Goodrich- High school students were evacuated Monday after a bomb threat was found in a school bathroom.
Superintendent Kimberly Hart referred to the incident as a ‘non-event?, but one with which administrators decided to err on the side of caution.
Hart said a ‘poorly written threat? was discovered in one of the bathrooms while classes were in session.
The threat ‘didn’t make a lot of sense, but we called in the cops just to be safe,? said Hart.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Department officials responded with a K-9 unit to search for any suspicious devices, while students were evacuated to the football field at approximately 11 a.m.
Moving students to a safe location while not canceling school is exactly the strategy psychotherapist James Dearlove, of the Hillside Center for Behavioral Services in Flint, recommends to keep such threats to a minimum. The reason being, said Dearlove, some students may make threats for the sake of getting out of class.
While sometimes students may be avoiding a situation which makes them uncomfortable ‘Dearlove recalls one student with ADHD who said he simply couldn’t face another day feeling inadequate so he caused a disruption? often the threat is made because students just want a day off.
‘It can be as foolish as a ‘Ferris Bueller? stunt to get (the student’s) friends out of school so they can go hang out,? said Dearlove.
Executive Secretary Joy Moll said students and staff returned to the building at approximately 11:30 a.m., after no suspicious devices were found.
Hart said it is unknown who left the threat, when it was written and whether or not the author was a student at the school.
Sometimes, said Dearlove, the reason behind such threats is more complicated than wanting a day off.
Often the reason behind threats of violence at school is a perverse attempt at popularity, explained Dearlove.
‘It’s a way of taking control,? said Dearlove. ‘Everyone wants to be known for something. Being notorious is a form of popularity… not everyone gets to be the head cheerleader. It’s about being notorious, being popular, being known.?
Kids who have been unable to define themselves in more traditional ways? good grades, success with athletics, popularity? may pursue darker avenues to make a mark.
At that point, said Dearlove, it is the job of people like himself to determine what is at the root of the problem.
‘We need to determine what’s going on in these people’s lives that they have to take such drastic measures,? said Dearlove, who said he has treated several students who have made similar threats.
Helping students to develop an identity is a step in the right direction, said Dearlove, even if emphasis is placed on something as simple as what a student collects or enjoys. ‘Anything that makes them feel connected to where they don’t need to be notorious will be beneficial,? said Dearlove.
‘Most of the times,? said Dearlove, ‘when I find (a situation like this) the child had no harmful intentions toward anyone at the school but enjoys the thrill and the power of being able to shut the school down.?