AIBU to think 11YO Threats to “Kill” Classmates are not OK?

[Hatty123]

So hive mind… would it be an overreaction to contact the school teacher if a child in the class has threatened to “kill” a classmate? A child in my daughter’s class is 11YO (let’s call this child “Alex”) and said to a girl in the class “If you do that again. I will Kill you.”

It apparently happened after a misunderstanding and the children singing Happy Birthday to Alex. It wasn’t done with any ill intent but DD said a few kids thought it was Alex’s birthday.

Having mentioned my concern (DD came home talking about the situation as she found it alarming that these words were said) to another parent it is now clear that Alex has also recently told another child that they are “going to kill them”. None of the kids in the class has mentioned it to the teacher as they have a culture of comforting each other within the class - Alex has previously hit other children in the class.
DD was genuinely shocked by the words and the way they were delivered to her friend. It wasn’t said in any kind of jokey or light hearted way. But I do also recognise that they are all just children.

I told my daughter that it was not ok to say those words to others and that she has the right to feel safe and happy in school. As do her classmates.
Something about the situation is making me feel very uneasy. Is it at overreaction to say to the teacher?

If a kid is repeatedly saying this stuff then you have to let the school know OP.

I think you should raise it with the class teacher and also the safeguarding lead so that the teacher can't just sweep this under the carpet, which seems to be their classroom philosophy.

It's not a good habit for kids to get into the habit of expressing emotions by using those words.

It should be addressed in school that using threats to kill, no matter whether you have any intention of harming someone or not, are illegal. For adults anyway.

They should be taught that they need to say things like 'don't do that again as it makes me upset/angry' rather than 'I will kill you'.

I appreciate we are talking about an 11yo, but I have just been watching the Southport inquiry and whilst that’s about as serious as it could possibly get. It is a warning tale that everyone knew this person was not OK. They clearly said similar many times over and people could tell it was not a joke. But nothing was done. Please report to someone.