who are sane and sensible.

[mimiherald]

Granted, it's a valid concern that needs investigating...but is anyone else concerned that they're still using a "chalkboard/blackboard"? Wow!

[fred8780]

A whole lot of people are getting their exercise flying off at the handle and jumping to conclusions.

Yes, a stupid thing to write. It can be interpreted as a threat and must be taken seriously. The teacher is obviously fed up and frustrated.

Beyond this any attempt to read into this incident any political philosophy or party affiliation, gun control position, religious bent, belief in global warming or a phase of the moon is pure unadulterated baloney.

[PigState]

Just give the idiots an F

[Noval53]

This teacher will be sequestered; problem solved.