On Thursday, Sept. 19, Bridgeport schools were dismissed two hours early following a series of online
threats made on social media.
Schools remained closed on Friday, Sept. 20, and students returned on Monday, Sept. 23, with increased police presence.
According to a Facebook message from the district, the decision to dismiss early and close schools was
made “out of an abundance of caution.”
Dr. Mel Horton, Dean of Farmington College of Education & Human Development at Sacred Heart
University, said that situations like this can have long-term impacts on the well-being of a child.
“These threats disrupt the learning environment and create unnecessary fear and anxiety, which can have long-lasting effects on emotional and mental health,” said Horton.
“From an educator’s standpoint, it’s critical to emphasize the importance of ensuring that schools remain a safe haven where students can learn, grow, and thrive and pre-service teachers can practice the skills of becoming a teacher,” she continued.
According to NBC Connecticut, counseling and other support services were available at schools last week for students who needed them.
Senior Darcy Fruhschein, a student on the education track at SHU, said that these threats can make teachers concerned that they aren’t doing their jobs properly, causing them to alter some of their classroom practices.
“Part of our jobs as teachers is to help our students succeed and this is done well, but we also have to protect them and sometimes us teachers don’t know if we are fully doing our jobs since they are scared,” said Fruhschein.
NBC Connecticut said that a 13-year-old was arrested on the night of Sept. 18 by the Bridgeport Police Department. There was also a second threat, made by an adult, that caused the safety precautions to go into place.
“The Chief of Police recognizes the importance of keeping Bridgeport’s youth safe and free from the threat of violence. As always, the safety of our children will remain a major priority within our police department,” said the Police Department in a report by the CT Post.
According to the New York Times, approximately 700 kids in the U.S. have been arrested for making threats, some being as young as 10 years old.
“Our role as educators is to continue advocating for policies and practices that prioritize safety, such as working closely with law enforcement, supporting mental health resources, and fostering open communication between educator preparation programs, schools, students, and families,” said Horton.
This wasn’t the only threat in the area, however, as a separate situation occurred at Staples High School in Westport, where two threats were made. One threat involved threatening language on a bathroom stall, while the other threat involved a student who was arrested and banned from the school, making a social media post, according to Patch.
Fruhschein said that, in situations like this, the reaction of the teacher is important in ensuring that the students remain in the best possible mental state.
“My biggest piece of advice would be for student teachers to understand even if you’re scared, don’t let the students know. The students value you and understand that if you’re safe and calm they will react the same way,” said Fruhschein.
The situations in Bridgeport and Westport occurred in neighboring communities to SHU, which now owns Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University, a high school located on Jefferson Street across from Sacred Heart’s main campus, as Spectrum previously reported.
Horton said that these types of situations not only affect the school itself but the community around the school, neighboring schools, families, parents and local businesses.
“We need passionate, dedicated individuals entering the teaching profession now more than ever,” said
Horton. “The ability to foster curiosity, resilience and compassion in young minds is a powerful and rewarding role.”
Lauren Kehrle contributed to this article.
