Wait, what?
Michigan is closing 33 schools early due to the Mayan Apocalypse. Students heard the news on their transistor radios by candlelight.
— ???? ????? ???? ???? (@MallFart) December 20, 2012
Heh. But, it’s really happening.
Seriously? The Mayan calendar is closing schools? Wow: http://t.co/8PZlvAgE #tcot
— Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) December 20, 2012
NBC news reports that 33 schools in Mich. are closing, in part due to Mayan doomsday prophesy fears, and tweets that further spark such fears with threats of violence.
Not going to school next friday .. people saying "since the worlds gunna end might as well die with a bang" I'm not getting shot at school!
— Follow@fosterjontell (@jontellfoster) December 14, 2012
i am not going to school Friday. not gonna chance some moron "going out with a bang" and shooting up the school because "the worlds ending"
— brandon (@brandonquincy) December 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/Simply_SOCKS/status/281475151378411520
Horribly, there are such tweets.
https://twitter.com/c_curlssss/status/281564503366320128
Why people staying home friday and not going to school ? hahaha … are y'all to chicken to go ? #BANG !
— Slime (YTK)???..® (@BeatzByNapz) December 20, 2012
Who ever go to school Friday gone feel like they in a chief keef video you gone here so much bang bang BANG!!
— Ra'Quon Glenn (@TheReal_IronMan) December 20, 2012
@Nick_Da_Beast the shooting at the school that may happen Friday
— C1 (@CGreezy_) December 19, 2012
So, are the closures due to Mayan calendar doomsday panic or threats of violence? One school district said this:
A statement on their website reads as follows: “Given the recent events in Connecticut, there have been numerous rumors circulating in our district, and in neighboring districts, about potential threats of violence against students. Additionally, rumors connected to the Mayan calendar predicted end of the world on Friday have also surfaced. These rumors of violence have been thoroughly investigated and determined to be false.”
“These rumors have been a serious distraction for students, teachers, administrators, and parents.” Matt Wandrie, superintendent of Lapeer schools, said in an additional statement. “Although we in the county are reluctant to cancel school because the rumors are unsubstantiated, we feel it is the most appropriate decision given the gravity of recent events and our present circumstances.
While it is understandable to take every threat seriously after the tragedy in Newtown, Twitter is buzzing over the fact that the Mayan end of world rumors were given at all as a partial reasoning for school closures.
OK I simply refuse to believe the 'story' circulating thru the Twittersphere that 33 Michigan schools are closing due to Mayan #endofworld
— Gabby Stern (@gabbystern) December 20, 2012
Believe it; many took to Twitter to comment and to report on school closings in their areas.
They're closing schools…due to Mayan "end of the world" rumors. I just can't. I can't, I what, I cannot English right now.
— #StayTheFuckHome ???? (@Blue_Rose_) December 20, 2012
Watching the news, local schools are closing here because of threats linked to the Mayan calendar.. Are you serious right now? #worldwontend
— not Voldemort (@Thee2Chainz) December 20, 2012
Schools are closing because "the distraction of students related to the Mayan Calendar." Shows how undoubtedly retarded we are as a society.
— Deyna Saari (@DeynaDane) December 20, 2012
My kids' schools are closed due to overwhelming concern of another school shooting in relation to the Mayan calendar, what.the actual.fuck?!
— Cocky McCockerson (@Randy_was_here) December 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/JamieMachowicz/status/281717241278504960
#Michigan schools are out of control! They closed for the #Mayan #apocalypse. #EndOfTheWorld? http://t.co/t2ZnpCmW
— Amanda Ashley (@Ash_Rem) December 20, 2012
Every Genesee County school closed because of (allegedly) the Mayan Calendar? http://t.co/lUKo427b
— Shawn Colton (@FatherWizard) December 20, 2012
Statement released by my high school canceling classes due to shooting threats and Mayan calendar… sort of http://t.co/W6pjRP9q
— Lift Every Voice (@jschank) December 20, 2012
Two school districts are closed in Macomb County due to "End of the world threats"… Wut
— Matthew Musary (@MeerMatt) December 20, 2012
12 school districts in my area are now closed Thursday and Friday for threats of violence and fears the world will end Friday.
— Amber (@punkyamber) December 20, 2012
Someone told me that her childrens school will be closed Friday bc of the whole end of the world talk..they r doing entirely too much..
— Se7en Of Spadez (@SweetnSourBunny) December 19, 2012
school is cancelled due to threats against students… and the "mayan calendar predicting the end of the world" – our superintendent hahaha
— ?Katie Newton? (@KTnewton11) December 20, 2012
In #Lapeer their school closed until January..because they really beleive the world is going to end Friday smfh. Lmaoo.
— ღ ναℓєи¢ιια ραи∂α ღ (@JazzyPandaa) December 20, 2012
So people closed down school districts because they heard rumors about the end of the world??!! ?? people please getcha life!!
— ChevieChevy (@ChevieA2014) December 20, 2012
Every school is closed except from Plymouth -Ann Arbor -Ypsilanti area because of the end if the world rumor
— ✧Cxry✧ (@BroItsCory_) December 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/goodreverend/status/281808968450453504
https://twitter.com/_____Ashli/status/281758028368330753
https://twitter.com/PoliticalFball/status/281762541389107202
Okay now, now y'all over doing it. I can understand about copycat threats about the school shootings, but for the Mayan apocalypse? C'mon!!
— The Slim Reaper (@Supernova1177) December 20, 2012
It’s not all just mockable Mayan panic, though. As Twitchy reported, many parents and students battled through fear to attend school on Monday in the wake of the shootings. That fear is still there and is now compounded by further threats.
https://twitter.com/akThorns/status/281624272198320129
@shanluvsjoeymac there's nothing at my kids school either but 2 counties closed all schools 4 tdy tomorrow due to gun / end of world threats
— Jennifer (@punkyjen) December 20, 2012
Tennessee joins Michigan in closing some schools.
"there is a rumor circulating among some Genesee County high schools, via social media, about a student revolt planned Friday." #wow
— Carley Brewington (@whatsupcarley) December 20, 2012
America goes full-bore: Tennessee schools closing over Mayan doomsday-related threats. Seriously. http://t.co/ubFUjSnX
— Dr Charles Kriel (@charleskriel) December 20, 2012
Again, it is tied to the Mayan calendar. Social media shows some students making threats about a “student revolt” involving weapons, since the “world is going to end.”
https://twitter.com/lanieisconfused/status/281448613878575104
https://twitter.com/tellhertwotimes/status/281490170941960192
https://twitter.com/cody_explody/status/281426562174308352
https://twitter.com/karlinave/status/281603103449575424
Twitchy will continue to monitor this situation and update with further developments.
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