How much trouble should this kid be in?

[bunker]

I coach soccer at my daughter's school and I'm walking back to my car shortly after practice started when I see a couple kids hanging out by a dumpster with smoke blowing over their shoulders.
I step up and see one kid with a lighter trying to set some paper on fire to put in the dumpster.
The kid's in 4th grade, so 9 or 10 yrs old. I read him the riot act and ask for his name and home phone number. He gives me the info and I call and get what I assume is his mother's voice mail (left message explaining everything).
By this time he's crying buckets, most likely scared of what his parents will do to him.
My question is this, do I take it further and report it to the principal tomorrow and potentially get this kid suspended/expelled?

EDIT - They were not smoking, the smoke was from the paper the one boy was trying to light. He had it wedged in the opening with some sticks next to it and he immediately tossed the lighter in the dumpster when I yelled at him.

 

[Malak]

Absolutely. People not reporting these things are the reason these things occur.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Nah, let parents deal with it.

 

[Rage187]

If he burns down the school with a bunch of kids in it, would you feel bad?


I'd say leave it at contacting the mother.

 

[SandEagle]

call the police. have that arsonist arrested!

 

[lxskllr]

Parents only. There's no point in getting bureaucracy involved now. Things can get out of control really quickly, and end up being a disservice to everyone.

 

[rcpratt]

Let the parents figure it out.

 

[pontifex]

Let the parents figure it out.

you mean "who the fuck is this guy calling me and and the fuck is he scolding my kid? bubba, go beat this asshole up!"

You think some 9-10 year old kid out smoking and trying to light dumpsters on fire has good parents?

 

[bunker]

I'm leaning toward letting the parents deal with it, however, I'd really like a call back from them saying "thank you for letting us know", or something similar. That way I have some kind of reassurance they actually listened.

There's too many parents now a days that just don't give a shit.

If I don't hear anything by tomorrow afternoon, I'll probably narc on him.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm leaning toward letting the parents deal with it, however, I'd really like a call back from them saying "thank you for letting us know", or something similar. That way I have some kind of reassurance they actually listened.

There's too many parents now a days that just don't give a shit.

If I don't hear anything by tomorrow afternoon, I'll probably narc on him.

You left your number?

If so, that's a reasonable approach.

 

[bunker]

You left your number?

If so, that's a reasonable approach.

I did.

 

[rcpratt]

you mean "who the fuck is this guy calling me and and the fuck is he scolding my kid? bubba, go beat this asshole up!"

You think some 9-10 year old kid out smoking and trying to light dumpsters on fire has good parents?

Right, because good parents' kids never do anything wrong.

 

[pontifex]

Right, because good parents' kids never do anything wrong.

not saying that, but these days, whats more likely?

 

[Dumac]

Right, because good parents' kids never do anything wrong.

They don't smoke at the age of 10 while trying to set dumpsters on fire.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I think you've done your part. Leave it at the voicemail. If it happens again drag his ass inside and let them deal with it.

 

[manimal]

is there capital punishment there?

 

[zinfamous]

you mean "who the fuck is this guy calling me and and the fuck is he scolding my kid? bubba, go beat this asshole up!"

You think some 9-10 year old kid out smoking and trying to light dumpsters on fire has good parents?

eh? why would you assume he has bad parents?

my brother was once caught (~7) trying to strap a filled gasoline canister to a sled, and he was about to light it (rocket sled, of course).

Our parents are fine--He graduated Duke Med and was an attending at Stanford hospital by the age of 33.

 

[Paladin3]

I would have called the cops, or at least the principal of the school, to come pick the kid up and get in contact with his parents. The kid could potentially kill someone with his fires and his activity needs to be documented. School officials also need to be aware in case he tries it again.

 

[zinfamous]

They don't smoke at the age of 10 while trying to set dumpsters on fire.

OP never said they were smoking.

even so...what?

 

[gevorg]

Spank all of them in broad daylight! Then call the cops.

 

[Ns1]

you can't tell me you never set anything on fire as a kid

 

[FoBoT]

arson?
i think that is a felony
hello police

 

[gaidensensei]

you can't tell me you never set anything on fire as a kid

WD-40 and cockroaches, and ants too. Fun times.

 

[warr666]

.....

 

[Numenorean]

shit tons