Maine Legislative Leaders Reject Bills To Arm Teachers, Impose More Gun Control

Leaders of the Maine Legislature Tuesday night agreed to allow bills aimed at boosting security at public schools to be considered this session, but refused to allow in a pair of bills aimed at limiting the damage a gun can do.

School safety was the issue leaders could agree on. They approved consideration of a $20 million bond issue to go to the voters for boosting school security. Windham Republican Rep. Patrick Corey sponsored that bill.

More >> Maine Legislative Leaders Reject Bills To Arm Teachers, Impose More Gun Control

• Proposed bill to arm some Maine teachers denied

Bill would criminalize photos of minors by sex offenders

It could become illegal for a sex offender to take a photo of a minor without consent in Maine. 

A proposed bill would make it a crime for a person required to register as a sex offender to intentionally photograph a minor without a parent or guardian’s consent. 

More >> Bill would criminalize photos of minors by sex offenders

Now wouldn't it be better to legalize letting the kids fathers have their way with the guy?

Local expert gives tips on how to spot child abuse

FYI: Dr. Lawrence Ricci is a cruel and heartless prick and a fraud who is speaking again.  For more information please click the following link as I have written about him before.  

• http://www.maineparents.org/search/label/Dr%20Lawrence%20Ricci

PORTLAND (WGME) – Experts with the Spurwink Child Abuse Program say there are some potential signs of child abuse you should be on the lookout for. 

Doctor Lawrence Ricci says if you notice a child is showing up often with bruises, seems unusually fearful or anxious and is not going to school or is being restricted from seeing friends and family, these could all be signs of abuse. 

More >> Local expert gives tips on how to spot child abuse

More Maine schools to take part in walkout protesting gun violence

PORTLAND, Maine — More Maine schools will take part in a nationwide walkout to protest gun violence in schools.

The National School Walkout will take place on March 14, the one-month anniversary of the South Florida high school shooting that left 17 people dead.

More >> More Maine schools to take part in walkout protesting gun violence

Lincoln Academy student charged with terrorizing, deputies say

NEWCASTLE, Maine — A student a Lincoln Academy in Newcastle has been charged with misdemeanor terrorizing, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department.

The boy is accused of making threatening comments to other students at school on Thursday, deputies said.

 More >> Lincoln Academy student charged with terrorizing, deputies say

Maine Media and Schools Jumping on the Florida School Shooting Paranoia Bandwagon

I have kids.  I want them to be safe while they are in school.  I'm sure every other parent feels the same way.  But the horrific tragedy in Florida has everybody on edge.  And who wouldn't be?  The media is flooded with terrifying images and heartbreaking stories from the family members who lost their loved ones.

• In ‘catastrophic’ attack, heavily armed teenager massacres 17 at Florida school that expelled him
• These are the victims of the Florida school shooting

My heart goes out to the family and the community.

Now, thanks to our very own local news sources, this sort of fear and paranoia coming home. 

As soon as the Florida tragedy happens, we get two potential school shooting cases and a bomb threat right here in our very own peaceful state.  It's sad that it happened, but the local newspapers harp on it.  And they use such powerful words to spark even more fear and anxiety into parents.  That's how they get ratings.

• Parents, students frightened following threat to South Portland High School
• South Portland student carrying knife when arrested, police say
• South Portland student accused of threatening to ‘shoot up the school’

Here's the other case.

• Cony Middle School student charged with terrorizing after gun threat 2 days ago
• Cony High School Student Charged With Terrorizing For Alleged Threat

And I look and here's another one that just happened...

• Topsham elementary school evacuated due to possible bomb threat
• Students evacuated from Topsham elementary school

And from the day before.

• Threats of violence made to Mt. Ararat High School

Now I do appreciate that the schools and the police are doing everything they can to keep our kids safe.  But with the news media filling the normal person with such horror, I'm worried that the schools will end up resembling prisons in the name of safety.  Or give the idea to troubled teenagers with guns.

• Non-profit: Maine leads country in school threats per capita

Buxton school bus driver issued summons after crash

A school bus driver was issued a summons for failure to yield right of way after a crash Tuesday in Buxton.

Lisa Young, 53, of Buxton, was driving the bus with nine student passengers when she attempted to turn from Brewster Place onto Route 202, police said.

More >> Buxton school bus driver issued summons after crash

South Portland student in custody after making threats against school

A 15-year-old South Portland High School student was taken into custody Thursday morning after making threats against the high school on social media, school officials said.

More >> South Portland student in custody after making threats against school

• Teen suspect under house arrest after online threat to 'shoot up the school'

Maine theater teacher admits creating fake Facebook pages to spy

KENNEBUNK, Maine (AP) — A theater director at a school in Maine who acknowledged creating fake Facebook profiles to eavesdrop on parents’ discussions is out of a job.

Superintendent Katie Hawes learned of Michael Herman’s actions after a parent at Kennebunk High School realized he’d used his school email address to create a fake profile with a woman’s name and photo.

More >> Maine theater teacher admits creating fake Facebook pages to spy

4 lessons from a look at the pressing challenges facing Maine’s schools

Maine’s schools are shrinking, their academic performance hasn’t improved substantially in years even as it has in other states, and an achievement gap persists between low-income students and their higher-income peers.

There are pressing challenges in Maine’s education system: Schools are educating an increasingly low-income student body, many rural schools that have seen their enrollment drop over the years are struggling to pay for a decent education for the students who remain, and Maine schools often have trouble recruiting strong school leaders who can guide their improvement.

More >> 4 lessons from a look at the pressing challenges facing Maine’s schools