Linda Woolf wrote:
>I read the following while doing a search of the news yesterday
>(http://www.freep.com/news/mich/qport23.htm). Apparently, four boys
>(two under the age of 14) were overheard plotting a shooting/massacre at
>their school. While this clearly calls for intervention, the two 14
>year-olds are being tried as adults and facing life in prison with no
>possibility of parole. No weapons were found in their homes or
>possession. Even the judge states that he doesn't believe the the kids
>had the ability to carry out their plans.
My question particularly for those with some expertise in adolescent
>psychology - Does this seem like an appropriate response? I find it
>hard to believe that kids of this age are "unredeemable".
I think this is a good example of a serious situation developing all over
the country
in response to the violence over the past 2 years in schools. Statistics
show that
school are still quite safe places on average, but parents, school
administrators,
politicians and elected officials (i.e. judges and DAs) are terrified that
will be seen
as being too soft or unprepared if ever something does happen in their schools.
As a parent of school aged children, I certainly think that preparedness is
laudable and I like the fact that schools and teachers are being encouraged
to pay closer attention to our
kids psychological well-being as well as their academics. It used to be
that only the kids who where running around the room and physically acting
out that got noticed as needing help. But I fear that the pendulum has
swung so far that kids who pose little danger are being treated as
criminals and being thrown in juvenile detention centers where they will be
exposed to people and situations that can have serious long-term
consequences. Here in Erie, so many kids are being expelled and ending up
in the human services system that it is almost impossible to cope. Programs
used to dealing with hard-core repeat offenders with multiple assaults,
truancy, burglary etc. now are getting girls and boys who are good students
and have never been in trouble before, but who were suspended or expelled
because they were overheard saying something about hating someone or
bragging about having a weapon. In my opinion, most of these kids are quite
redeemable, but redemption is not on the minds of frightened parents and
officials who want them as far away as possible. In the mean time the kids
ARE getting a serious education in criminal culture by interacting with the
hard-core repeat offenders. The systems that we currently have in place for
alternative education are not equipped to handle them. I would guess the
same situation is occurring in many communities. What do you think?
Dawn
Dawn G. Blasko Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Station Road
Erie, PA 16563-1501
phone: 814-898-6081
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/h&ss/psych/blasko.htm
