Count me among the few with grey hair who haven't forgotten what it was to be a "angry young man." In fact I thought that "angry, depressed, suicidal teen" and "male high school student" were synonyms.
It was true for all of my Bob Dylan listening friends in high school, it was true for my oldest sons grunge band listening friends and true for my youngest rapper and his posse. Any guy I knew in high school who ever tried to write six lines of poetry ultimately wrote something about somebody dying or the world ending. These young men need guidance, direction and opportunities to express themselves. Giving them criminal records for writing their violent thoughts is a one way ticket to a life of crime or an early suicide. I'm guessing that what we have seen in these two cases is the School Board signing these two kids death warrants and I think we all should be ashamed that we have no alternative to work with these boys. Is there anyone in the School Administration who knows who Marshal Mathers is and what are the lyrics of popular rap songs? If a teenage boy was to write down the lyrics to one of his (EMINEM) songs where he plans to slit his wife's throat is that grounds for a prison sentence? What if he wrote it about his English teacher? Chuck Repke _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
