Re: Violence in Colorado

[Betty Womack <rol2bet@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Macall Gordon wrote:
> 
> Can anyone comment ÷ even at this early stage ÷ on what is causing kids
> to act out this particular kind of violence? I know this kind of
> callousness does not just appear in a person, yet these stories
> inevitably get reported as if the violence was a freak occurrence. They
> will say these two boys came from good homes...they may blame TV or the
> availability of guns...The parents are always shocked by their son's
> behavior...
>      I am not yet a full-fledged researcher, but I know there is more to
> the story than this...and in our hesitation to "blame the parents," it
> seems we do not, as a society, inquire into the possible early
> experiences that produce a person who is capable of this kind of
> violence. Isn't it worth our time to find out why there are kids that
> feel the need for this level of devastation.
> Thanks,
> Macall Gordon

I think that the system of education has to take some responsibility for
this problem.  One of the things I am seeing as a high school prinicpal
is the fact that we teach to the head and not the heart.  We do not
teach tolerance, character, values and respect.  Not that these need to
be subjects just like math, reading etc.; however we could do more to
develop the character of your children.  The federal mandates like th
high school graduation tests are designed to separate us into a more
pronounced caste system.  Many students who would normally have
graduated from high school with a diploma will be relogated to third
class citizens because of a four-hour test.  This effort is stealing
presious time from teachers to help develop the heart.  The heart of
American Youth is sick.