Editorial: Making threats against schools is no prank

Across Tennessee and the nation, a rash of school threats continues despite arrests that leave children who don't fully understand the consequences of their actions facing severe penalties.Earlier this year, a Tennessee law took effect increasing the penalty for threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.That class of felony carries a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000, and law enforcement agencies say they're prepared to prosecute offending children to the fullest extent.Alas, we cannot rely solely on parents to set their children straight on this kind of behavior.But schools can reach all children, and the Tennessee Department of Education should prepare a program to be presented to every class in every school that details why these threats not only waste time and resources but are dangerous.They should make clear what will happen to anyone who issues such a threat.Dozens of threats have taken place this school year, and most recently, in our region. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office has arrested a student for a school threat circulating on social media that contained a photo of someone holding a handgun.The image was found on multiple internet sites and was at least four years old, but text had been added to the photo that contained a threat."We take threats of any sort toward our schools very seriously, and we will be relentless in our efforts to provide a safe environment for students and staff members at our schools," Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said.A 12-year-old Rogersville City School student was arraigned in Hawkins County Juvenile Court last week accused of making threats of mass school violence on social media.The post stated, "…me and gang is locked and loaded get ready on everything first hallway going for is 8th and 7th then pre k y'all done."And in Washington County, the sheriff's department has obtained a juvenile petition for the arrest of a suspect in a threat to David Crockett High School.Other schools have received threats that are under investigation, including Sevier Middle in Kingsport."We have seen this week, and you may have as well, screenshots from snapchat or other social media that cause concern about the safety of your children and our staff at school. We take these types of posts very seriously, as does the Kingsport Police Department. And though they have been investigated by KPD and deemed to be not at all credible, the anxiety they cause throughout our community is serious and understandable, but completely unacceptable," said Kingsport City Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Andy True.Other schools that received threats include in Carter County, Elizabethton, Volunteer High in Hawkins, which entered a lockdown for a brief period, Johnson City with an online threat that included a school hit list, and in Washington County, Virginia, where a juvenile suspect was charged with four counts of threats of death or serious injury. The sheriff's office reported the social media posts tied to the threats included aerial views of four local schools with "disturbing sound effects."Children may not be aware of the digital trail that follows anything posted on the internet that will help locate those who circulate school threats.They should also be aware of what one sheriff said about those making threats: "We will chase you down."The Tennessee Department of Education should prepare a program to be presented to every class in every school that details why these threats not only waste time and resources but are dangerous.