School Today: Poll

[lilac05]

I’m just curious what others decided to do. I broke it down by levels because I know for many people, age affected the decision significantly.

I don’t judge anyone for whatever decision they made, and hope that this stays that way. Parenting is hard and we’re all just doing the best we can.

[yourmother]

We did get the email from our Superintendent about the Tik Tok threat.

He's having a party today in his class and parents are invited. My DH and I will be headed there in a half hour and will then bring DS home with us for early dismissal.

[mysteriouswife]

No to my HS kid. Yes to my 1st grade kid

ETA: she wasn’t required to attend. She was exempted from her finals in the classes for today. It’s a 1/2 day. She is in AP and they have different testing procedures.

[lilac05]

We sent our 2nd grader and kept our 5th grader (not in the elementary building) home. I think it’s healthier for him to be home, even though I wasn’t really worried about his safety at school.

Today is not our last day before break. We still have school through the 22nd.

[scm1011]

I kept my PK kid home (his school is PK-8). I know it's probably silly but he can easily entertain himself and I just didn't want to stress about it all day.

[abs]

My 5th grader wanted to go so she’s there. Didn’t seem fair to make her miss out on a fun day of movies and parties after the stress of all the tests they’ve had. I’m nervous but I’m always low level nervous about guns in schools.

[mrspez07]

After Columbine, our district (same district)put together solid protocols around school violence threats and I feel pretty confident in their work and the measures they’ve said they have in place today.
We also still have two more days next week, so today is still tests and learning.

[Susie]

My 1st grader and daycare kiddo (2.5 yo) are both at school today.

Our school district sent out an email much like a lot of others - I assume the language was probably proposed by a professional association, given the similarities I've seen from district to district.  Our town PD is providing extra security for the schools today.

My daycare kiddo is in a federal building, so it's always actively secured.

I am sad that we're here, but not especially worried for their safety today.

[cjcouple]

Yes to both middle and high school kids. There was no threats that passed through them or their schools.

My 7th grader said he only saw 1 general tiktok that said be careful.

Plus, half the kids are out on quarantine anyway in my areas. My 7th grader had 8 kids in his class yesterday (out of 21).

ETA: My 10th grader had a cpuple projects/assignments due today as well that couldn't all be handed in online.

[sassystace]

This is the second time this month that there have been such threats (or rumors of threats) at my kids HS. The first time we felt a little uneasy sending her but she had to go since missing high school meant being unable to participate in the band concert (required to pass band) and a swim meet later that night. Hate to say it but we didn't even talk about it this time, also it is mid-terms so can't miss those and pass either. School claims to be upping security. I think there is a threat of something happening everywhere you go in the current state of this country.

[soccermama]

My kids are tracked out right now, but I probably would have kept them home today.

I just cannot believe this is our reality at the present time. It is terrifying.

[thebreakfastclub]

I did not consider keeping my 3rd grader home. I would have probably forgotten about this if I wasn't reading it here.

[CurlyQ284]

Elementary, yes I sent him.
The superintendent sent an email saying there was a tiktok challenge to call in threats so school would be cancelled, is that what we are talking about? I figured elem kids wouldn't, they're all having a PJ and movie day with a holiday party. It's one of the few days of the year my kid actually wants to go to school so I didn't think the younger grades would do anything.

[Patsy Baloney]

Dec 17, 2021 10:15:18 GMT -5 sassystace said:

This is the second time this month that there have been such threats (or rumors of threats) at my kids HS. The first time we felt a little uneasy sending her but she had to go since missing high school meant being unable to participate in the band concert (required to pass band) and a swim meet later that night. Hate to say it but we didn't even talk about it this time, also it is mid-terms so can't miss those and pass either. School claims to be upping security. I think there is a threat of something happening everywhere you go in the current state of this country.

I feel like this. It may be some desensitization is going on inside me. 

We just carry on. 

[steamboat185]

I sent my 3rd grader, but my kindergartener is home sick. Honestly I trust our school 100% and really feel like the goal of this TikTok thing was just to cause panic, work, and anxiety. Maybe I’m wrong- hopefully not.

[candreco]

My ES and MS kids both went, no threats at their schools as far as I know. Our HS did have threats for yesterday and today, and many friends/neighbors pulled their kids early yesterday. If my kids were HS, I probably would have kept them home, especially because it's the last day before break and actual learning is pretty much wrapped up for the break.

[sweetchix]

I kept both home from MS and HS. DD2 was talking about it last night and she was really worried. DD1 would have gone in if it were up to her, but I just felt it was best to keep them both home. HS attendance told me that, with a note, it would be an excused absence. This makes me think they are used to these types of call outs, which makes me angry that our schools and children have to live this kind of life.

ETA: we didn’t hear anything from our SD on the threats until early this morning.

[HoneySpider]

My kindergartner went to school.

Has anyone heard of anything happening in any schools yet today? Nothing from our county so far.

[eddy]

Yes, we didn't even consider not sending them.

I said this over on CEP, but today doesn't scare me. Normal days without heightened awareness worry me.

[lilac05]

Dec 17, 2021 10:49:57 GMT -5 eddy said:

Yes, we didn't even consider not sending them.

I said this over on CEP, but today doesn't scare me. Normal days without heightened awareness worry me.

I definitely agree that the risk of actual physical danger for our kids is even smaller today than any other day due to the heightened awareness. I was more concerned about DS1’s anxiety and how it would impact him if kids were talking about it all day and exaggerating everything. We had weeks of sleepless nights at the very, very beginning of Covid (starting before we even knew it was in the US) because of what he had overheard kids anxiously chattering about at school. I wasn’t ready to repeat that and take away from what we’re hoping is a happy holiday break.

[ste]

My third grader is home due to a close contact at school this week (so I didn’t vote). Although the new (fucking bunch of newly elected asshole conspiracy theorists) removed the isolation for close contact policy at the SB meeting last night.

I probably would’ve sent him otherwise, but can’t say with 100% certainty. There have been recent legitimate threats at nearby districts.

[tigress]

My elementary kids went. I'm not concerned for them.

My junior high 7th grader was there this morning but said more than half the kids were not in school. Nothing useful was happening and she didn't feel super comfortable. So I pulled her. I trust her and she is a good student, and if she is not ok, then I pay attention to that. I don't think anything will happen at her school today but missing one day isn't the end of the world.

[sandandsea]

We sent our kids. Kinder and 4th. The district sent an email saying no specific threat and everyone is on guard today. It’s sucks that this is our reality.

[sugarbear1]

I teach middle and my kids go to elementary in the same building. We are here today, for a half day.

[jamie.1022]

SS: I was sending DS (elementary) but he got his vaccine yesterday and is feeling crappy so he’s home.

[cmeon]

My kids don't even have school (winter break starts today), and I still sent DD (6th)- they're having optional club practice today.

This was meant to panic families, to further disrupt schooling. It's unfortunate that it's been so effective, because we can definitely expect these kinds of efforts to continue.

[osulori]

I sent my 3rd grader-winter break doesn't start until 12/22 for us so there was a lot he'd miss today. Our district sent an email clarifying that no threats specific to any schools or people in our district had been made but they were aware of the TikTok "challenge" and were acting accordingly.

[VillainV]

I can’t see or respond to the poll.

We kept C home (second grade) because he wasn’t going to miss anything today, and I was already going to be home. So it was a conservative decision, but didn’t cost us anything.

H on the other hand, is at work today, at the same school. Too many other teachers out and no subs.

[eddy]

Dec 17, 2021 10:56:45 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Dec 17, 2021 10:49:57 GMT -5 eddy said:

Yes, we didn't even consider not sending them.

I said this over on CEP, but today doesn't scare me. Normal days without heightened awareness worry me.

I definitely agree that the risk of actual physical danger for our kids is even smaller today than any other day due to the heightened awareness. I was more concerned about DS1’s anxiety and how it would impact him if kids were talking about it all day and exaggerating everything. We had weeks of sleepless nights at the very, very beginning of Covid (starting before we even knew it was in the US) because of what he had overheard kids anxiously chattering about at school. I wasn’t ready to repeat that and take away from what we’re hoping is a happy holiday break.

I totally get that.

Today is our last day before break. My kids have been talking for weeks about the fun stuff they get to do today. They have had close to no joy in the classroom for I don't know how long. I just couldn't stomach taking that away from them. I am glad neither felt anxious. Because today is suppose to be a fun day and they haven't gotten many of those.

[thejen626]

3rd grade and 7th grade.

I kept both of my kids home today and I’m so mad and frustrated. I don’t worry about a coordinated attack, but I worry about some lone wolf teen who is upset and has access to guns, deciding to try and be “famous”. All it takes is one fucked up kid to ruin it for everyone. My 7th grader has told me about the behavioral issues in her class, and frankly I don’t trust other people enough.

Both of my kids had parties today at school and both are very pissed and sad to be missing them. I feel like the worst mom ever for making them stay home. But as I told my 12 year old last night at 11pm, I’d rather have her be sad, instead of going through a school shooting.

We are heading to Disneyland and leaving this afternoon anyway, so it was an easy decision for my husband last night. I told him I was nervous and having anxiety about it, and he just “executive decisioned” it.

I’ve lobbied with Moms Demand Action. Literally NOTHING CHANGES. I’m so sad/mad/pissed/frustrated that THIS is our reality. I kept my kids home from school for 16 months because of covid and it was really hard on them. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m sick of guns and school shootings.