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YO!
YO! is a collection of short pieces by the writers at Youth Outlook!
Maybe it was the Columbine shootings in 1999 that set the example for future young enthusiasts with access to loaded artillery. The growing problem ended 2006 and began 2007 with a surge in school violence. When it comes to high school, everything at the point seems pivotal. The begin all – end all. Which is why it makes sense that such a dramatic action and statement would be carried out in that location. For the most part, at that age the entire world exists within those four walls. The self-worth, popularity, and success all reflect who you are – or at least — appears to have a vague representation of who you are for that period of time. Taking out whatever frustration on others as well as yourself at a school campus sends a strong message. Whatever that message may be, there’s a big difference between shooting yourself at home, compared to shooting yourself at school. At the end of 2006, at 11th grader at Springfield High in Philadelphia ‘shot himself’ in front of his fellow students after his parents reportedly threatened to cut back his extracurricular activities because of his struggling grades. The first week of the New Year an 18-year-old ‘gun downed’ It is always sad to see young people turn to such violent methods, when there are so many other options available. Not everything needs to be dealt with by the use of a gun or tip of a knife, it’s the easy way out of a situation that could you handled a hell of a lot more delicately than showing up at school armed. The thought of any form of school violence happening in my area is hard to imagine, or I’m just too incredibly jaded to think any thing of that sort would happen near or around me. Throughout my four years of high school I don’t recall any real advice or counseling offered by my school to deter such violent actions. Even if it was it wasn’t advertised properly. Even though school violence has been one of the most prominent issues in the last several years I have yet to see or hear about a hands on approach to the growing problem. You can’t expect to deal with it as it comes along. You have to deal with it before it escalates into something worse. I don’t think anyone would enjoy losing his or her child in such random brutal action and no one should have to. comments |
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The organization that I work for, Men Can Stop Rape, has developed a primary prevention model that works with young men to think critically about traditional masculinity and their socialization as men, and to build supportive relationships with one another. It’s not “rocket science” and there are many ways to do this, but I think the connections between school violence and masculinity need to be made, and young folks, like all of us, just benefit a lot from safe spaces where they can express themselves and explore who they are. The more standardized the school environment becomes the more likely destructive violence will become an outlet for various frustrations. I think standards, along with the increasing inaccesibility of higher ed. contributes to the “high school is the end of the world” mentality that I still remember all too well.
By Patrick Lincoln · Posted on Jan 12, 11:56 AMVirginia Tech – We are to blame
A friend asked me if this incident was bad timing that was going to hurt the sales of my book Almost Columbine. First of all, when thirty American students die violently like this, I could care less about book sales. I felt that I had to explain that I wrote Almost Columbine in order help people understand why these events keep happening and hopefully to spread enough understanding so that they won’t happen again. Apparently the word is very slow to spread.
What I learned as a disaffected youth was that my own beliefs and lack of connection with reality was what allowed me to slip so far outside the mainstream. I adopted ideas suggesting that violence was the only was anyone would notice me and my problems. I believed that hurting those I so despised would bring about justice in my world. I isolated myself and for a long time, no one reached out to me. In the end my friends saw what all my ranting and anger were leading towards and they managed to stop me. That is why the book is called Almost Columbine. I didn’t go through with it because a handful of people cared enough to hold me back right when I needed it the most.
The unfortunate truth about Virginia Tech is that this Korean kid was so isolated that he had no one to pierce his false reality. He had no one to bring him back to earth, to moderate his extreme tendencies. It’s easy for us all to sit back and accuse him of being crazy but that relieves us of any responsibility. There are simply too many people, who often exist right in front of us everyday, who are ignored or shunned for being even a little different. How can we still be surprised when these people snap? What is it going to take before we finally reach out to everyone, especially the loners, and show them that they too belong with the rest of us.
As with all the other school shootings that have happened over the last thirty years – this too could have been avoided.
Alex Hutchinson
By Alex Hutchinson · Posted on Apr 21, 03:12 PM