Thought Crime?

[cannon_fodder]

Two students at a high school wrote a song about going on a "shotgun killing spree" in which they shoot the principal, the VP, and students.  The song ended up on a CD.  At the end it referenced Columbine.
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=82622

That's all I know about it.  I do not know if they then put that CD in certain peoples lockers, or made other passive threats.  But it is an interesting case study in zero tolerance.

A Cousin of mine was getting picked on at school.  He told his parents he was feeling angry, who had him talk to the guidance counselor at his private school.  She suggested he write down his feelings, which he did.

The kids who were picking on him then went into his locker and stole the journal she asked him to write.  In it he expressed his desire to hurt or humiliate these kids.  They turned it over the administration - and he gets suspended (he later went on to get accepted to West Point, so ha!).  

These are not rare instances.  I'm sure you all have at least heard of such things.   And it expands beyond the purvey of schools (hate speech, conspiracy charges, promoting "radical behavior", etc).

The question is, where does everyone think the line should be drawn?  Is it different for kids (HS or below) than for adults?  Is there a safety zone for the arts?

[Hometown]

I'm afraid that a little bit of disorderly conduct is part and parcel of freedom.

But a simple reading of the level of violence in film and in television and the glorification of gangster culture would indicate that these things have contributed to violent crime.  If nothing else it has led to a lot of stray pit bulls.

Gangster Culture – teaching kids how to be really cool criminals.

On the other hand.

You see Oklahoma frantically passing laws against droopy drawers and loud music emanating from cars and it does look like White people passing laws that go after the things that Black youth have embraced.

I'm a 100 year old hippy and I can remember us passing laws against the things associated with hippy culture.  "Flag patches on jeans – desecration of the flag," et cetera.  Looks kind of silly now.

It's kind of like Oklahoma v. Time.

[mrhaskellok]

1)Educate, educate, educate parents and students about the effects of this kind of behavior.  

2) Hire role models for our schools, not just teachers.  I have been to some schools where the classroom has almost no discipline in it. Teachers need to demand more respect and the schools need to let them demand it.

3) Communities need to walk the halls more often and see what is going on.  Parents need to set aside an hour each week at random times to just walk the halls and peek in the windows.  They will learn a great deal about what is happening at school that way.

4) School uniforms are a neat way to help out too.  I have read cases that by simply requiring students to wear uniforms or certain style of clothing they dramatically reduced the amount of "gang" related activity.

5)Ask a student to stop.  For some reason I don't hear adults talk to HS (almost) adults with respect that often.  I believe that if you will sit a student down alone and just ask the person, "Will you help me?"  "I need your help to cut down on this kind of stuff. You know these people and you can help me, will you?"  You might be surprised how many young people will respond positively to this.  I believe this because a lot of these problems stem from a lack of respectful attention from adults either at home or elsewhere.

Great thread.

[mr.jaynes]

My thought is that they should not just emphasize quanitity (number of schools, and hordes of students), but also look at quality. And if you wouldn't let just anybody babysit or otherwise oversee your children, we should be just as selective as to who is teaching them and for that matter, who manages the day-to-day affairs of each school.

[Gaspar]

It's hard to find parents anymore.  

It starts as young as the first year of a kids life, when mom and dad drop them off at daycare at 7:30am and pick them up at 5:30.  

They then only have a couple of hours before bed and the weekends to be a parent.  

I'm a parent before I'm anything else.  I would give up my career and eat worms before I would give up my child.  

Our adolescent social diseases are something that government/schools/teachers cannot fix.  A parade of role models are only mildly effective.  

Kids that receive active, loving parenting will be smarter, more mature, more successful and respectful of others.

I challenge anyone to argue with that!!!!





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[TeeDub]

I hate rap as much as the next guy...   But really?

Terrorizing?

What the **** is happening to this world?

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

It's hard to find parents anymore.  

It starts as young as the first year of a kids life, when mom and dad drop them off at daycare at 7:30am and pick them up at 5:30.  

They then only have a couple of hours before bed and the weekends to be a parent.  

I'm a parent before I'm anything else.  I would give up my career and eat worms before I would give up my child.  

Our adolescent social diseases are something that government/schools/teachers cannot fix.  A parade of role models are only mildly effective.  

Kids that receive active, loving parenting will be smarter, more mature, more successful and respectful of others.

I challenge anyone to argue with that!!!!
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In my experience-and it's what forced me to eventually transfer into another district-way too much incompetence and complacency at best from school faculty and administration, and at worst, a cynicism and even a Machiavellianist streak in some places. The faculty and administration could care less about teaching or shaping young minds. But enough about Broken Arrow, lol.

As for parenting, you're right: parenting plays a huge part in it, teaching values and respect for others. And if the parents get more involved, and really keep the teachers and administration accountable, you may be onto something!  

[mrhaskellok]

quote: It starts as young as the first year of a kids life, when mom and dad drop them off at daycare at 7:30am and pick them up at 5:30.

Stop with the hate speech...jeez!  [][][]

I am glad to hear this...because of the falling value of the dollar, more and more of us poor people have to send our wives to work.  My wife settled on an evening job waiting tables a couple nights a week so I could watch our child.  No babysitters every day.  We still fall in the poor category and it is harder to get out of it because we choose to do it this way, but we feel quite rich with our family.  We are connected and very content with what we have.  

Keep it up!

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

quote: It starts as young as the first year of a kids life, when mom and dad drop them off at daycare at 7:30am and pick them up at 5:30.

Stop with the hate speech...jeez!  [][][]

I am glad to hear this...because of the falling value of the dollar, more and more of us poor people have to send our wives to work.  My wife settled on an evening job waiting tables a couple nights a week so I could watch our child.  No babysitters every day.  We still fall in the poor category and it is harder to get out of it because we choose to do it this way, but we feel quite rich with our family.  We are connected and very content with what we have.  

Keep it up!

Right on!

[inteller]

Ah yes Thought Crimes...that worked out well in the Minority Report.