I read an article online this morning that has me so upset, I cannot stop thinking about it. Apparently nine third-grade children in a Georgia elementary school planned on knocking their teacher unconscious with a paperweight, restraining her with duct tape and handcuffs and then stabbing her with a steak knife.
Third graders.
The first thing that I thought of was my darling sister-in-law, Jessica, who teaches third grade. The second thing I thought of was what the hell is wrong with this country? What is going on with children?
Have kids always been this prone to violence? Were kids in the 1950's like this, but people just didn't know about it? That could be true, as there were no 24-hour news channels and no Internet bringing us the headlines as they happen in those years.
Or, could it be, that American children are just slipping through the cracks? And if so, why?
Perhaps we could blame the fact that mothers are no longer in the home and out in the working world, but I can tell you from personal experience that isn't so. My mom began working again full time when I was 12 and my brother was two and we were good kids. And then there's my cousin, Liz. She raised her daughter, Kaeleigh, as a single, working mother and I dare you to name another kid who is as sweet and well-behaved (don't laugh, Liz, she's a great kid!) as my cousin Kae.
Perhaps it's the old "quality, not quantity" adage. It could just be that people aren't taking the time to know their children anymore. There are too many after-school activities and not enough family dinners at the kitchen table where bonding can take place.
One of the things I remember hearing about the Columbine attacks was that one of those two boys was building bombs in the family garage all weekend. If I was in the family garage for 48 hours you better believe my mother would have been in there to see what the hell I was up to!
I have no answers. If you have any, let me know.
My title is from Let It Be.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
So frightening, isn't it? It's so strange, but kids today don't seem to have the same respect for their elders as we did. Even my young kids don't seem to have it as much. I am constantly being challenged, and I have to say "respect me, I am the boss, I am your mother!" And we are not permissive parents. I am so scared for the crazy nutjobs out there, and for the angry world I will leave to my children. Hopefully, they won't be the perps :)
I don't ever remember my parents having the "if you ever see a gun in school" conversation with me, but it's one I've had with my daughter. It's a shame she can't grow up in the 70's.
Post a Comment