The Mayan calendar states that next Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, is the end of the world.
Oswego District 308 officials are taking action about rumors that there is a threat of violence set to occur in the school district due to this belief in the Mayan calendar.
The following statement was posted to the district's website early this afternoon:
It has come to our attention that rumors have been circulating around our school community about December 21, our last day of school before winter break, and winter solstice, which marks the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar.
The media hype surrounding this date has resulted in predictions that include such things as a national power outage to the end of the world. The same type of predictions have been made in the past, including events surrounding the transition to the Year 2000 and all that was predicted with Y2K. These situations resulted in anxiety, rumors and predictions prior to the actual date.
We are contacting parents and staff members because we have learned of student-initiated rumors about school violence occurring on or before December 21. School safety is a priority for School District 308 and such rumors about a threat to our students and staff are taken seriously.
Our students are encouraged to discuss any such rumors or threats of school violence with adults, including their parents, guardians, administration, faculty and staff members. Parents are asked to discuss this issue with their children and report to their school’s principal any information you feel we should know.
The administration is working closely with law enforcement. Over the next several days, security will be heightened. School District 308 wants to assure everyone that rumors or threats about school safety concerns are investigated by both administration and law enforcement. Students initiating rumors or threats will be held responsible for their actions.
It is important for us to communicate with parents and staff members the school district’s awareness and initial plans to address these disruptions to our educational system. Please visit our district’s website for updates and contact information.
One worried Oswego East High School parent contacted Patch and said her kids were frightened to go to school tomorrow due to the threat of violence.
She said her children had heard of a bullied student that planned to “get even” with everyone that had bullied him tomorrow, Dec. 14.
READ MORE: What Parents Are Saying About the Rumors of Threatened Violence in District 308 Schools
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Go ahead and continue to pass out posters and have all the conferences you want. Until the bullies are confronted face to face by the dads of kids who are getting bullied then the situation won't stop. What has been done in the past simply doesn't work, and that's a fact. Any PE teacher who was aware of went on with this crime should be fired. Should be easy considering the teachers no longer have a contract. And I agree
The teachers clearly are unqualified to deal with these situations and those teachers who can't control the kids during the time they are in their class should be fired.
What's the vibe????
Carol lets just keep the doors open all day and make school optional. Let's just kick the no gang activity out of the code of conduct book and while we're at it get rid of the book altogether. I'm getting all kinds of vibes from your comment. Peace!
With all the talk about it, two things will happen...nothing, which most likely will be the case, due to the attention or the lack of a truly credible threat....or something will happen, again due to the media talking ir up and a copycat going for their 15s of fame (infamy).
You just hit one of what I think the main problems in schools...everyone wins. Kids can't play dodgeball for fear of hurting a kids feelings because he can't catch the ball, dodge out of the bal, or heaven forbid..takes a ball in the face. When kids play softball\baseball\football, everyone gets to bat or what ever and no score is kept and noone losing. Kids get out in the real world and find that there are winners and losers...lots of losing in the real world and can't handle it.