WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Six-year-old arrested in threat to kill teacher (West Haven-WTNH) _ A 6-year old West Haven boy is under arrest for threatening to kill his teacher. It happened Friday afternoon at the Savin Rock school. The first grader has been charged with threatening, and he's been suspended for 10 days. The school superintendent says the system is not overreacting. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. It's the age that makes this student arrest so shocking - Only 6 years old. According to West Haven police, the Savin Rock first grader allegedly said to other kids in the school yard "let's kill the teacher." It reportedly happened after the student saw a pocket knife left on the ground on the other side of the fence. Police say the child later said he didn't mean it and actually liked his teacher. But he was arrested and suspended from school anyway. The superintendent defended the school system's zero tolerance policy. George Palermo, School Superintendent: "I think it needs to be brought home to children equally that if you're going to threaten with violence then there is a consequence for that." But a child development expert says 6 year olds often express impulsive thoughts without fully knowing what's appropriate and inappropriate. Stiff punishment could do more harm than good. Dr. James Comer, Yale Child Study Ctr.: "The child doesn't understand why you're taking such a harsh stance when he didn't really mean it or intend in the first place." "Children are not, at that age, fully capable of separating reality from fantasy." Palermo: "I don't think it's an overreaction. Look around at society and I think it's starting very young. You have to address the younger as well as the older." The suspension and arrest of the 6 year old is coming at a time when West Haven is undergoing intensive efforts to combat violence. During this school year two teens, including a 14 year old, are facing murder charges for shooting to death two other teens. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Six-year-old arrested in threat to kill teacher
(West Haven-WTNH) _ A 6-year old West Haven boy is under arrest for threatening to kill his teacher. It happened Friday afternoon at the Savin Rock school. The first grader has been charged with threatening, and he's been suspended for 10 days. The school superintendent says the system is not overreacting.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

It's the age that makes this student arrest so shocking - Only 6 years old. According to West Haven police, the Savin Rock first grader allegedly said to other kids in the school yard "let's kill the teacher." It reportedly happened after the student saw a pocket knife left on the ground on the other side of the fence.

Police say the child later said he didn't mean it and actually liked his teacher. But he was arrested and suspended from school anyway. The superintendent defended the school system's zero tolerance policy.

George Palermo, School Superintendent: "I think it needs to be brought home to children equally that if you're going to threaten with violence then there is a consequence for that."

But a child development expert says 6 year olds often express impulsive thoughts without fully knowing what's appropriate and inappropriate. Stiff punishment could do more harm than good.

Dr. James Comer, Yale Child Study Ctr.: "The child doesn't understand why you're taking such a harsh stance when he didn't really mean it or intend in the first place."
"Children are not, at that age, fully capable of separating reality from fantasy."

Palermo: "I don't think it's an overreaction. Look around at society and I think it's starting very young. You have to address the younger as well as the older."

The suspension and arrest of the 6 year old is coming at a time when West Haven is undergoing intensive efforts to combat violence. During this school year two teens, including a 14 year old, are facing murder charges for shooting to death two other teens.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.