I have long been critical of the criminalization of American society, particularly at our schools We have seen school pranks charged as crimes in high school (and here). Now three 12-year-old girls at Deltona Middle School in Volusia County in Florida have been charged for the prank of putting pepper in the soft drink of their teacher. The question is why these cases (which used to be handled as a disciplinary matter for the school) had to be handed over to the police and prosecutors. There are heavy penalties that can be meted out like barring the student from graduation.
The girls acted after one of the girls was disciplined by teacher Jayne Morgan. As one girl distracted Morgan, another put red pepper flakes into her soft drink. A third girl (the one disciplined earlier) had brought the red flakes from home.
The teacher gagged on the pepper and then spotted the flakes after pouring the soda into a clear glass.
I do not take such incidents lightly, particularly when the act is in retaliation for discipline. That can be a dangerous prank. While it was just pepper, some people can have severe reactions to such additives. Just because this is a kitchen spice does not mean that it cannot do serious damage. However, there is still the question of when a prank should be elevated to a criminal matter. There was a time when this would have been handled with suspensions and internal discipline — supported by stern parental measures. Instead, the girls have been charged with tampering with a consumer product and poisoning. Those are very serious charges for a stupid, adolescent prank. I certainly do not think that the criminal law process will be good for the girls, who deserve severe punishment through the school system. I would expel the girls and send them to another high school on probation for the remainder of their pre-college schooling.
What do you think? Do you think criminal charges are warranted.
Source: Fox
“The teacher gagged on the pepper and then spotted the flakes after pouring the soda into a clear glass.”
From what I read, the teacher did not just gag. She had difficulty breathing. As an asthmatic, such a prank could actually kill me. Red pepper has capsicum, an ingredient in pepper spray. Cooking can render red pepper flakes more mild. I literally cannot ingest uncooked red pepper flakes or uber hot peppers without having serious breathing issues. Not fun, and an inhaler cannot counteract capsicum in your throat. I can have it, in small doses, cooked in a sauce, just fine. But not uncooked and whole.
These girls may not have realized that this wasn’t just a silly, disrespectful prank that made her drink taste bad. This is not switching the sugar with salt.
That said, since the teacher was not actually harmed, I do not agree with criminal charges for a poorly thought out prank. Yes, from my perspective, the prank was dangerous. Punish the kids through the school, not the court system.
My parents would have been mortified, and we would have been in Big Trouble, if any of us kids had dared disrespect a teacher like that.
It’s always good to know what kind of arrangement the town/municipality has with the local prison system. If the judicial system is just feeding the prison pipeline, it needs to be stopped.
The school administration should start the year by explaining to the students what the rules are and what the consequences are for breaking them. Every student signs a piece of paper saying they have read the rules. So when you pull a prank like this and get caught and suspended or expelled, there are no surprises and no one to blame.
Olly
Common ground is what it is all about. I don’t care how I am labeled. I deal with the issue at hand. If I am wrong and change my mind, well that is a good thing. There should be more of that going on. The worse quality of a position is the mindless quasi religious adherence that keeps one glued to it.
Paul, good for you in how you handled your coffee. The criminal charges should be dropped and girls should have been handled through the school system for a stupid and dangerous prank. In the first article I read on this, the names of the girls were given. Not a good thing.
Renegade – ” Any bets that this doesn’t get turned around as the teacher’s fault?”
If the teacher hadn’t had the soda, these poor innocent angles wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get in trouble. It’s obviously the teachers fault for bringing the attractive nuisance near the children.
The “criminal” charges can be adjusted, but there’s no way to let the school dispose of this. That time is history. You don’t know how these girls’ parents are going to react to whatever “discipline” the school administers. It’s bound to go viral in the social media and the press. Better to let disinterested professionals handle it. But, believe me, nobody is going to be happy with the outcome, whatever it is.
I think the issue is really where to draw the big bright line. Is it when he or she draws dad’s Glock 20 for a bad grade or is it some more tepid standard?
I remember once in seventh grade when I was called into the principal’s office for leaving my brown paper lunch bag on the cafeteria table. (Thanks, Mom, for writing my name on it.) He said, “That’s one swat.” I had no idea what he meant until he said, “Bend over and grab your ankles.”
These kids should not be charged. I agree that the school should address the situation seriously, including expulsion, if necessary.
I can’t tell if the parents were involved before the charges were filed. My opinion might possibly change if the parents were notified and they responded with a big ol’ “whatever”.
I agree with Isaac and I would point out to you Isaac that when conservatives express the need to unwind the damage caused by progressivism, this is just one example. We can find common ground after all.
If you´ve opened a soda is it still considered a consumer product or is it just your property? Considering that the soda itself is probably more unhealthy than the chili pepper I think the “poisoning” charges are laughable.
The one who brought the red pepper to school is probably a Latina, not black.
Criminal charges in some court of law? Whaaaat a bunch of horse manure!
The other students and teachers need to retaliate at once! Go after all who are responsible. Start with the school board and work your way downhill. Throw dog poop at their homes and leave things on their car windshields with notes. As for the Court proceedings, have the whole student body of the school district show up and protest. Where are the Tinkers when we need them? Tinker Tour?
If some judge does not dismiss these charges outright then begin proceedings to oust the judge. Spike his coffee. Not talking Spike Lee here.
J Jones must have posted in the wrong article. I believe he was looking for the Saudi Arabia thread where he could voice his support of the Saudi courts.
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Joseph Jones
1, February 29, 2016 at 12:32 am
I know persons who, if they ingested pepper, could die. In fact, this is one reason to not use pepper spray, even for defensive purpose. If your pepper spray hits an innocent person allergic to pepper, you could face manslaughter charge.
I’m not hating on the criminal charge, at least not like our host/counselor Turley.
In CA they could be charged with felony conspiracy. Any two persons who agree to commit a crime, no matter how minor the actual offense, have committed the separate crime of conspiracy, which is a felony in CA.
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Ah to hell with it. Lets just hang draw and quarter them already.
Why not handle it at the local level??
You are kidding, right?
Look at what happens when so addressed….lawsuits in which even the victim is sued and somebody has to pay for the defense.
Am wondering if any dads came forward and apologized for a daughter’s egregious behavior? Or for that matter, did any parent have the kid in tow by the ear to apologize? No? Of course not….CHILD ABUSE. Besides…it’s all the teacher’s fault for obviously mishandling the class or allowing such a climate which encouraged such behavior. Any bets that this doesn’t get turned around as the teacher’s fault?
Renegade – I never reported an attempt on my coffee by my students. I always felt that if I reported it I gave it attention and another one would try it. Usually some student would tip me off and I would just casually pour the cup of coffee out and go on with the lesson. There is nothing more painful than a plan that fails.
@Peter Anastasia
You said, “Given the fact that Florida is such a racist state, no doubt the children were probably African American and the teacher was Caucasian. It seems to me that many disturbing things happen in Florida from illegally barring Blacks from voting to Trayvon Martin and open hunting season on shooting down Black teens. I wake up every day and thank God that I do NOT live in Florida.”
What a crock of hooey! Poor Old Trayvon was a thug who was banging a guys head into the concrete, and you feel for sorry for him??? Sheeesh! Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Depends upon the risk of bodily injury.
The United States has turned into an Orwellian police surveillance and prison state. Criminalization of our children starting at a young age is a symptom of our dysfunctional society that labels kids as criminals and then expects them to succeed in life. Actually this kind of state sponsored criminalization is very good for the business which lies in the prison industrial complex. I find this criminalization of childen for petty and trivial offenses best handled by the school system in conjunction with parents to be utterly reprehensible and disgraceful. Given the fact that Florida is such a racist state, no doubt the children were probably African American and the teacher was Caucasian. It seems to me that many disturbing things happen in Florida from illegally barring Blacks from voting to Trayvon Martin and open hunting season on shooting down Black teens. I wake up every day and thank God that I do NOT live in Florida. God have mercy!
Criminal charges should be for criminals, not stupid kids with stupid parents. The kids should be expelled and the parents held responsible, resulting in fines or other moments to reflect. A kid is a kid and must be given the opportunity to grow up. When being dealt with in this manner it is a losing situation all around.
I know persons who, if they ingested pepper, could die. In fact, this is one reason to not use pepper spray, even for defensive purpose. If your pepper spray hits an innocent person allergic to pepper, you could face manslaughter charge.
I’m not hating on the criminal charge, at least not like our host/counselor Turley.
In CA they could be charged with felony conspiracy. Any two persons who agree to commit a crime, no matter how minor the actual offense, have committed the separate crime of conspiracy, which is a felony in CA.
As a former teacher, who has had unidentified liquids added to my coffee by students, I do not think there should be criminal charges.