Check out this article...Third Graders in George plotted to kill their teacher after she punished one them. Apparently, school officals confiscated duct tape, kitchen knives, rope and many other items...a little frightening, huh?
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/04/01/threat_0401.ht...
I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to blame violence in the media for causing these children to believe that plotting to kill their teacher is an appropriate response for a timeout. I would like to point out that many children watch the same violent programs, play the same violent video games and are just as desensitized to violence as these children are. I am not saying that exposing people repeatedly to violent behavior beginning at a very young age doesn't influence the way that they think, but rather I would simply like to point out that violent media shouldn't be solely be blamed for situations like this.
Now, I am an huge advocate of personal responsibility and I am going to go out on a limb here and say that parents need to take responsibility for their children. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that I don't know the all of the circumstances to this particular situation in Georgia, but it seems to me lots of outside sources are blamed for people's poor behavior. I wonder why no one noticed that these children were incredibly upset with their teacher (to the point that they wanted to kill the teacher). I wonder why no one noticed the children bringing things such as toy handcuffs, duct tape and knives to school. Why did this situation get to the point that it did?
I just can't justify blaming school shootings or youth violence solely on the media. That's not fair a entirely fair assesment and giving the media a lot more power than it actually has (though it is quite influential). I think strong relationships, especially adult-child relationships, are a thousand times more influential on behavior than any television show ever could be.
-The View from the.girl.nextdoor
That is very scary. I feel that there should have been some notice by other students or something. I don't think the media is solely to blame although they are a factor. I think what truly influences is peers and family. I mean, their parents should have noticed that their children were taking these things. I also wonder what type of environment these children are in if they are exposed to that stuff. I think that in order to stop this type of stuff we need to change our society. I do believe that if we do change our media it will create a big difference and hopefully reduce these things.
But people do need to have responsibility for their children and for other things that we always try to put on others.
Besides the morbidness, your title does fit this very well. I remember reading that book and being freaked out about how those children could turn crazy and stuff. It is similar to that but not completely since they did not turn on each other. That book was so creepy and so was this.
~Tomsawyer~
Ho....ly....crap. Third graders!?
This was an incredibly scary story ( and thanks for posting a link. My roommate and I both were amazed by the story).
I wonder however if the fact that these youngsters had learning disabilities had anything to do with the premeditated attack?
Still. Crazy story.
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I think I can believe them thinking it, but I can't believe them following through... that's just so Lord of the Flies ... haha nice title... well I don't even understand this at least in the book they went all crazy because they were stuck on an island ... but over a timeout? comeon ... anger management issues anyone?
That is very scary! I agree with you. Keep up the fantastic writing!
"I just can't justify blaming school shootings or youth violence solely on the media."
Yep, and if you saw Bowling For Columbine you know that some parents in the Colorado town worked in the local missile factory. Sometimes the correlation is so buttered up.
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True. However, at such a young age violence in the media is extremely influential. Often, there's little distinguishing reality from fantasy, and what kids see or play fictionally can cross over into reality. For example, the old 'Cowboys and Indians' game, picked up from stories, movies, etc., could quickly degenerate into violence. Moreover, prejudice is spread through the media (again, see the Cowboys and Indians example), which is a huge factor in violence (albeit not in this specific case). Certainly strong adult-child relations can resolve violent attitudes, but I would say that the roots of violence are in (a) naturally violent children and/or (b) children primed by the media for violence (they don't quite understand the ramifications of violence in real life). Studies have shown that the more violence witnessed/ participated in w/ video games, tv, movies, etc. causes more violent behavior in children. I think it IS a huge factor that can't be discounted, although that doesn't mean there should be no element of self-responsibility. Parents maybe shouldn't allow their children to watch all that violence. Instead they should be talking, reading, doing activities together, etc.
Just my take.