MrsWatson
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That could well be the case. In my state, NY, we are actually forbidden from doing that. We MUST inform the guidance counselor, principal or assistant principal and only THEY are authorized to call LE or Child Protection. We would get in trouble for usurping their roles and making a judgment call we are not considered qualified to make.
However, I'm trying to picture how that would work if in my state, teachers were obligated to make the call themselves. I certainly couldn't halt class and make that call in front of other students. I couldn't make that call in front of the perpetrator, either, because who knows what the reaction would be if that put him over the edge while in class? Then I also can't see waiting until I had a free period, while letting it slide by in the meantime. IMO it has to be handled immediately and that's why admin or a counselor, who also have training in crisis intervention, are supposed to do that.
ETA: at least in my school, we weren't even allowed to call 911 if there were some kind of medical emergency. We had to call administration and they'd have to call.
THAT is something I've never understood. We are acting in loco parentis, seconds count, but those were the rules. I'm recently retired but I don't think it's changed.
I taught 8th grade for 25 years, so thousands upon thousands of 14- year olds were under my care during the day.
We are mandated reporters, which meant that we absolutely were required to report anything suspicious or dangerous up the chain of command. It seems to me that the teacher did that. If he or she reported to his or her superior the reason why the student was being sent to the office, then the teacher fulfilled the duty of mandated reporter. I'm certain that a report was made, because you can't just send a child to the office without an explanation. The counselor or administration seem to be the ones who dropped the ball, IMO.
I cannot see how the teacher should be sued. That person is on the front lines and reported it up the chain. If admin had followed through, that teacher would be the hero.
BBM I'm a principal's secretary at a school in NY and we 're told over and over it 's the individual's responsibility who witnessed whatever is concerning to make the call to CPS. The staff member usually seeks guidance from the principal, but the individual needs to make the report.
@kaen @LAMARQ
Your responses are very interesting to me, as you both have worked in schools in NY state as well.
I know for certain that in my 25 years at just one school, we were absolutely required to report, (of course, since we are after all mandated reporters), but always to the assistant principal or principal, and also to the guidance counselor. I've been under three principals during my quarter century at my school, and it's always been the same.
Your posts made me wonder if it's because I'm in NYC, which of course has its own union apart from the state, and we do have a lot of different rules since mayoral school control is specific to our city. Each chancellor who comes in also has his or her own chancellor's regulations, which thoroughly guide our actions.
Therefore, I searched online and found the latest NYC chancellor's regs which apparently superseded the most recent of 2016. The regs DO say that the teacher must report directly. This is astonishing to me since we were taught very firmly, including in the child abuse classes we must take to become licensed, that we go up the chain of administration.
I retired in 2018. I don't recall having to report anything in my last two years, so if the changes since 2016 required the teacher to directly report, it didn't come up for me. NYC now has a new mayor and a new chancellor, who will rewrite the regs again.
I hope everyone is made quite aware of the procedures in all states and that the staff is well-informed. The well-being of our students is so often in our hands.
Fifth Witness: Detective Edward Wagrowski
People's proposed 22: Chat convo between Ethan and Jennifer. Starts on March 6, 2021.
From EC to JC:
- Can you get home now?
- There is osmoeone in the house I think (7:50pm)
- Someone walked into the bathroom and flushed the toilet and left the light on.
- I thought it was you
- There's no on in the house tho, dude my door just slammed.
-Maybe it's just my paranoia.
- But when are you going to get home?
NO RESPONSE ON THAT DATE.
The next day: 3/10 at 10:21am
Where's your dad?
Proposed 23: more messages.
3/17/2021 6:03PM
From EC to JC:
- Okay the house is now haunted
- some weird **** happened and I'm scared
- I got some videos
- And a picture of a demon
- I'm not joking it ****** up the kitchen
- I'm just going to be outsider for a while.
- Can you at least text back (6:29pm)
No response from Jen on that date.
3/19 at 4:11pm - Reponse
Where is your dad?
3/19
JC: Text me when your done.
JC Done yet?
3/20:
From EC: I finished picking up the room
- I finished until the clothes fell off the shelf
- This only happens when I'm home alone.
- I picked the clothes back up though
What was Jen doing during that time? Horseback riding.
People's proposed 28: FB Messenger thread between James and Jennifer.
3/19 at 9:37 - Jen to James, you away? Ethan awake?
James; um yeah
Jen: How is he?
James; He woke up looking like he had way too much to drink last night.
Jen: He was really worked up and out of control so I can see why.
James: All he needs to do is eat, work hard to get his stuf back.
They were going to fast for me to type all it out!
I totally thought you were giving him a zanax last night, no melotonin.
Jen: he hasn't had it before, should only give him half.
Jen: Does he remember what he did
James: dude I'm working on a demo right now.
Jennifer writes to Ethan on 11/30 at 1:22pm.
Ethan don't do it.
On Ethan's phone - a text message between EC and another juvenile (They aren't naming). Exhibit 29.
4/5/2021 on this thread: (12:38am)
EC to friend - I'm going to ask my parents to go to the dr tomorrow or tuesday again.
- but this time I'm going to tell them about the voices.
- I only told them about the people I saw
Response: Okay.
EC to friend:
- like I am mentally and physically dying
I apologize for all spelling errors or other errors and anything I missed!
I'm hearing plenty of testimony indicating that these parents knew their son had been experiencing some serious mental heath issues for quite some time, yet purchased a gun for their son as a xmas present.
I just cannot shake the (terrible) thought that they may have purchased the gun for severely troubled EC, hoping he would "take care" of their #1 problem - HIM. Maybe not as a coldly deliberate act but subconsciously? They did indeed abandon him after the shooting.
JMO
I'm a retired teacher of English. Normally I scream internally when I see spelling errors; it's an occupational hazard remnant.
What I see in your transcripts, @Kristin Esq. , is a very diligent and tireless person who's dedicated the day to giving us this information. It must have been difficult to keep up, and in this case I see any errors as a badge of honor. Thank you for what you've provided.
I hope your son is feeling well.
This is heartbreaking. Ethan was, and is, mentally ill. He could feel his mind unravel and his family didn't/couldn't help. I believe a lot of it come from ignorance.
Oh how I wish mental illness was better understood, diagnosed, and treated.
I'd like to know if they ever took him to the dr after he told his friend that he was going to ask his parents to take him to the dr, stating that this time he would tell them about the voices.
I'm guessing that is going to be a no.
Jennifer seemed much more concerned with her horses than her son. Just like buying him a gun for an early Christmas gift, she thought taking him horseback riding, although he had shown zero interest, was some sort of answer, instead of getting him professional help.
It's hard to imagine your child telling you he was hearing voices and believed there was a demon in the house and asking when you'll be home, and doing nothing. Not even responding to the text. That would set off all sorts of alarm bells for most parents. Then, there is the drawing. Again, that would be a big red flag to most parents.
I think the school dropped the ball by allowing him to stay, but his parents are also the ones who chose to do nothing in the first place by ignoring his previous cries for help. It seems clear from testimony so far, Jennifer knew he had issues.
MOO
The lackadaisical tone of whoever it was that left a message for JC about the bullets seemed off to me. I wonder if that same tone was used in the meeting with EC and his parents.
Have we heard the message that was left? JC's response was irritation when she was texting with EC - That was way off, but I would be extremely interested in hearing the actual voice-mail left by the school.
Yes, they played it yesterday during the hearing. It definitely raised my eyebrows.