In our view: Staying focused

The Joplin Globe

August 21, 2006 02:35 pm

— An alleged plot by five teens to shoot students and school employees at nearby Riverton (Kan.) High School on the anniversary of the Columbine school massacre and Adolf Hitler's birthday has left many of us in shock and disbelief.
That sort of thing doesn't happen around here, the heart of the Bible Belt.
We won't go into any of the details about specific threats reportedly made or if there was truly deadly intent. Rather, we'll leave the former for news stories and the latter for the courts to sort out.
Our concern is that the allegations made against this small group of young people should not tar the public's perception of teens, most of whom are not inclined to violence, are busy coping with the everyday job of growing up and are trying to get an education so they can get into college or find a good job.
In short, an overwhelming majority of today's kids are doing what previous generations have done, preparing to become tomorrow's medical and legal professionals, teachers, construction workers, plumbers, painters, reporters and workers in literally hundreds of important occupations.
The allegations of a deadly scheme should serve as a wake-up call in this post-Columbine atmosphere that violence can occur anywhere and at any time. The horrific massacre in Littleton, Colo., on April 20 seven years ago was committed by two emotionally disturbed youngsters. Other school shootings also have been the product of similarly unstable individuals with nearly unfathomable agendas.
There were nearly a dozen reported plots of school violence as the anniversary of Columbine approached, including one in Platte City, north of Kansas City. When our thoughts turn to such mindless acts of mayhem, to youth gangs and drive-by shootings, and to the distressing behavioral problems found in schools, we should keep in mind that these troubled individuals are not representative of our youths, their values and their aspirations.
It has been suggested that school violence is the reaction of teens who don't fit in with their classmates or who are lashing back at bullies. Young thugs may be influenced, too, by violent video games, television shows or movies. If so, studies of school shootings and threats of violence may reveal a pattern that will permit early intervention and counseling.
Still, we wonder if we should not be examining the problem from another perspective. Why do most youngsters turn out as good kids and develop into responsible, productive adults? Why are these youths more emotionally resilient, even though many of them may face similar pressures as violent students? The answers might be insightful and encouraging. These youngsters are, after all, in the vast majority.