AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2008 > March > 20
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Text-messaging rumor mills
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rumors spread by text messaging flew through three Gwinnett high schools this month. The rumor mill said a shooting would take place on campus or gangs were bringing weapons to school.
Students panicked and left school early. Worried parents made their kids stay home.
Here’s the catch - when police investigated the threats at Central Gwinnett, Duluth and Peachtree Ridge high schools they found nothing to substantiate the rumors.
Gwinnett school police charged a 16-year-old student from Peachtree Ridge with disruption of public schools as part of the investigation into the text-messaged threats. The three campuses increased police presence. Principals sent notes home and took calls from concerned parents.
Schools have had bomb threats and rumors of violence before, but text messaging gives wings to all this gossip.
How are parents, schools and the police supposed to respond to this? Everyone needs to take these threats seriously, but when do the rumors become like the boy who cried wolf?
