Every day that school is in session in these great United States, the threats of mass harm seems to increase in both interval and intensity. Claims of gun violence against schools are unfortunately more than just claims at times, and must be treated as such no matter what.

That course of action is what local police, including Fallsburg Police, and other law enforcement took up last week when one unidentified 12-year-old in the district took to social media to create posts that threw up red flags. Knowing that you can’t take chances, Superintendent Dr. Ivan Katz, his team, and law enforcement did the right thing. We applaud their sharp eyes and quick action.

The internet is a big place, and a great outlet for sharing thoughts and ideas with peers and friends. Online, you can explore, learn, and create. However, it is not an endless void, untraceable in nature and devoid of consequence – something that children must be taught to understand. 

Teach your children that if you use your words to express thoughts of dangerous action against your school or community online, even if you are just “blowing off steam” with no real intent behind them – it is no laughing matter. Not in the slightest.  

And while it may seem like an endless void, what you put out on the internet is an immediate extension of yourself. With this external space that is not uncommon for children to inhabit, parents have a duty to keep a close eye on what students and children are posting and consuming. 

In this case, we applaud those who saw something and said something, and we hope that the young perpetrator learned a valuable lesson, and depending on the nature of the threat itself, is going to receive the help they deserve. Tragedies are preventable with surveillance, communication and assistance from trusted adults.

However, despite best efforts across the nation daily, there are attacks on our places of learning. It is a story that we hear constantly, and we hope to never have to report on something like that here in any of our eight school districts. 

We extend our unending thanks to all those involved in making sure that does not come to pass. Ever.