Journal entry 4, ENG 101. From page 173 of my English textbook Scenarios for Writing: Issues, Analysis, and Response: "2.) Throughout her article, Lamberg suggests that "troubled youngsters" are the cause of most violence in our schools. Based on your own educational experience, do you agree? What should schools do about such students?"
When I went through grade school, I was constantly harrased. "Rachel bachel" in first grade, "Rachel drinks [urine]!" at a summer camp after second grade ended, "Crazy Rachel", "Pipi Longstoking" in ninth grade/high school freshman year for my extra long and wavy bangs, and "Rolling Rachel" in high school because I used to have a book bag with wheels in my freshman year which I threw in my closet for the rest of my four years. I couldn't handle any of it. I wanted it to stop and I swore that I would do anything to do that. Eventually, I nearly got into a fight at school in my sophomore year and I lost all self control and confidence. As a result, I gave up my Nutrition/Food class, worked in the nurse's office for the rest of that year, and went straight into psychotherapy.
I believe that the above statement is true. I completely agree that troubled or upset young adults were likely to get into violence. I was one of them since I wasn't very popular in my first two years of high school. Not only that, there were trafic jams in the hallways sometimes due to a fight between two students before the assistant principal Mr. Arnold would break it up. I remember when students would make one great big circle around the two people fighting as bystanders would watch the whole thing. I went to an overcrowded school at the time, so the fights would waste time for students getting to and from class. People were slow moving and the hallways were never big enough to take in humongous crowds.
For one thing, fighting doesn't get anything solved. It leaves two or more people injured physically and emotionally where nothing is accomplished. Yet, teens and young adults continue to do this. With that said, schools should organize some kind of mediation program to work out disputes among people. Fights normally start out with a disagreement between two parties that may escalate to shouting or violence. With a mediation group, conflicts can be resolved easily without any physical injuries or disciplinary action taken.
When I went to middle school at Perry Hall, there was a group called "Peer Mediation", which helped in situations like that. Unfortunately, Perry hall High didn't have one because the faculty members assumed that students would be more mature and there were helpful guidance counselors in the front office. Yet, fights were still happening. So, I think that there should be a mediation group or at least someone patrolling the hallways to ensure that violence in schools are less frequent.
Written February, 2008
When the peer mediation idea was introduced at my school, it was laughed at. The video they showed us was a little humorous, but nobody took advantage of the program.
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
that's sad. (haha) some people can be so lame. but i guess those you know at your school think that they should have nothing to do with it. Everyone is starting to think that they can handle things themselves when they know they can't. we are social creatures. we're the only ones that talk. if we don't talk things out, what good will come of it? lack of solid communication tends to lead to downfall.