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Subscribe to RSSThreats of school violence and Mayan apocalypse rumors result in dozens of Michigan schools closing early for the holidays. WDIV's Paula Tutman reports.
More than 30 Michigan schools closed for the holidays two days early, in part because the Mayan calendar predicts the world will end on Friday, an official said.
Matt Wandrie, superintendent for Lapeer Community Schools, said doomsday "rumors" are running rampant in several districts, adding to fears raised by last week's school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
"Given the recent events in Connecticut, there have been numerous rumors circulating in our district, and in neighboring districts, about potential threats of violence against students," Wandrie wrote on his website.
"Additionally, rumors connected to the Mayan calendar predicted end of the world on Friday have also surfaced," he added.
He noted that Twitter was lighting up with posts with sentiments like: "Friday would be a great day to go out w/ a bang."
The ancient predictions of apocalypse were a "secondary concern," with rumblings about violent threats against schoolchildren a bigger issue, he said.
CNBC: In Mayan doomsday, marketers see $$$ opportunity
Wandrie said all rumors of threats had been "investigated and determined to be false" but were still a "serious distraction" for students heading into the holiday break, and parents were vowing to keep children home.
So officials from five districts in Lapeer County covering 33 schools decided to just scrap the last two days of classes, extracurricular activities and athletic events.
"Although we in the county are reluctant to cancel school because the rumors are unsubstantiated, we feel it is the most appropriate decision given the gravity of recent events and our present circumstances," he wrote.
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Leave a Comment:
Absolutley NUTS !
What a bunch of freaking idiots!
Evidently education doesn't cure stupid as displayed by the reason for this decision.
Good idea. If my kids were school age,we'd keep em home too. Oh yea,my kids were home schooled in their early years.
Just like ... nevermind
What a bunch of Scrooges on this message board.
Glad I'm not hanging out with you people and your lumps of coal over Christmas - Sheesh. It's really not that big a deal - especially to the point of calling people stupid and idiots.
And you'd probably feel differently if you had a kid in those schools and there had been threats of violence. It's the end of the year - the holidays are here - kids ain't doing $hit in school anyway. Wish them a happy, safe holiday and move on.
Two months ago the school where my children attend was shut down because they actually found a valid threat of a student (and five others) who were planning to bring a gun to school. Once word got out practically every parent I knew headed to the school. Some... who arrived before law enforcement. And many of us armed.
The problem with complacency is that it breeds slaves. Sure, everyone here would wish these children a safe and happy holiday but the small, everyday actions to give in to the false notion that government can protect you and we should all bow down to criminals has created a level of weakness in this country that has allowed our country to become what it is today.
Wonderful. Can't imagine *anything* going wrong with a bunch of armed, scared, angry parents mobbing the school...
Of course you can't imagine because you've never been in such situations.
I know this will completely pass your comprehension capability but well trained citizens are indeed very effective against criminals with firearms.
It happens thousands of times per year. Here, have fun educating yourself. Don't hurt yourself though, it's going to force you to actually change the way you view responsible citizens with firearms. And no the old guy didn't go to jail, he didn't hit anyone else, and he was actually labeled a hero.
Google : How to stop a massacre youtube
You know nothing of my comprehension capability. Insults are pointless, and will not help you win any arguments. I have no way of knowing how many of you who showed up with guns were "well trained citizens". I do know that most people are not. I am a gun owner, and a veteran, and I know how to operate mine and when and where it is ok to carry and use them. Bringing guns to school is illegal in most states, I am sure, regardless of your intention. Ask your local police if they would ever recommend that parents show up at their kid's school with their weapons. I think you'll be surprised to know they do NOT recommend it.
I am amazed by the number of stupid people, that have positions of leadership. Michigan seems to have more than their share.
I'm amazed at the amount of self-righteous, judgmental, derogatory rhetoric pointed at some administrators you don't know over threats of violence you don't understand in a place you've never been.
After reading the article, his decision was not based on the Mayan calendar thing, but based on threats to commit violence over the idea. Blame this news writer for making it seam as if he closed because of Mayan superstition.
Joe, you seem to be part of that group.
Whatever, Scrooge. You just insulted the entire state of Michigan - nice.
Keep an eye out for Ted Nugent, remember his warning before the elections.
I don't remember that...did he threaten that he would come out on stage and gross everybody out in his tarzan bikini shorts like he did in the 70's? That would be a serious barf-o-rama. LOL!
I will be ok, I am wearing my aluminum foil hat.
Put on that hat, stick your finger in a wall socket....you'll be just fine.
Mayan has a cyclic calender. They had events going up until 2021 planned. Tommorow is their new millinium (equivalant). People are nuts and ethnocentric because A.) they did not even predict their own demise and B.) there is more than one way to count days, quit being so ethnocentric. But if people want to get to their prepped bunkers and act like fools thats okay just less nuts on the road when I go to drive to my families house to celebrate the holidays. I think Michigan schools are doing the right thing because some people are just that nuts.
Un-fukin-believable!!! The crazies have struck again!! I need to pinch myself because I KNOW I must be in some kind of nightmare. *rolling eyes*
Doesn't Michigan have a very high number of survivalist groups? This would explain all sorts of things about that state.
yes they do...they have compounds way out in the hills and mountains and their main focus is that the government is quickly becoming fascist and eventually they will strip away all our rights, put us in concentration camps and before that they will make sure all the guns are gone so that they won't be able to protect themselves. I'm starting to think that this may become our future.
This is the dumbest headline and article I've seen in many years. Are you SURE the schools are closed due to the Mayan end of the world? Don't you think it might be in response to the blizzard roaring through Wisconsin and Michigan? We have hundreds of Wisconsin schools closed -- and it's not due to the Mayan prediction of the end of the world. Perhaps you need to hire more intelligent writers!
Intelligent media writers? LOL good one.
well, guess the terrorists have won then....
If tomprrow is the end of the world all I can really say I guess is, "Oh Well".
Don't you think there would be more signs of violence and destruction and extreme weather conditions if it was the end of the world. On the other hand if there is a God out there I can picture him/her sitting there thinking, "how can I screw with them today :)".
Okay. The Mayan calender does NOT predict the end of the world. First off, the Mayans ran out of stone to carve their calendar onto anyway. And second, the spans of time measured on that calendar are VERY long. Even those have to be reset at some point. The several centuries the calendar records in one cycle and resetting is similar to us going through a century on our Georgian calendar and the years starting over from zero. The calendar is just resetting its self.
Exactly. Why is it so hard to consider that maybe those charged with carving out calendars simply chose this date a convenient place to stop doing so. How do we know it they had better things to do at that time than continue with this since they ended so far into their own future that may have been in danger from other things like disease, lack or resources....etc?
The Mayan calendar goes by counts of 13.00.00.00. They do not go my astrology like we do. Basically tommorow will be 00.00.00.01 for them. Its a cyclic calendar. They use the exact same calendar with the same amount of days. They literally count their days.
Jizzem, sounds like another copy/paste to us at the Pirate's Inn. Thanks Your Friend
Why are people like this guy in charge? Seriously you cannot live life afraid in a bubble.
Very misleading headline. Journalists are pathetic.
Fear is a powerful drug!.
Is this a school district run by Pakistanis? Next to polio-vaccine-as-a-reason-to-murder-women, this comes in a close second on the stupidity meter....
Thus proving we are a stupid species that haven't evolved since the Mayan's made their calendar
And after reading this story, milions of American school kids took to Twitter to post the same thing in hopes of early school closings.
Perfect reaction. The problem is that the end of the world was not predicted. This is merely the end of a calendar cycle. No mention of the end of the world. Brilliant way to demonstrate a lack of comprehension and ability to mindlessly follow the mass hysteria created by Hollywood.
This must be a joke---are they serious? Are we living in 1312 or 2012? These people need to take some science courses and get with the program. What kind of message about ignorance, fear and lack of good judgment does this send to the students? Of course, the students are loving an extra day off and who can blame them, but for school officials to do this because of a debunked rumour about the end of the world is insanity.
Hey, I just heard from Australia where it's the 21st............... they're still there. I thought it was the end when the GOP came to town but we even survived them. Weapons of Mass Destruction, Mission Accomplished, Iraq Did It............. the Mayan calendar............. The Mayans were Republicans?