Title 31

The phone rings, as you answer you have a premonition of sadness. You are told your child has assisted in the killing of twelve students and a teacher at school; he then has taken his own life. Your world has ended as you knew it. The lives of your family, the families of the victims, and all of America has changed forever. Why is our society becoming more violent? This violence is in our schools now. The safety of our children and teachers is at risk! As Americans we must realize that we are responsible for our children’s future.

We must ask the question, "Why is there violence in our schools?" The answer is simple. Our society has changed. The families in this country are struggling. In the past the "man of the family provided the income." Today both parents work. There are many one-parent families who have the burden of providing for their family and also must try to instill values and morals in their children. The help that extended family members provided in the past isn’t there today.

There are many reasons our children have resorted to violence. The lack of discipline at home and school has resulted in a breakdown of respect. Children have learned they can get away with "anything." Parents fear if they discipline their child in a way that displeases them they could be turned into the Social Services. Teachers fear that if they implement needed discipline they could lose their jobs. This result of lack of discipline is a generation of children who know no boundaries.

The violence in our t.v. shows, movies, music, and computer and video games has affected our children. This violence has undermined the moral fabric of our country. As our children emulate these modern "heroes" their lives change. America’s "heroes" used to be people who fought and died for the values they believed in. Today’s "heroes" are admired for how many people they have killed.

Progress in our country has resulted in people having a great amount of "time" for themselves. Basic needs can be attained easily in the modern world. In the "old days" getting up at dawn to "milk the cows" and "do chores" instilled responsibility in children. It is essential that every child learn the value of responsibility. With praise, children can achieve their very best. The saying, "Children need models more then they need critics" is true.

The lack of respect for human life has caused a deterioration of morals. We as a society are in mourning for the students and the teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. But right now NATO is bombing Kosovo. There is irony in the fact bombs are involved in both instances. Today the medical community will spend any amount to save a life. At the same time abortion is legal. The killing of our unborn babies is a grievous mistake our society will pay for. The "daily news" presents us with the death of people . Being subject to such violence can desensitize our reaction to death. We become numb as we witness death.

Our society has changed in its response to human suffering and pain. When we see someone in pain, what do we do? Most people turn their back, look away, and are afraid to become involved.

The killing of students and a teacher at Columbine High School should shock us into action! We as a society can not be so self-centered that all we think about is ourselves and our needs.

Our country has changed so much that people always ask, "What’s in it for me?" The reluctance to serve others is a frightening trend. President John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." The history of our country has many examples of its citizen’s volunteering their services. The Peace Corp, Vista, the Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity are ways of serving others needs. Today we are a "me" society. We must realize that the benefits of serving others is great. To give of our time and effort is to do good. We should apply the saying, "The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but rather what he becomes by it."

What can we do? We must respect life! The degradation of human life is destroying our country. Our country was founded on important principals and beliefs. Certain politicians in this country have reacted to the killings at Columbine High School by suggesting more gun control laws. Instead of focusing on the "real issues" that cause people to commit crime we are protecting people and condoning "hate groups" such as Neo-Nazi’s. We must protect the amendments of the Constitution but not let them be abused. Being too liberal or too strict in laws, politics,and religion can cause mistrust. The future of our children depends on our ability to help them realize the importance of a moral society.

Families must return to spending quality time together. The importance of sharing faith, work, and child-care should be recognized. Prudence in financial needs should be used. Loving your children doesn’t mean giving them everything they want. Our society is materialistic; the children of this country place importance on having " what’s in."

Let parents and schools return to a system of discipline. Too often parents protect their children when they are in trouble. Instead of letting their child "face the music" parents use any means to protect their child from being disciplined. When our government mandated that there could no longer be any reference to God or prayer in schools they contributed to the breakdown of respect for fellow human beings.

We need to reward our children for participating in programs that help others. To help others is to help ourselves. Children learn by doing. In this country today there is so much that needs to be done. Caring for others, cleaning the environment up, and using our time to improve our lives and those of our country are issues we should address. Rewarding those children who participate with trips, scholarships, and other benefits could be an incentive to do good.

The t.v., music, and movie industry must regulate the violent programs they produce. Devices can be attached to television sets to block violent programs. Our entertainment industry is making millions by promoting violence. They should be accountable for what they produce. Children should not be allowed to view adult material. The copy-cat crimes that children commit are often times seen on t.v.

Laws must change so that children pay for the crimes they commit. "If you play, you pay!" should be applied to today’s children. Children want to grow up too fast. In these modern times our children by age twelve have already experienced things adults only hear about. We should protect our children but make them responsible for their actions.

Our society must "wake up." It is our responsibility to teach our children right from wrong. The tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado can’t happen again! If it does, we have failed. We as citizens can make a difference. The lawmakers, judges, lawyers, and entertainment industry are there to serve us. If they aren’t doing their job, get rid of them and don’t donate money or buy their product.

In conclusion, the violence in our schools is a reality! The lack of discipline at home and in our schools, violence in t.v., movies, music, and video and computer games, too much free time, no respect for human life, the inability to relate to human suffering, and the reluctance to serve others has contributed to violence in our schools. We must work towards ending this violence!

We can stop the violence that is killing our children. If families become "families" again, if parents and schools find ways to discipline their children, if we reward children for doing "good", if t.v., movie, and music industries "clean up" their act, if new laws are enforced, and if society takes responsibility and provides answers to this problem, we can end this violence in our schools.

The cries of our children will continue to be heard if we do nothing. Who’s responsible? We all are! This problem can’t be solved by government enforcement and regulations. Crimes will be committed in this country as long as people don’t have morality. Everyone in this country must realize they can make a difference! The door to the human heart can be opened only from the inside!


	Violence In Schools - By Cindy Keegan The phone rings, as you answer you have a premonition of sadness. You are told your child has assisted in the killing of twelve students and a teacher at school; he then has taken his own life. Your world has ended as you knew it. The lives of your family, the families of the victims, and all of America has changed forever. Why is our society becoming more violent? This violence is in our schools now. The safety of our children and teachers is at risk! As Americans we must realize that we are responsible for our children’s future. We must ask the question, "Why is there violence in our schools?" The answer is simple. Our society has changed. The families in this country are struggling. In the past the "man of the family provided the income." Today both parents work. There are many one-parent families who have the burden of providing for their family and also must try to instill values and morals in their children. The help that extended family members provided in the past isn’t there today. There are many reasons our children have resorted to violence. The lack of discipline at home and school has resulted in a breakdown of respect. Children have learned they can get away with "anything." Parents fear if they discipline their child in a way that displeases them they could be turned into the Social Services. Teachers fear that if they implement needed discipline they could lose their jobs. This result of lack of discipline is a generation of children who know no boundaries. The violence in our t.v. shows, movies, music, and computer and video games has affected our children. This violence has undermined the moral fabric of our country. As our children emulate these modern "heroes" their lives change. America’s "heroes" used to be people who fought and died for the values they believed in. Today’s "heroes" are admired for how many people they have killed. Progress in our country has resulted in people having a great amount of "time" for themselves. Basic needs can be attained easily in the modern world. In the "old days" getting up at dawn to "milk the cows" and "do chores" instilled responsibility in children. It is essential that every child learn the value of responsibility. With praise, children can achieve their very best. The saying, "Children need models more then they need critics" is true. The lack of respect for human life has caused a deterioration of morals. We as a society are in mourning for the students and the teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. But right now NATO is bombing Kosovo. There is irony in the fact bombs are involved in both instances. Today the medical community will spend any amount to save a life. At the same time abortion is legal. The killing of our unborn babies is a grievous mistake our society will pay for. The "daily news" presents us with the death of people . Being subject to such violence can desensitize our reaction to death. We become numb as we witness death. Our society has changed in its response to human suffering and pain. When we see someone in pain, what do we do? Most people turn their back, look away, and are afraid to become involved. The killing of students and a teacher at Columbine High School should shock us into action! We as a society can not be so self-centered that all we think about is ourselves and our needs. Our country has changed so much that people always ask, "What’s in it for me?" The reluctance to serve others is a frightening trend. President John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." The history of our country has many examples of its citizen’s volunteering their services. The Peace Corp, Vista, the Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity are ways of serving others needs. Today we are a "me" society. We must realize that the benefits of serving others is great. To give of our time and effort is to do good. We should apply the saying, "The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but rather what he becomes by it." What can we do? We must respect life! The degradation of human life is destroying our country. Our country was founded on important principals and beliefs. Certain politicians in this country have reacted to the killings at Columbine High School by suggesting more gun control laws. Instead of focusing on the "real issues" that cause people to commit crime we are protecting people and condoning "hate groups" such as Neo-Nazi’s. We must protect the amendments of the Constitution but not let them be abused. Being too liberal or too strict in laws, politics,and religion can cause mistrust. The future of our children depends on our ability to help them realize the importance of a moral society. Families must return to spending quality time together. The importance of sharing faith, work, and child-care should be recognized. Prudence in financial needs should be used. Loving your children doesn’t mean giving them everything they want. Our society is materialistic; the children of this country place importance on having " what’s in." Let parents and schools return to a system of discipline. Too often parents protect their children when they are in trouble. Instead of letting their child "face the music" parents use any means to protect their child from being disciplined. When our government mandated that there could no longer be any reference to God or prayer in schools they contributed to the breakdown of respect for fellow human beings. We need to reward our children for participating in programs that help others. To help others is to help ourselves. Children learn by doing. In this country today there is so much that needs to be done. Caring for others, cleaning the environment up, and using our time to improve our lives and those of our country are issues we should address. Rewarding those children who participate with trips, scholarships, and other benefits could be an incentive to do good. The t.v., music, and movie industry must regulate the violent programs they produce. Devices can be attached to television sets to block violent programs. Our entertainment industry is making millions by promoting violence. They should be accountable for what they produce. Children should not be allowed to view adult material. The copy-cat crimes that children commit are often times seen on t.v. Laws must change so that children pay for the crimes they commit. "If you play, you pay!" should be applied to today’s children. Children want to grow up too fast. In these modern times our children by age twelve have already experienced things adults only hear about. We should protect our children but make them responsible for their actions. Our society must "wake up." It is our responsibility to teach our children right from wrong. The tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado can’t happen again! If it does, we have failed. We as citizens can make a difference. The lawmakers, judges, lawyers, and entertainment industry are there to serve us. If they aren’t doing their job, get rid of them and don’t donate money or buy their product. In conclusion, the violence in our schools is a reality! The lack of discipline at home and in our schools, violence in t.v., movies, music, and video and computer games, too much free time, no respect for human life, the inability to relate to human suffering, and the reluctance to serve others has contributed to violence in our schools. We must work towards ending this violence! We can stop the violence that is killing our children. If families become "families" again, if parents and schools find ways to discipline their children, if we reward children for doing "good", if t.v., movie, and music industries "clean up" their act, if new laws are enforced, and if society takes responsibility and provides answers to this problem, we can end this violence in our schools. The cries of our children will continue to be heard if we do nothing. Who’s responsible? We all are! This problem can’t be solved by government enforcement and regulations. Crimes will be committed in this country as long as people don’t have morality. Everyone in this country must realize they can make a difference! The door to the human heart can be opened only from the inside!