The United States reached a historical high this year, suffering its 23rd school shooting this year.
Of course, many will blame these shootings on the easy availability of guns, which is true, but only in part. Guns are better than knives for mass murder. But the problem is not one of guns, nor the solution one of, say, arming teachers. The problem is that our families are woefully broken.
I am a retired public school teacher and I and my fellow teachers feared such an event at the school where we taught. Indeed, as our school was remote and a minimum of 20 minutes away from a response by law enforcement personnel, we requested that the school board research ways to allow us to be armed in some fashion. For example, having school personnel trained to use firearms and to keep a weapon under lock-and-key in the office. But the public outcry against this proposal was so great, that a collection of parents started a recall petition against the board chairman for simply proposing this discussion! These parents didn't realize that the chairman was tabling a request made by teachers concerned for their safety within the school district.
There were a handful of students in our school that fit the profile of what has become a "typical" school shooter. In fact, we had one student who actually (and openly) celebrated the anniversary of the Columbine shooting as a personal holiday. These students were unusual and socially awkward and had difficulty in forming meaningful friendships with others. I personally made an effort to connect with all of my students, but many of these specific kids were very odd. Very odd.
A common thread among these students? Dysfunctional families. Messed up family lives. And not specifically poverty (some were quite wealthy) or drug abuse situations. Just strange values and relationships. Dysfunctional parents seem to dysfunctional weird kids. And it was expected of us teachers to some how find a way to "reach" these students and positively influence their lives. Say what?
There is no solution, except either turning our schools into high-security bases or abolishing the 2nd Amendment. There will be no effort made to address the real root causes, as that is simply not permitted in today's society.
We don't lack the will power so much as we lack common values. And trying to use diversity as a shared value is like trying to allow anyone to spell words however he or she wants -- that is, removing the constraints of artificial rules of grammar --- because it is a "celebration" of who they are. Absurdity.
Our only hope is in a Third Great Awakening.
Of course, many will blame these shootings on the easy availability of guns, which is true, but only in part. Guns are better than knives for mass murder. But the problem is not one of guns, nor the solution one of, say, arming teachers. The problem is that our families are woefully broken.
I am a retired public school teacher and I and my fellow teachers feared such an event at the school where we taught. Indeed, as our school was remote and a minimum of 20 minutes away from a response by law enforcement personnel, we requested that the school board research ways to allow us to be armed in some fashion. For example, having school personnel trained to use firearms and to keep a weapon under lock-and-key in the office. But the public outcry against this proposal was so great, that a collection of parents started a recall petition against the board chairman for simply proposing this discussion! These parents didn't realize that the chairman was tabling a request made by teachers concerned for their safety within the school district.
There were a handful of students in our school that fit the profile of what has become a "typical" school shooter. In fact, we had one student who actually (and openly) celebrated the anniversary of the Columbine shooting as a personal holiday. These students were unusual and socially awkward and had difficulty in forming meaningful friendships with others. I personally made an effort to connect with all of my students, but many of these specific kids were very odd. Very odd.
A common thread among these students? Dysfunctional families. Messed up family lives. And not specifically poverty (some were quite wealthy) or drug abuse situations. Just strange values and relationships. Dysfunctional parents seem to dysfunctional weird kids. And it was expected of us teachers to some how find a way to "reach" these students and positively influence their lives. Say what?
There is no solution, except either turning our schools into high-security bases or abolishing the 2nd Amendment. There will be no effort made to address the real root causes, as that is simply not permitted in today's society.
We don't lack the will power so much as we lack common values. And trying to use diversity as a shared value is like trying to allow anyone to spell words however he or she wants -- that is, removing the constraints of artificial rules of grammar --- because it is a "celebration" of who they are. Absurdity.
Our only hope is in a Third Great Awakening.
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