7th graders slapped with charges and arrested for putting pepper flakes in a teacher’s soft drink

[yuiyoshida]

Three Florida seventh graders are being criminally charged for a prank in which they put pepper flakes in a teacher’s can of soda, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The 12-year-old girls are being charged with charges relating to poisoning food or water and tampering with consumer products and are being held at Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center near Orlando.

The teacher, Jayne Morgan, told the Sentinel she had wanted to press charges but didn’t know the girls would be arrested and held in custody. She declined to comment further.

“My principal at Deltona Middle School has been very supportive, and the district is making the decisions as to how the case is handled,” she told the paper.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/seventh-graders-slapped-with-charges-and-arrested-for-putting-pepper-flakes-in-a-teachers-soft-drink/

[sakabatou]

1. They couldn't put girls in detention or some for of suspension?

[yuiyoshida]

2. Guess not...

We had a teacher, that was so mean, she wore a Night stick, just to scare us kids...

[HubertHeaver]

3. Did she wear anything else?

[yuiyoshida]

4. Well I don't remember ...that

stick was mighty big.

[HubertHeaver]

7. That's just a well.

The stick was frightening enough.

[CincyDem]

51. I'm sure I'll pay for this somewhere, but I couldn't resist.

[MH1]

53. For at least the ringleader, that clearly would not be sufficient.

This incident was retaliation for being punished for an act against another student.

I think the little bully needs to be taught a lesson. Not sure she should be kept locked up for long but hopefully the experience of being arrested and finding out she isn't quite the special little snowflake she thinks she is, will help wake her the f*ck up.

[6chars]

5. soda actually makes the pepper super hot

According to the Sentinel. one of the girls was angry with Morgan for sending her to the principal’s office Monday for pouring glue in another student’s backpack. The girl initially wanted to vandalize her car with paint, but was talked out of it by a friend, who was also later arrested.

The next day, the girl brought crushed red pepper flakes to school and convinced two friends to help her distract the teacher and pour the flakes into Morgan’s can of Mountain Dew. Morgan discovered the flakes after her throat began burning and poured the soda into a clear glass.

[Lancero]

6. Wonder why they picked pepper to spike her drink with?

I mean, why would little angels such as these use something that causes a intense burning sensation as part of a prank? It's not like they wanted to hurt her... right?

[LisaL]

16. From what is alleged, girl was angry at the teacher (teacher send her to the principal) and wanted

revenge.

[Jim Beard]

74. Should have done what one of my classmates did in the 1960's

perpetrator is dead now. He was a member of a class of clowns and Joe was at the top of the list.

One morning he gained access to the school cafeteria where the teachers coffee pot was and put ex-laz tabs in it.

I don't think it did anything and one of the big coffee drinkers was holding class in the afternoon and had his feet on the desk and all of a sudden jumped up and left the room and everyone snickered thinking the ex-lax had worked.

I really don't think it worked and that the teaher got wind of the prank and went along with it. It was a very small school with average class size being 30 or less.


Times have changed.

[angstlessk]

8. So pranks are now criminal?

I recall putting tacks on the desk my teacher always rested his hands on...Nowadays I could be arrested..back then he said ouch and it was over...we laughed.

[Journeyman]

10. Twice, the woodworking instructor at my high school had his coffee spiked with hallucinogenics . . .

Maybe this school district has had similar attacks with varying degrees of harm and the decision's been made to treat everyone who does it to the absolute maximum in hopes of putting an end to it. Or maybe the principal is sweet on the teacher. Or perhaps that school district has zero tolerance rules in effect. It's seems a very different world in this millennium . . .

[CBGLuthier]

11. Food tampering is a crime in most states.

Has been for years. Too bad nobody tells kids that their stupid ideas and actions could have consequences.

[braddy]

12. Food tampering is something that needs to be slammed hard, since

the harmlessness of the substance doesn't matter so much as the barrier that must remain inviolate.

In the old days the kids would have had the adult world crash down on them as a unified team and fill them with terror and have them weeping for forgiveness, the difference between that and today is, that it would have been all adult theatrics too get them back on track and through that stage, and no actual paper work would be following the kids through life, no arrest, no record.

[LisaL]

15. Yes.

It's against the law to tamper with somebody's food or drink.

[obamanut2012]

20. Pranks aren't, but assault and intentional harm are

And yes, the tacks thing you did wasn't a prank either, sorry.

Teachers have enough to do without worrying about this garbage from their students.

[Jim Beard]

75. That prank was pulled for mor than a century. Guess our entire country was

being trained to be terrorist.

[Igel]

26. A prank can be fun.

It can be mean.

But when it's revenge for being appropriately punished, it's upping the ante. It says, "If you enforce the rules because I did something wrong, well then. I have a right to do bad things and instead of showing remorse I'm going to punish the enforcer."

At the same time, imagine the following. Teacher treats a student inappropriately on Monday. Teacher gets called to the office and written up for it because the teacher really did behave inappropriately. On Wednesday, that same teacher decides to visit the students at lunch and puts pepper flakes in that students drink, embarrassing the student in front of everybody and causing her pain.

Would we be calling that a "prank"? If not, it's time to rethink the double standard.

Teachers are indentured servants, serfs, slaves, and have no rights. Students are all special creations, innocent and pure, and deserve ponies for just being.

It is true that teachers are to be held to a higher standard, because the students are immature and cannot always reach sound decisions for social and biological reasons. At the same time, that doesn't give them a pass for everything they do to each other and teachers.

This kid needs scared. An intervention. A "come to Jesus" meeting. Needs to stop thinking that everybody owes her a pony--or that since nobody's treating her well, that means she can treat others like shit. It may work. It may not work. But what's been happening hasn't worked, and calls for more of the same will just produce more of the same.

[obamanut2012]

30. Teachers and education staff are protected under the same laws as students

I am referring to things such as Title IX. A lot of people, including people in this thread I think, don't realize that. So, technically, in a public school or university, there shouldn't be that double standard.

Good post.

[rjsquirrel]

27. Isn't that a semantic distinction?

Many things were once called pranks but are now called assault. "Prank" minimizes the offense.

Not saying this rises above prank, depends how dangerous it was. But had they been playing with fire in a crowded school would that be be a prank?

[Separation]

56. Tacks aren't a prank either, it's assault.

One of the girls involved had already got into trouble for pouring glue down a student's backpack. She got caught and in trouble and wanted revenge on the teacher. Sounds like she and her friends like to bully other people and I say some time in juvenile hall will knock her down off of her high assed horse.

[Jim Beard]

76. Have you ever seen a thumb Tack?

They have a very short pin and unless a teacher just jumped into the chair ther would be very little penetration.

Also in those Days, Teachers always checked. If the :
"Criminal" was Cauchy they got to or three licks with a board otold to set every day immediately in front of her. They had all kids of creative punishment in those days.

[unblock]

60. a "prank" is moving the teacher's desk over one inch each day

anything that causes pain or draws blood or is not a "prank", it's a criminal act and it should be obvious to anyone that it is immoral as well and nothing to be laughed about.

the only question is whether law enforcement needs to be involved or whether school punishments such as detention or suspension would be enough.

[Peace Patriot]

9. Clinton's world.

"We need to bring these super predator children to heel."

[cwydro]

14. Nice try.

If you want to sling ugly primary mud, there's a forum for that.

It's not this one.

[Orrex]

17. Yes, because there would be no crime under President Sanders.

[rjsquirrel]

28. Awwww cut the sh-t

Clinton's world, FFS.

The bitter tears of Bernie bros this morning are staining everything.

[Skittles]

13. I would not press charges but

these girls need to understand how serious a matter it is to tamper with food or drink

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. Pouring glue into another student's backpack,

putting pepper in a teacher's drink,
how do you get the attention of a group of bullies, get them to understand and to change their behavior?

Any "light" punishment will be laughed off.

[Gormy Cuss]

44. ^^This^^

There should be clear, strong consequences for this sort of behavior but outside of the criminal justice system unless these kids have a long history of similar behaviors.

[Octafish]

18. Gov. Snyder put lead in 8000 children's water...

...and he's a Hero of the GOP.

[malaise]

63. You win the thread

hands down

[obamanut2012]

19. This isn't a prank, and it is criminal

This isn't a detention issue.

Teachers are too often assaulted, lied about (ie fake molestation charges), and even killed by their students.

This wasn't a prank. The girls, as per local coverage, thought they would poison the teacher.

[Starry Messenger]

31. +1

Like we don't have enough to deal with already.

[obamanut2012]

34. I keep thinking of three teachers

The man in VA and the woman in GA whose careers and lives were ruined, whose kids were taken away, because of kids lying they were molested by said teachers because of being punished.

And that poor young woman who was raped and murdered and mutilated.

Teaching is hard enough, man.

[gollygee]

22. This is beyond a prank but I don't think it requires an arrest

Tampering with someone's food is not just a prank, though I don't agree with calling it "poisoning" when it was a food product and not poison they added to the drink. Still, messing with someone's food and drink is serious.

[obamanut2012]

23. One of the girls called it poisoning

As per local coverage. The intent was to harm the teacher. I'm in Florida.

[roody]

24. The teacher should not be drinking

soda in the classroom.

[oberliner]

25. What the hell?

Why not?

[LisaL]

36. Presumably to prevent the possibility of little precious putting something into the drink.

[oberliner]

37. Are you serious?

You agree that teachers should not be permitted to drink a beverage in their classroom?

[LisaL]

38. Obviously I am not serious.

Jeez.

[oberliner]

39. OK - sorry

Hard to tell sometimes!

[Jim Beard]

77. Why not the teacher not drinking the soda. Thekids are not allowed.

no Mountain Dew just good water.

[roody]

70. Can the kids drink it in class?

Teachers should model good health habits.

[oberliner]

71. Teachers are adults

They are allowed to drink soda.

[roody]

72. I am a teacher. If the students can't drink soda in class,

I will respect them enough to not drink soda in class either. Students appreciate being respected.

[Fearless]

29. Does anyone else wonder why the prison population is massive

With attitudes like those shown by those in this thread. I sure don't.

[obamanut2012]

32. I agree -- not stopping this behavior NOW may mean priosn later

Even if the kid is a sociopath, many with that personality disorder can be taught to control their behavior.

"Scared straight" works if done correctly.

[Logical]

41. You forgot sarcasm tag. nt

[obamanut2012]

45. Absolutely didn't

The main girl has proved at the very least she is a bully, and what she did to the teacher is beyond that. She needs counseling and therapy and some community service, and needs to understand she did wrong. Many areas have cops who are basically juvenile social workers, and would have handled the LEO contact very differently, but the girl needs intervention, or the future may very well include bars.

Her behavior was disturbing and criminal.

[Logical]

47. You sound like a GOP person. nt

[obamanut2012]

49. No I don't, I sound like someone who believes in saving kids

Both the bully and the bullied.

And someone who has taught and who has many teacher friends. Many others on this thread agree with me, so go shoo and snark on them, too.

Thinking kids need counseling and therapy and to learn right from wrong isn't exactly the GOP way, but you knew that already.

[MH1]

50. Get real. Someone doesn't agree with your view on an issue, and you call them a republican?

That's just bullshit.

And not "logical" at all.

[Logical]

52. Nope, the scared straight shit is BS. nt

[MH1]

54. Even if the person is misguided on that, doesn't make them a republican.

Not that I'm entirely sure it's 100% b.s., myself. I do agree that a lot of it is b.s. But the ringleader in this incident appears to be a bully and if so needs an intervention of some sort. To protect the other kids now, and other people as this one gets older.

[Logical]

55. Its GOP bullshit. nt

[Fearless]

64. Agreed.

[Brickbat]

33. +1

[oberliner]

40. Students should be allowed to poison their teachers without consequence?

Is that your argument?

[MH1]

57. Well of course.

She's just a dear sweet little 7th grader, after all.




(who was retaliating for being punished for damaging another student's property. sweet little girl, that.)

[oberliner]

66. This is a scary story

One day a kid playing a prank on a teacher will end up causing even more serious damage or worse.

[Lancero]

73. Given that pepper allergys exist, this prank could have easily turned out much worse.

[cherokeeprogressive]

42. Who said anything about prison? Lots of people break the law and keep their freedom.

Charge them. If they're convicted suspend their sentence or put them on probation. Let them know they are on the path to incarceration but have a chance to change that trajectory. Their records will be wiped clean at 18 regardless.

Prison no. Punishment yes.

[obamanut2012]

46. Yes exactly

Counseling and therapy and community service.

Current "Scared Straight" programs have been relatively successful, too.

I think kids being tased and arrested for acting out at school is generally wrong, but this is an actual crime.

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. Thread winnner

I will add something else, We have become, very much so, a fascist country.

[olddots]

35. this will probably become a movie

[narnian60]

43. A prank in my day

was something like putting fake throw-up or dog poop on a teacher's chair or desk, and it was done by the class clown for attention--not revenge.

[Dont call me Shirley]

48. The girls action was criminal. It is assault. The teacher could have been deathly allergic to pepper

[Kip Humphrey]

58. Whatever happened to "I will not put pepper flakes in my teacher's soda" 100 times on the blackboard

??? Naw, let's give the kids criminal records instead!

[malaise]

59. We used to throw black pepper all around those poor nuns' desks

Damn we should all be in prison. There were girls who would ink up the poor nuns' habits as they checked the work of students in front of them.

[Orrex]

61. Did the nuns commonly lick their desks for sustenance? Now that's a dirty habit!

If they didn't do that, then prosecutors would have had a tough time making the case that you'd tried to poison the nuns by tampering with their food.

[malaise]

62. LOL hehehehhe - No the plan was to make them sneeze

and we'd crack up with laughter

[yuiyoshida]

69. is it possible this thread may become

the next "DU: Bomb the moon" thread

[Initech]

65. Got to get them hooked on the prison industrial complex when they're young!

[liberalfromaustin21]

68. Kind of harsh

Still, you shouldn't play such pranks on a teacher. That's not cool.

[Jim Beard]

78. no one has said what the Teacher was like

My Senior year they hired a new teacher that had a personality that just is no suited to teaching. I was in he class and after the first day we all went to the office to drop the class.

Since they had a contract with her, They put her in a class of 8th graders. They gave her pure hell. even turning a snake loose in the class room. I am not taking up for any teacher or student until I know all.


From what I know in this case, the "ringleader" has emotional problems for the "Revenge" thing.