[meteorite-list] Teacher Tells Kids: Meteor's Coming and You'll AllDie

From: Roman Jirasek <rom_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat Nov 20 02:38:44 2004
Message-ID: <004e01c4ced3$f8371fc0$b47ba8c0_at_meteoritelabels.com>

We have BS BCC sites. Easily ignored!
But we should not have BS scare teachings in our schools!
I would be pissed off if this happened in my kids' school!

Teach reality not BS!

Roman

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Baalke" <baalke_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>
To: "Meteorite Mailing List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 3:58 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Teacher Tells Kids: Meteor's Coming and You'll
AllDie


>
>
> http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004532924,00.htm
>
> Teacher Tells Kids: Meteor's Coming and You'll All Die
> The Sun (United Kingdom)
> November 19, 2004
>
> TERRIFIED schoolkids sobbed after a teacher announced that a METEORITE
> was going to wipe them out in days.
>
> The head of year told the dumbstruck pupils they could go home early to
> say their "FINAL FAREWELLS" to parents.
>
> She delivered her bombshell to morning assembly after announcing she had
> bad news for the 240 students.
>
> The teacher said scientists had contacted the school with information
> about a meteor that would smash into Earth in ten days' time - and
> decimate everything in its path.
>
> She continued with her doom-laden address until she realised the effect
> her words had on the 13 and 14-year-olds.
>
> Then she admitted it was a stunt to teach them to "seize the day".
>
> Last night parents at St Matthew's Roman Catholic High School in Moston,
> Manchester, said they were making an official complaint to education
> chiefs.
>
> One 13-year-old boy said: "She said this meteorite was going to hit in
> ten days and she was going to send us home to say goodbye to our loved
> ones. I felt sick and just froze."
>
> "I looked around and everyone was getting dead panicky. Quite a few were
> crying. I was really scared."
>
> 'But then after a few minutes she suddenly said that it wasn't true. I
> was really angry and didn't know what to think."
>
> The lad's dad added: "Some of the children were 100 per cent convinced
> they were going to die."
>
> "God only knows what this teacher thought she was doing."
>
> Another parent said: "I couldn't believe it. I send my kids to school to
> be educated, not terrorised. The school motto is Seek Ye First the
> Kingdom of God but perhaps it should be Watch Out for Falling Rocks."
>
> Headmaster Keith Hogan insisted he was standing by the teacher, who he
> described as "very experienced and a superb member of staff".
>
> He said: "She certainly used the story about a meteorite to illustrate a
> point - seize the day. It was taken literally by some of the students."
>
> "Some of the children did appear to be getting upset, at which point she
> told them she had made it up."
>
> "It's an unfortunate set of circumstances."
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3778326
>
> Head Backs Teacher over 'Meteorite Strike' Spoof
> By Charlie Hamilton
> The Scotsman (United Kingdom)
> November 19, 2004
>
> A head teacher today backed a member of staff who panicked more than 200
> pupils by telling them an asteroid was going to hit the Earth.
>
> The Head of Year 9 told the terrified 14-year-olds that scientists had
> tracked a meteorite which was on a collision course with the Earth and
> they were going to die.
>
> Keith Hogan, head of St Matthew's Roman Catholic High School in Moston,
> Greater Manchester, said he regretted any distress caused to any of the
> 230 pupils.
>
> The spoof announcement was designed to teach the children the importance
> of seizing the day but backfired after youngsters became visibly
frightened.
>
> The teacher then admitted the story was only a stunt aimed at
> underlining the theme of the assembly "living each day to the full".
>
> Mr Hogan said: "Obviously I regret the fact that any student was
> distressed by the content and delivery of the assembly."
>
> "However, I am confident that the Head of Year acted appropriately and
> professionally in dealing with the incident."
>
> "Following the assembly the Head of Year visited every Year 9 class and
> again told the students that the story was untrue and made every effort
> to ensure that those students who had been anxious were reassured."
>
>
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Received on Sat 20 Nov 2004 02:38:46 AM PST