ST-JEROME - More than 25 students from at least six schools in the lower Laurentians were suspended this week for creating a Facebook page threatening some teachers – and the threats were serious enough to warrant a police investigation.
The teenaged students, mostly 14 years old and from St-Jerome, created a Facebook page urging their classmates to kill teachers they didn't like.
It may have been a joke, but police said they took the threat seriously.
"We were told a page was up with worrisome threats," said Robin Pouliot of the St-Jerome police squad.
Police immediately notified the school board. The suspects were suspended, and the teacher's union is demanding swift action
"The teachers were worried," said Jean Dumais, of teachers' union Syndicat de l'enseignement de la Rivière-du-Nord.
The 25 suspended students were allowed back to class after a meeting with their parents, the school and police.
The creator of the page was expelled.
"The kids think they're invincible behind their computers, but they need to be reminded that their postings always catch up to them," said Pouiliot
A basic Facebook search reveals dozens of less-than-flattering pages dedicated to teachers, an issue many school boards are tackling with education and training.
Students need to learn to be responsible online, said Maureen Baron, an English Montreal School Board pedagogical consultant, who trains staff and students in a so-called "digital citizenship" program.
"If you cannot do it or say it in real space, then you cannot do it in cyberspace," she said.
