Gunning for Fame
When two boys opened fire in a Colorado school in April of 2000, they were also taking a shot at fame. The recent release of a video tape, confirming the boys desire to capture the spotlight, has many kids and experts wondering if the renewed coverage only compounds the problem.
During the same week the video tape was released, it seemed the media was giving a backseat to a school shooting in Oklahoma. It was given minor front-page mention, and was buried in many national newspapers. Some kids were left to wonder where sensationalism ends and desensitization begins.
Jesse, a 12 year-old, said that kids not getting recognition for violent acts could be a good. thing. On the other hand, he said, if the kids get no recognition at all, it could seems as though no one cares anymore.
Parents can’t control the media, but they can talk to their kids and censor kids’ exposure.
Dr. Irma Best Williams told parents “to decide when the television needs to be turned off, and what magazines you want presented to your children. Certainly you don’t want to keep them isolated, naïve, but it’s important for them to be informed in a manner that you feel comfortable with.”
What Parents Should Know
The surge of aggressive and violent behavior in our country’s youth during the past couple of years has many experts searching for the root of the trend.
Ken Trump, a member of the National School Safety and Security Services, contended that much of the violence can be attributed to elevated stress levels in children. Heightened peer and academic pressure, coupled with drug and alcohol use, are some of the common precursors for violent tendencies.
Trump also offered some warning signs for parents and teachers to look for in children. A child displaying sign of detachment and withdrawal could be feeling some level of stress above normal levels.
A child issuing a threat used to be considered benign, but experts warned it may be a significant sign of trouble. Some other signs he cited by Trump were, disciplinary problems, destructive behavior interest in weapons, and abuse of animals.
These behaviors should alert parents to potential difficulties.
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“If kids are seeing that they’re not getting recognized anymore if they do that, that could be good.” -- Jessie, Age 12
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String of Shootings On February 2, 1996 in Moses Lake, Washington, Barry Loukaitis opened fire on his algebra class, killing two students and the teacher. Since then, 12 more school shootings have been reported in the U.S. These shootings have taken the lives of 27 students, and 3 teachers and administrators. Eighty-four students and two teachers have been wounded.
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Violent Headlines A child takes a gun to school. The child fires that gun randomly at schoolmates. Five innocent children are wounded. It’s just another day at the school house. Is the shock value of school shootings so subtle that it isn’t a headline worthy of front page coverage? The news of a 13 year-old honor roll student opening fire outside of an Oklahoma school received third-page placement in USA Today the following morning. Many national newscasts merely briefed the instance. President Clinton said that “only” four were wounded. With 13 school shootings conquering headlines during the past two years, we’ve reached a point where violence has to reach paramount levels to get a couple of quarters out of John Doe. |
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Resources
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Family Education Network – www.familyeducation.com Columbine killers had dreams of fame. (2000, Dec 13). USA Today, p.2A. Infoplease – www.infoplease.com
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