Enid student suspended over threat in jest

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- A sixth-grader says he was only joking when he said he would assassinate a female classmate, although the school isn't laughing. Nathan McLean has been suspended for three days

Thursday, January 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- A sixth-grader says he was only joking when he said he would assassinate a female classmate, although the school isn't laughing. Nathan McLean has been suspended for three days as a result of the threat.

Nathan's mother, Jo Ann Sutton, said her son didn't mean any harm by the statement. The boy thought the word assassinate meant to "harass or to embarrass someone," Ms. Sutton said. "If there is not intent, there is no threat," she said. "It was the wrong word in play is all it was."

Ms. Sutton said her son received a short-time suspension after a Friday meeting with the police and Harrison Elementary Principal Jan Robinson. The suspension was upheld in a hearing Tuesday. He is being allowed to continue his school work at home until he can return to class Friday. "I feel like my son is going to be labeled someone who makes death threats for the rest of his life," Ms. Sutton said. The girl could not be reached for comment.

Enid Public School officials said they could not comment on either child involved or the disciplinary action the boy received. Ruth Ann Erdner, executive director for curriculum and instruction, said the district has a zero tolerance policy. "We take all threats very seriously," she said.