Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

The April 2, 2008 AP story reported in the New York Times revealed the following story of dangerous, criminally inclined 8 and 9 year olds with weapons to take on their teacher:

"A group of third graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, the police said.  The plot by as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School was a serious threat, said the Waycross police chief, Tony Tanner.  "We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her?  Absolutely," Chief Tanner said.  The children, ages 8 and 9, apparently were mad at the teacher after she scolded one of them for standing on a chair, he said.  A prosecutor said they were too young to be charge with a crime.  Nine children have been disciplined up to and including long-term suspension, said a spokeswoman for the Ware County school system."