Usually I try to skip past American stuff when googling for education-related dramas, but this is too choice to ignore:
LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. – A National Guard F-16 fighter jet on a nighttime training mission strafed an elementary school with 25 rounds, authorities said Thursday. No one was injured.The military is investigating the incident that damaged Little Egg Harbor Intermediate School shortly after 11 p.m.
Police were called when a custodian who was the only person in the school at the time heard what sounded like someone running across the roof.
The pilot of the single-seat jet was supposed to fire at a target on the ground 3-1/2 miles away from school, said Col. Brian Webster, commander of the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard. He does not know what happened that led to the school getting shot up.
''The National Guard takes this situation very seriously,'' said Lt. Col. Roberta Niedt, a spokeswoman.
School board President Mike Dupuis said he's mindful that a firing range is nearby.''Being so close to the range, that's always in the back of our minds. It is very scary." AP
Indeed. Now that's what I call attacking education.
Often when schools get attacked – fire being the popular weapon of choice – it turns out that the miscreant went there, but did not enjoy it and got angry about something. Could this be the story here?
Hated school. Joined Air National Guard. Took revenge.
Probably not.
UPDATE: Daryl Cobranchi calls it ONE MORE REASON TO HOMESCHOOL.
FWIW
Having known Col Brian Webster for 6+ years he is not a person to pull the wool over anyones eyes, if he dont know, then he really dont know! But be darned sure he will! The school straffing at night was and is a terrible accident and one which measures must be taken to avoid ever again, thank the lord it happened when it did, at least the military were 'responsible' in selecting a time for the excercise when overshoot would not cause any human damage, but how military planners cold allow a school to be downrange from a firing range is somewhat of a mystery to a poor brit - all our ranges point out to sea!
But I do know Col Brian Webster to be a very decent human being, if there is something wrong here he will not rest till it is set right.
Chris R Coxon.
