Do you honestly think the schools are more violent today than they were when you were a student?

In terms of number of incidents, no. In terms of fire power and numbers of victims, absolutely. In terms of ages of perpetrators and victims, yes-- getting younger and younger. In terms of a culture bombarded by violent, visceral imagery and sound-- yes, much more so than in the past.

My context for this is my own experience and my husband's-- we didn't grow up at all the same or in the same cultural setting. Nor did we experience the same kinds of schools for our kids' early, middle, and later years in the public education system. And we both experienced some of the private-school and homeschooling approaches as well. So we have a bit of a cross-section, between us.

Slapping band-aid terms like "zero tolerance" and creating unmanageable programs has not proven anything.

Maybe-- but campaigns against things instead of campaigns FOR things don't help much, either. And-- I would bet that "zero-tolerance" policies are the ONLY approach being tried by schools. Of course, "zero-tolerance" is a handy and easily-attacked concept that is simpler to attack than to support with other strategies. (A buzzword.)

My own time working within the system (as an agent for change on the visionary superintendent's staff) included a program focusing on the positive values ALL parents have, underneath whatever face they seem to be wearing. This one, the best of the several programs I designed, brought together the parents the schools usually cannot reach. We did do some good on the compassion and listening skills front with both families and educators, I am pleased to say. (AND we had a zero-tolerance policy in our district, as well.) Other programs and workshops taught better listening skills and options in communications within the system, among the people working there and between the professionals and the parents. In that area, I heard the hearts of many a teacher, principal, social worker, and administrator.

I don't recall ever hearing a lack of common sense. :~) Heard more about what it's like to be a caring educator (buried in paperwork BTW) in communities that don't trust or believe the professionals. People who are stuck by default being teachers, parents, counselors, and baby sitters-- a workload the rest of our society is reluctant to tackle these days.

~Susan