Experts Dubious of Ga. 3rd-Grader Plot (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Experts Dubious of Ga. 3rd-Grader Plot

AP foreign, Wednesday April 2 2008

By RUSS BYNUM and MIKE STOBBE

Associated Press Writers

WAYCROSS, Ga. (AP) - Allegations that third-graders
hatched an elaborate plot to knock out, handcuff and
stab their teacher were met with shock by neighbors
and with doubt by psychiatry experts who said it is
unlikely that children that young seriously intended
to hurt anyone.

-snip-

Students brought a crystal paperweight, a steak knife
with a broken handle, steel handcuffs and other items
as part of last week's plot, police said Tuesday. They
said nine students were involved, but prosecutors are
seeking juvenile charges against only three of them.

Experts said children that age are certainly imaginative
and capable of creating elaborate games. But Dr. Louis
Kraus, a child psychiatry expert at Rush University
Medical Center in Chicago, said he doubts they would
have actually attacked.

"The reality is it is highly unlikely they would have
been successful at this," Kraus said. "Even if it had
begun, it's unclear whether they actually would have
followed through with it."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7432278

[1monster]

1. I had a teacher mention this to me today at school. I said I hadn't heard any details,

but that I was very skeptical about the whole thing.

I'm glad that others (experts) feel the same way.

I just hope this is handled correctly by law enforcement, school officials, and by the parents.

I've seen too many kids dealt with extremely harshly when other tacts would have been more effective and had less long term ill effects.