I don't know the laws in Texas, but in NY state we are considered to be acting in loco parentis during the school day.
Before we get anywhere near being the only adult in a room full of minors, we have to have a Bachelor's Degree, get our Master's Degree within a certain time frame, be fingerprinted to assure that we have no criminal history, pass several teacher exams, take additional education classes, take child abuse awareness classes and student teach.
However if a student is habitually absent, the parent may lose custody due to educational neglect. In this case apparently the grandparents would not get legal custody either, since they couldn't get him to go to school. The grandfather's felony record---I don't know if that would be a factor or not.
It is not the teacher's call to contact what here is labeled ACS. That would be the call of a supervisor or guidance counselor.
Therefore, SR would be remanded to state care in NY. In a state facility he would be searched and watched over, particularly if he was diagnosed with any mental health issues. That would be standard because it's assumed that a child in state custody is already enduring many stressors.
However, once a child has turned 18, all bets are off. No one has to have custody of him and he doesn't have to go to school. Unfortunately he'd already turned 18.
I agree with you, intervention had to be enforced much earlier in his life.
Identifying or "flagging" students is a huge problem. HUGE. I taught for over 25 years - having started a few years before Columbine.
In all those years I had students that "concerned" me greatly. Not a lot - in total maybe, over all those years only 7 or 8.
Yes, I would go to administration. Sometimes I would get shot down from the get-go. Given excuses of why he is "like he is" or they fall back on the conditions of his life outside of the school. But, even when the parent(s) came in (and I never had a serious concern about a student that had both parents in his life - think about that one). The parents for the most part will rail against this. They don't want their child labeled. The "he's not like this at home" reply is standard. And they will fight against any type of action to be taken (I think they are afraid of loosing custody).
Look at Sandy Hook - AL's mom was in complete denial. She even bought him the guns. Newtown turned on her and she was never recognized by that community as a victim - that's HOW BAD that community felt about her denial and lack of action and denial. Now, in Uvalde, this mom is trying to deflect and excuse and even explain her son and his behavior / actions. What about the one in Michigan - again, those parents bought him the gun, when called to the school over their concerns they refused to take him home. That one is so egregious that authorities have charged both parents!!!
I taught 5th grade for the majority of my career. I would get to know my kids - I would watch them. I would actually eat lunch with them in the cafeteria at least twice a week (which I have to insert here - this caused my fellow colleagues to "dislike" me - they valued their precious free time and could not for the life of them figure out why I would actually want to do that! I was ostracized in a few schools because of this - one principal told me I was not allowed to eat with my students - I kid you not).
I had one child that really really concerned me. To him - one day I would be his best friend and he would be great and the very next day - I was the antichrist. I was actually afraid of him. I had a few conferences with his father - and yes, this child had a father but his mother was not (and had not been) in the picture for a few years. At one point I asked my administrator (who was well aware of this child and my concerns) if I could ask dad, who was coming in for yet another conference, if there were any weapons in the home. My administrator didn't know and would get back with me. At the end of the day I was called in and told that, in no uncertain terms, could I ask about weapons in the home and that his came from the district offices. Needless to say I was livid but I had to abide by what I was told. It was after that - that I did something that would have cost me my job and possibly my teaching license - and I did this almost everyday. After I took the kids to lunch - I would go back to my room and search his backpack. (searching a child's backpack is NOT ALLOWED without permission - period - end of discussion - full stop). But I did it anyway as I was that afraid that I could be teaching in front of the class, look up and have a gun pointed at me! As I was in Florida, when Parkland happened I did the math and this child was of the same age and did some research to make sure it wasn't this child that I had.
I completely and totally agree there HAS TO BE MORE DONE to identify and flag these shooters - but until the "powers that be" start to recognize teachers as professionals with a voice in this - it isn't going to happen.
A lot of teachers don't even think about this - or care. There are signs - they way they answer questions, they way they interact with other children. body language, micro-facial expressions, - just watch them, talk to them, get to (or try to get to) know them, making personal connection with a child will bring out their personality and those "flags" will surface.
I don't have the answers - I don't know how we are ever going to get this under some type of control but something has to be done and listening to caring, responsible, watchful, and intelligent teachers has to be incorporated into the solution.
