'America has given up': Internet reacts as Kentucky teen, 14, with 'kill list' is allowed back to school
FLORENCE, KENTUCKY: A student at Conner Middle School in Boone County, Kentucky, will return to the classroom after allegedly making a "kill list" of his classmates' names. Concerned parents spoke out last week after learning that the Boone County School Board had allowed the 14-year-old to return to school and urged the board to reverse the decision.
The student is accused of making threats on social media. Boone County deputies said they quickly took the boy into custody after receiving two reports of the threats. The 14-year-old is also charged with second-degree terroristic threats. The status of those charges is unclear at this time.
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'He's a threat to the environment which fostered him'
Deanne Corbin, a mother of one of students in the school, said, “Whatever help he has gotten, he is still a threat to be in an environment which fostered him to want to do a mass shooting and make a list of our students of Conner Middle School that are now at Conner High School," according to NBC affiliate WLWT, “It is unfair to the children, the victims as I call them, that were on this list for him to be in that school whether or not he’s in their classroom, they have to know he’s in their building. They know he walks down the hallway and they have to pass him,” Corbin added.
Rob Bidleman, a parent who said his child was on the teenage teen’s “active kill list,” said, "As a father of a child on the active kill list, my statements will reflect my opinions based on the information I received from Conner High School. When I received a call from the principal, it was emotionally devastating. All I could think about was my child in danger when they did nothing wrong,”
Mr Wyckoff, who is reportedly the principal of the school, has been put into a different position has his own son's name was on this "kill list." Karen Wells, a parent, said, “I don’t think it’s the right decision for the administration. I think it puts an unnecessary burden on Mr Wycoff with his own son being on that list. He has to be impartial every day, yet give this kid what he needs. Obviously, this kid needs a community to get behind him to help him because one day he’s going to be in our society,”
Wyckoff said that because the 14-year-old is a juvenile, his records are sealed, and that he is not aware of the status of the charges. Wyckoff was firm that his son will not leave Connor High School. "I am aware that some parents have moved their children to other schools, but I will not move my son," he said.
Matthew Turner, Boone County School District Superintendent, said in a letter to parents that his hands are tied and urged them to talk to the local station "The Kentucky Constitution guarantees the right to a public education for every child without prejudice, and we are obligated to follow state law. I can assure you all appropriate safety measures have been taken and are in place," he wrote. "Conner High School remains a safe school." Turner wrote.
'America is pretending to protect its children'
People on the Internet have also expressed concern and anger about the decision to let the 14-year-old go back to school. One Reddit user pointed out, "America has given up even pretending to protect its children. They won't protect them from violence or rape. They won't fund their education. They won't create a society or even a world for them to inhabit. All while claiming all the harm caused is for their benefit." Another user sarcastically said, "Look just ignore it for 5 years, everything will be fine, just a future school shooter which is like a once a week thing now so like not to big of a deal." One user pointed the strict codes in schools regarding dress codes for girls and implied that they don't take firm actions when something like this happens saying, "Meanwhile girls are sent home and their education interrupted for showing their collar bone." One user said, "Unless politicians end up on that list, they'll do nothing." Another user offered alternatives to allowing him back to school saying, "Let him be homeschooled, or get educated in an institution. Where he,and everyone else is safe. Ffs."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online