In a message dated 12/14/2004 10:36:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, Tim Erickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>OK - this isn't exactly a "success" story and certain details could have been >managed in a different way. I'd be very interested in ideas about how to >improve the system. > >However - to suggest that this incident "destroyed" this boys life may be a >bit overexaggerated. Prior to anything happening, this boy had already been >kicked out of his home by his own mother and was living with an Aunt. Its very >clear, that he was in trouble already (how deep that trouble was, I cannot >judge from newspaper articles and online debates). > >Certainly, if the school district had done nothing - they would have been >accused of having ignored his cries for help and letting him slip through the >cracks. Second post and it isn't even noon... There are alternatives to arrests and convictions that still allow services to get to children. There are diversion programs where the child has the potential of the offense still hanging over their head while offered outside counseling. There is the option of foster care without this being a part of a criminal charge against the child. Anything and everything positive that is being offered to this child could have been done without the arrest and publicity that followed. You are correct this kids life was pretty messed up to begin with, and then he decided to vent his rage into his note book. The response by those in authority is to insure that if the child acts out they can say that they turned the matter over to criminal authorities. The problem, of course, is that all the child did is write in a notebook, so you really can't put him away for life for that. That being the case, you have not stopped him from doing anything in reality. If he chose to, he could still shoot up everyone he dislikes. The difference is now if he does, we can blame the corrections system instead of the school district. See that solved the school districts problem. It doesn't make the school any safer, but it insures that the district will not be blamed for a shooting spree regardless if there was a real chance of that occurring. I have to admit we have gotten some good stories for the press out of this as well, and we know that is very important. My issue is that we now have school boards, and school administrators, and school principals and school teachers in so much fear of not being seen as diligent enough in looking for potential violence that we are wiping out their professionalism and ability to respond in less aggressive manors. Ten years ago this entire matter would have been handled internally. Some wise principal would have gotten the social service net to respond to the needs of this child without him ending up as a front page story. Today, had that principal gotten the kid help instead of an arrest, the principal would be fearful of losing his/her job if the story got out. There is nothing new about adolescent males writing threatening racial crap in their notebooks. What is new is that it is a page one above the fold story. OK, I want you all to think back to high school remember the racist crap that came out of adolescent males? Don't ya think a few of them wrote that crap down in their notebooks? Remember those jerks who had iron crosses or swastikas on their notebooks? None of this is new. So, we have made the schools safer. This kid has had his name in the paper as a disturbed person who was a threat to injure students. His personal misfortune has been read by everyone in town. I know his name and his life story... I don't need to know his name or his life story! Come on folks there are services out there for kids in trouble, we need to have a little more faith in the system and a little more control by the press. JMONTOMEPPOF 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/
