I know this isn't a good thing to do..But...

[sup-rbeast]

Really, does this warrant national headlines??

WICHITA, Kansas (AP) -- A sixth-grade boy has admitted he stabbed to death a mother duck named "Lucy" and her two ducklings.

Students at Wilbur Middle School had been monitoring the mother duck and ducklings, making sure no one disturbed the nest in a grassy creek bed. Their lifeless, mutilated bodies were found this week, stabbed with a pencil.

An announcement over the school's public address system brought the sixth-grade boy's admission that he killed the mother duck, whom students had named Lucy, and the two ducklings. School officials said he had talked about the act to classmates and did not understand why it was wrong.

The boy was suspended Wednesday. His return to the school will hinge on a hearing.

School officials were responding "the way we do whenever we believe that a child might be a risk to himself or others," said Liz McGinness, who coordinates the district's mental health crisis team.

"We really don't mince words on this," she said. "We know that animal cruelty is a very serious, significant behavior. We will be following up with the parents to be very clear that they seek outside mental health care for this child."

Mark Rankin, assistant director of law enforcement for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks said officials may decide not to charge the boy because of his age.

An adult could face a $250 fine and up to seven days in jail for killing the bird, in addition to animal cruelty charges, which carry up to $10,000 in fines and up to a year in jail, he said.

Mallard ducks are protected by federal and state laws. It is illegal to kill them this time of year, out of season.

"Even though they are a huntable species, there is a legal method of take, of which using a pencil is not one of them," said Bob Gress, director of the Great Plains Nature Center.

Parents, counselors and school officials worried that the killing could signal serious problems in a child's life.

Tony Ruark, a Wichita psychologist who works with children, said a thorough evaluation is appropriate in such a case. He said animal cruelty can lead to more violent acts.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sup-rbeast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Really, does this warrant national headlines??

WICHITA, Kansas (AP) -- A sixth-grade boy has admitted he stabbed to death a mother duck named "Lucy" and her two ducklings.

Students at Wilbur Middle School had been monitoring the mother duck and ducklings, making sure no one disturbed the nest in a grassy creek bed. Their lifeless, mutilated bodies were found this week, stabbed with a pencil.

An announcement over the school's public address system brought the sixth-grade boy's admission that he killed the mother duck, whom students had named Lucy, and the two ducklings. School officials said he had talked about the act to classmates and did not understand why it was wrong.

The boy was suspended Wednesday. His return to the school will hinge on a hearing.

School officials were responding "the way we do whenever we believe that a child might be a risk to himself or others," said Liz McGinness, who coordinates the district's mental health crisis team.

"We really don't mince words on this," she said. "We know that animal cruelty is a very serious, significant behavior. We will be following up with the parents to be very clear that they seek outside mental health care for this child."

Mark Rankin, assistant director of law enforcement for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks said officials may decide not to charge the boy because of his age.

An adult could face a $250 fine and up to seven days in jail for killing the bird, in addition to animal cruelty charges, which carry up to $10,000 in fines and up to a year in jail, he said.

Mallard ducks are protected by federal and state laws. It is illegal to kill them this time of year, out of season.

"Even though they are a huntable species, there is a legal method of take, of which using a pencil is not one of them," said Bob Gress, director of the Great Plains Nature Center.

Parents, counselors and school officials worried that the killing could signal serious problems in a child's life.

Tony Ruark, a Wichita psychologist who works with children, said a thorough evaluation is appropriate in such a case. He said animal cruelty can lead to more violent acts.
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This is a crazy story.... But is the boy struggling with mental problems because he done this? Beats me..... How about where the guy sadi hunting with a pencil was not okay... was he saying it was better to shoot it? Probably better for the duck.

[imported_elp6n]

National Headline worthy? Maybe not so much.

Was it wrong of the kid? It's my opinion that it was very wrong; he chose on his own to commit animal torture. What he did isn't the same as hunting. The most disturing part to me is that he didn't know why it was wrong. To some degree empathy has to be taught; as a child grows right and wrong must be taught. By this age he should have learned those values.
Something went wrong somewhere with this kid.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: elp6n</div><div class="ubbcode-body">National Headline worthy? Maybe not so much.

Was it wrong of the kid? It's my opinion that it was very wrong; he chose on his own to commit animal torture. What he did isn't the same as hunting. The most disturing part to me is that he didn't know why it was wrong. To some degree empathy has to be taught; as a child grows right and wrong must be taught. By this age he should have learned those values.
Something went wrong somewhere with this kid. </div></div>
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YOu are right... if he was being honest in saying he did not know it was wrong... the school officials need to get him some help.. but be understanding... but i find that hard to believe.. that he did not know it was wrong though. But no I do not think it needed to be in the paper or on the news.. you are right. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif[/img]

[sup-rbeast]

Duck...It's What's For Dinner.

[aphrodite4ever]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: elp6n</div><div class="ubbcode-body">National Headline worthy? Maybe not so much.

Was it wrong of the kid? It's my opinion that it was very wrong; he chose on his own to commit animal torture. What he did isn't the same as hunting. The most disturing part to me is that he didn't know why it was wrong. To some degree empathy has to be taught; as a child grows right and wrong must be taught. By this age he should have learned those values.
Something went wrong somewhere with this kid. </div></div>

For once I would have to agree completely with you. This kid really needs support and some serious mental help. Why would a 6th grader do something like this? And of all things to use he used a pencil?? Sounds to me like someone might have put him up to it. Maybe wrong but its something to think about.

[BeNjAmIn]

I belivee that this is a crime punishable by death......................NOT! What the heck c'mon guys the kid was hunting a duck.
And for all you hunters out there you have just been informed by a phsycologist that you have mental problems. I am sorry and I hope you seek help ASAP.

[imported_elp6n]

He was hunting a sitting duck? [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]
Obviously this post was made simply in an attempt to antagonize.
Next time you go deer hunting make sure you take a nice sharp #2 with you.