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From the Virginia Gazette, 6Dec2000.
A teacher at Grafton High School May face disciplinary action after apparently joking to students that she would shoot them.
York schools spokesman Betsy Overkamp-Smith confirmed a published account of the incident, in which Charlotte Hoskins told students in her algebra class that they had "better know the facts or else."
When a student asked "or what?", Hoskins said she'd just shoot them, but said they were safe until after Christmas when her husband would get a gun. Hoskins' husband is Larry Hoskins, director of general services for York.
"The school administration takes very seriously any comment that deals with school safety," Overkamp-Smith said. "Just as if a student had made an inappropriate remark, the teachers are accountable as well."
Flippant comments made at or about schools, especially involving guns or violence, are given serious attention in the wake of the Columbine tragedy more than a year ago. Students are suspended for making violent threats, even in jest. Last Spring, a D.J. Montague Elementary School second grader was suspended after he drew a picture of his teacher and wrote the word "die" on the paper.
Hoskins said she believed students understood the remark was a joke. Still, someone reported it to an administrator.
"In this case, the teacher made an inappropriate comment, and while I cannot tell you what the consequences are, there were consequences," Overkamp-Smith said. Schools will not elaborate on personnel matters. "The actual comment was made on Wednesday, and students brought it to the attention of the school administration that same day."
The school administrators conducted an investigation, and Hoskins has been out of school since last Thursday.
A teacher at Grafton High School May face disciplinary action after apparently joking to students that she would shoot them.
York schools spokesman Betsy Overkamp-Smith confirmed a published account of the incident, in which Charlotte Hoskins told students in her algebra class that they had "better know the facts or else."
When a student asked "or what?", Hoskins said she'd just shoot them, but said they were safe until after Christmas when her husband would get a gun. Hoskins' husband is Larry Hoskins, director of general services for York.
"The school administration takes very seriously any comment that deals with school safety," Overkamp-Smith said. "Just as if a student had made an inappropriate remark, the teachers are accountable as well."
Flippant comments made at or about schools, especially involving guns or violence, are given serious attention in the wake of the Columbine tragedy more than a year ago. Students are suspended for making violent threats, even in jest. Last Spring, a D.J. Montague Elementary School second grader was suspended after he drew a picture of his teacher and wrote the word "die" on the paper.
Hoskins said she believed students understood the remark was a joke. Still, someone reported it to an administrator.
"In this case, the teacher made an inappropriate comment, and while I cannot tell you what the consequences are, there were consequences," Overkamp-Smith said. Schools will not elaborate on personnel matters. "The actual comment was made on Wednesday, and students brought it to the attention of the school administration that same day."
The school administrators conducted an investigation, and Hoskins has been out of school since last Thursday.