A group of parents from Staten Island is expressing their frustration through a remarkable protest against an eight-year-old student in their kids’ class, who they claim has been causing chaos—threatening others and behaving violently.
This child, who attends PS 8, reportedly mimicked gunfire by pretending to shoot classmates with his hand. One terrified third grader shared with her parents that he threatened to growl, scream, and kick during class.
“He said he was going to shoot and kill him. This isn’t just play; he talked about burying us, and it’s alarming,” one mother shared.
In another troubling incident, he had an altercation with a girl, telling her to “shut up.” When she responded by kicking him, she reported the incident to their teacher, but the situation didn’t seem to improve.
“When I come to school tomorrow, I’m bringing my guns and I’ll shoot everyone in this class,” the boy allegedly told her, according to the girl’s mother.
As a result, at least one child has switched out of the class, which is notable because the boy’s father was previously a guidance counselor in the public school system.
“I felt uncomfortable. A child shouldn’t express thoughts like that—violence against teachers, against other kids. It’s disconcerting,” remarked another parent.
On April 25, parents decided to stage a remarkable “boycott,” keeping 21 of the 31 students from entering the school. They left flyers outside the school expressing deep concerns about safety.
“The true threat of violence at PS 8,” read their flyer. “The principal needs to intervene before someone gets hurt.”
The children have largely been together since kindergarten, and the school ranks fairly high among NYC elementary schools. Their unease was expressed in heartfelt letters shared with the media.
“His actions make me feel unsafe and scared when I go to school,” one child wrote.
“I hate school,” another added.
“What if he actually harms someone one day?” another student pondered, voicing a common fear.
While the staff member involved, who was allegedly jabbed with a pencil, chose not to comment, sources indicated that police were not contacted regarding these incidents.
Parents have continually appealed to Principal Lisa Esposito and District 31 Principal Roderick Palton for assistance.
During a recent meeting, Palton mentioned the use of “therapeutic crisis interventions” for the boy, according to one parent. However, it appears he hasn’t faced significant consequences yet, often being sent to the “meditation room” instead when misbehaving.
An education expert pointed out that intervention is crucial. “The system needs to address violent behavior effectively,” said David Bloomfield, a professor at Brooklyn College.
Concerns were raised that the school administration has not adequately separated the boy from those he has threatened.
“The school says every child has rights, but my child’s safety is a priority too. What am I supposed to do when he threatens my child?” questioned one frustrated parent.
After the boy made a chilling threat to harm another child, the family decided to file a police report. However, authorities reportedly informed them that the child was too young to qualify for a protection order.
It’s worth noting that the troubled boy’s mother previously lost her job with the DOE amid past concerns, including failing to notify superiors about involving a weapon.
Advisors have warned that there could be “exaggerated” claims surrounding the child, which might lead to “legal consequences.”
Yamaris Diaz, a clinical psychologist, emphasized that there are several considerations before deciding to remove a child from school, suggesting that there are numerous interventions possible before taking such drastic steps.
The DOE reiterated that student safety is a leading concern and mentioned that they are actively addressing parent concerns about the situation at PS 8.
