Shocking Decision To Conduct A "Threat Assessment" By A School District On A Down Syndrome Patient

Police In A Pennsylvania School District Were Called Because A Six-Year-Old Down Syndrome Patient Pointed A Finger Gun At Her Teacher

• Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Decided To Conduct Threat Assessment On A Six-Year-Old Down Syndrome Patient
• The Incident Has Drawn Huge Attention And The School District Is Being Heavily Criticized For Mishandling The Issue
• Six-Year-Old Margot Gaines Was Reported To The Police For Making A Finger Gun At Her Teacher And Pretending To Shoot Her

Reports from various news sources report that the 6-year-old student of Tredyffrin-Easttown School District unknowingly made a finger gesture towards her teacher resembling a gun and ‘shooting’. The incident was reported to the police.

Her mother Maggie Gaines has accused the district and the school for mishandling the incident. She has stated

My daughter got frustrated and pointed her finger at her teacher and said, 'I shoot you,' At that point, they went to the principal's office and it was quickly assessed that she didn't even really know what she was saying.

The district has defended itself by saying that it was policy to report incidents such as this regardless of the age.

She further added to her statement by saying

I was fine with everything up until calling the police," Gaines said. "And I said, 'You absolutely do not have to call the police. You know, this is ridiculous. "They were asking her questions, and she was saying, 'Oh, I shoot mommy,' laughs, or, 'I shoot my brother.' The principal asked, 'Did you mean to hurt your teacher?' And she said no and it seemed like she didn't even know what that meant,

The mother continued to vent her frustration to a media outlet by adding "She really didn't understand what she was saying, and having Down syndrome is one aspect," she continued, "but I'm sure all 6-year-olds don't really know what that means."

The whole thing is overkill for an instance like this,. Children don’t have the same understanding as adults, these are children not adults, with not the same life experience. Now, there is a record at the police department that says she made a threat to her teacher.

The Gaines family is appealing to the school district to change its policy. 

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman of Pennsylvania state has also expressed his disapproval of the incident and his belief that the incident could have been handled better.

The incident has garnered a lot of shares and has become viral. Social media users have criticized the school and the district for their aggressive and inappropriate approach to the issue. 

Parents from around the world have also expressed their fear and disagreement with the board.