Shootings in Littleton
Kris Stephenson (GMkix@AOL.COM)
Sat, 24 Apr 1999 14:57:27 EDT
Someone had made reference to the fact that it might have been possible that
these shootings would not have occured had the boys continued their
involvement in scouting past their cub scout years.
While I do believe that scouting is an important part of molding a boy's
character, I don't think that simply continuing their involvement would had
made much of a difference. Parent involvement and parent awareness
particularly in the early years might have made a difference. Too often
parents do not instill enough discipline and are too lenient with their kids.
Knowing and restricting the kind of friends they hang around with, the types
of things they watch on t.v. and at the movies, and the kind of music they
listen to are all factors that influence the decisions that these kids make
later when they become teenagers and adults.
In addition....the school should be held responsible.....Why were these kids
allowed to print pictures of the "Trenchcoat Mafia" and remarks about death
in the school yearbook? The idea of freedom of speech , especially when
dealing with young kids has gotten a little lax. Quit using the
excuse..."they're just kids, it's just a phase". What will we say when they
are adults and become serial killers? "They're just confused adults"?
Everyone involved dropped the ball on these kids and it's a tragedy. Common
sense tells us that there had to have been many many signs that these kids
were in trouble. Why didn't anyone notice? When your kid starts being very
secretive, and spends an entire weekend "building" stuff in the
garage......you'd better pay attention to what he's building. Otherwise, it
could haunt you for the rest of your life.
If you ask my son....he'd probably say that I'm a nosey , pain in the rear
parent who won't let him do ANYTHING cool. But I just grin and think to
myself that I'm doing my job right.
It's the way I was raised and I turned out okay.
Off my soapbox now.....just had to vent and comment on such a terrible
tragedy...God bless everyone in Littleton Colorado..what a terrible way to
make history.
Communicate with your children. Not "at" them.
Now.............back to Scouting.
Kris Stephenson
Troop 88
Houston Texas
