It is with a degree of reluctance that we write about the “incident” at Barrhead Composite High School on Nov. 2. The quotation marks are there because it was, in fact, a non-incident, and one that was probably highly embarrassing for the student involved.
It’s for that student’s sake that we are reluctant to bring the issue up. Nonetheless, we have to consider the lessons that come out of this … crisis? Situation? No, “debacle” seems more fitting. Yes, we have to consider what we learned out of this debacle.
If you’re not aware by now, back on Nov. 1, an individual living outside of Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS) commented online that a student at Barrhead Composite High School posed a danger to the community.
We don’t know what relationship this person outside of Pembina Hills had to the BCHS student in question, or on what social media site they were making these comments. However, we should stress that this BCHS student had not personally made any threats against the school or community.
In any case, the “threat” eventually came to the attention of the Barrhead RCMP around 7:50 a.m. At 8:10 a.m. on Nov. 2, the RCMP contacted the school about the potential danger and a “hold and secure” was initiated as a precaution to ensure the safety of students.
However, the RCMP quickly determined that the information passed along social media was deemed untrue. No one was ever in any danger and no harm was caused. They didn’t even need to cancel buses to Barrhead Composite that day, as the whole thing was over that quickly.
Even though school shootings may be a largely American phenomenon (to the point where they now seem to be occurring on a monthly or even weekly basis), we all live in fear of such a massacre occurring at a Canadian school. Mass murders have happened in our country before; who could ever forget the Montreal Massacre in 1989?
The response to this situation by the RCMP and the division is, therefore, both understandable and commendable.
What’s really galling here is the students and parents who apparently learned of this “threat” the day before and made no effort to warn anyone until the morning of Nov. 2.
What, was it too late in the evening when you came across this threatening post? You couldn’t call 911? You couldn’t send out an e-mail to a teacher from the list of addresses listed on the school’s website? You couldn’t leave a message at the division office?
This turned out to be nothing, but it should nonetheless serve as a learning experience. No one wants to be the boy who cried wolf, but if you’re aware of a legitimate threat to student safety, you have to consider more than just your own welfare or that of your kids.
Don’t be the kind of person who launches a lifeboat when they’re the only person in it.
