A teaching colleague of mine suffers from severe asthma; she tells that in her class syllabus to "give fair warning." Students in her classes are now spraying substances that cause her to have asthma attacks. She has given verbal warnings and made phone calls home. Now administration is telling her to write letters home. How much does the teacher have to do before it becomes a criminal situation: land in the hospital or worse?

Everything always seems to be the public school teacher's fault; I am here to tell you as one myself that is far from the case. People would not believe what we are expected to do, put up with, ignore, and then, produce results. It is not for the faint of heart; most adults would run out of the buildings crying and never return.

So, let me ask a question. What DO you think should be their punishment? Should we just execute them now? Should we make them feel worthless for the rest of their young lives? Should we take away their right to go back to school and get an education? Oh, you were never 12 years old? You've never done anything STUPID? You've never watch "Dennis the Menace" play pranks on Mr. Wilson? These young ladies need something, of course. But what they need is what adults get when they are first offenders and no harm is done. Community Service, counseling, something taken away that means a lot to them. We have NOT walked in these children's shoes and do not know the entire story. I agree with whomever said the teacher should not have food or drinks out and certainly shouldn't leave it unattended. Does she also leave her medication unattended? What if a child took that unknowingly when she turned her back? Then the TEACHER would be where these little girls are right now. Or would the child be slammed for taking something she shouldn't have????? The adult is partially responsible too.

well arent we glad your NOT the parent! There children and thats that!....

This one is for "don't mess with my family" and "anonymous". I highly suggest both of you go back to school and learn some common sense, grammar and spelling skills. Obviously, you need to.

The fact that you are willing to blame anyone and everyone except the two actual offenders says it all. PLEASE STOP BREEDING!

These "children" need a swift reality check - as do their parents. They've acted irresponsibly, endangered a teacher and wasted my tax dollars.

I imagine we will all be paying for their incarceration in a few years - as they are well on their way.

I am sorry, but these news articles arent giving all of the story. Both girls didn't get the same charges. The one girl didnt do anything, that will come out in time. And as far as getting finger prints off the bottles everyone of those students in that classroom have touched that bottle of expo cleaner. When I was in school teachers weren't aloud to have drinks in the class room cause we couldnt have them lets go back to that rule now....I feel very baby about what has happened....but it was a joke these girls didnt mean to do it to hurt it...they figured the teacher could tell there was something in the drink and not drink it...and where was the teacher when this happened...cause shouldnt the teacher be in the room at all times and if she needs to step out for a minute have someone else come in and watch the class until she returns.i blame the teacher and the school. These girls are 12 years old beautiful young lady's who did a stupid thing...but whats gonna happen to them when they return to school if I was their parent I would pull them from that school, cause they are never going to be able to get the education they should get at the school now Little River is right now the street send them there and everyone is talking about the parents...parents can only do so much yes these girls did something wrong weather or not that they did do it themselves yes they should get in trouble but if no one was harmed then whats the big deal. I know both girls VERY well and one of them has had a very rough life these past few years going through a child molestation case with her grandfather, so she's has all these emotions and fears and just the stress but it doesnt make it an excuse

PLEASE PARENTS, Raise (teach) your children to BE RESPONSIBLE for their actions. They should have repect for the position this teacher holds.You, I nor our chilren are going to LIKE every person that we deal with in life. BUT we respect their position and behave accordingly. As a preschool teacher I already see parents 'making excuses' for behavior that is bad. It is OUR job as parents to STOP making excuses for our children & raise them to be repectable & responsible adults.

THIS WAS NOT A JOKE-it was a mean prank!

@ the one calling this a joke...Yes they are CHILDREN who obviously have not been taught respect for humanity. I don't care if the teacher is the Wicked Witch of the West, no one deserves to be poisoned as a JOKE.

I am a teacher and the first year I taught, a student put LSD in my coke because I wrote him up for stealing another student's work and putting his name on it.

Where would you draw the line?

I am parent of 6 children and this terrifies me, what if these children did this to another child, it may have killed them with such low body weight. I am also an advocate of the teachers and understand the difficult and unselfish job that they do everyday. This situation alone is horrifying, but so are the reactions of some of these parents. Children make mistakes, they should not be commiting heinous crimes like trying to poison a teacher. People who are justifying this as anything less is the reason we are in this situation in the first place. Enabling behavior by the parents and acceptance should not at all be a part of the punishment or these "children" will be lost forever only to commit worse crimes later. Do something before it becomes too late.

They may have seen it as a joke but it is not funny. I don't care if they are children. My children would have been punished if they tried anything like this

To the anonymous comment who said they are just children playing a joke--are you for real? It is excuses like that and attitudes like that which make our children what they are today. Kids now a days get away with so much with no consequences and no accountability. And to blame it on the teacher because they are not well liked--seriously?! You really think just a pop on the hand saying that was funny please don't do it again will make a difference in these girls future--delusional!

This is an all too common situation. Our adminsitrator refused to act on it until the teacher threatened to notify the police.

I would just like to say that I know one of these girls....and let me remind you that they are CHILDREN... the teacher is very unliked by several students. it takes someone special to be a teacher you have to love and understand children. not saying what these girls did was right but there still children. It was way more innocent then the new is makeing it. These girls didnt look at it as "poisioning a teacher"

they saw it as a joke...something that would be funny. So lets no slander there reputaion THERE CHILDREN. didnt mean harm just a joke. Im not saying they shouldnt be in trouble but police and court?!?!? come on