Why is a good question. It’s almost like this is the human condition these days, this is the environment we have to live in. So far, all the indications are that the MP shooter was a pretty normal kid. He had friends and non friends in school just like we all did; but for years, I have felt there was way too much pressure on kids to be popular. Schools, especially middle, junior and high schools, have become popularity contests and that status in the social hierarchy is all important to too many students. Anything that’s a negative personally, whether it happens in school or not, that threatens your social status, becomes a personal crisis. That’s why bullying in schools is receiving so much attention. As we so sadly witness, so often, crisis turns into tragedy.
School should be fun years but education is far more important. Too often it’s the other way around. We rank 21st in the world in quality of education, but No. 1 in violent gun deaths among developed countries, according to Wikipedia. Countries like Cuba, Armenia and Slovakia rank higher in education than we do. Maybe we should do more teaching and demand more from students and parents as well as teachers and administrators. Progress should be all important. Overachievers should be especially honored and encouraged. I don’t think it’s possible to over-emphasize the importance of those years.
You can’t force a kid to learn or even to go to school, but if you make it rewarding to all kids we are a less likely to create losers who find other ways to express themselves.
Don Curtis
Clinton
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