Massacre in Wisconsin. Are public schools to blame?

Question

Emotions need to be exercised or they will atrophy. You can’t help but think a few generations of so much public school “self-esteem” emphasis haven’t prepared our kids very well for the real world. Rather than focus on accomplishments we’ve evolved into a society that says “you’re great as you are (without having accomplished anything)” and “you’re worthy of respect (without having earned it).” So what happens the first time someone is rebuffed or called “worthless” or a “loser?” Do they say “sticks and stones?” No, because they’re unequipped to cope. They don’t know quite how to respond. Some implode, sinking into an emotional funk. Some, like Tyler Peterson in Wisconsin -- or Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in Colorado, or any number of products of a “feel good” society -- react destructively.

Agree?

Answer 1

I agree that public schools place waaaaaayyyyyy too much emphasis on "self-esteem". However, I don't think anybody except the dead Tyler Peterson has any real idea why he did what he did.
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Answer 2

No, it's not the schools. In some of these cases, the problem was bullying. In other cases, mental problems created the problem. And finally, the easy access to weapons is a big factor.
The young man in WI was too young to be on the police force. He was literally "armed and dangerous" when he went to that party and became insanely jealous. If he hadn't had a gun, the killings wouldn't have occurred.
It is easy to blame the schools but look at how families have failed in recent times. Both parents work and have little time or energy for their children. No values are passed on to them. The schools can do only so much with rowdy undisciplined student who have no respect for their teachers or for education in general. Drugs and sex are easy to get and now you can add weapons to the mix. You try running a school today and see if you can do any better.

Answer 3

Actually Wisconsin's proficiency levels are slightly above the National average, but according to the report you quoted nationally 2/3 of our 8th graders have deficient reading skills. However your comment sugfgests that fall in the category of deficient readers. Had you understood the report you referenced you would not have demonstrated your inadequate ability to critique and evaluate the content as well integrate and interpret the contents of the report. 80 percent of the questions on the tests dealt with these skills. As a reminder to you here is a definition of these skills.. Critique and Evaluate These questions ask students to consider all or part of the text from a critical perspective and to make judgments about the way meaning is conveyed. Integrate and Interpret These questions move beyond a focus on discrete information and require readers to make connections across larger portions of text or to explain what they think about the text as a whole.

Answer 4

No. People just don't treat each other the way they use to. It seems like a lot of people are just ready to snap. These kids should not have spoke to him this way. It is the same with the Virginia Tech killings. That guy may have had mental problems, but he was also picked on by a lot of people. I think these are wake up calls for us to change our ways.

Answer 5

No. I would put the blame squarely on the police. When we arm someone to protect us, we expect the managers to insure the individuals are well trained and adjusted. If he had been properly evaluated his inability to control his anger should have been detected.

Making the schools responsible for a child's self esteem is beyond what schools are for. Parents and life should prepare children for life. Teachers have enough to teach without adding life lessons.

Answer 6

Well while you are not blaming anyone ,you are still blaming the parents.He was a young man of 20,I doubt parents had much say in what he actually said or did daily.You should blame the one who thought he had a "right" to take a gun to a party.The gun was only an instrument,the killer was the one who used it.

Answer 7

HELL NO!!!! The school is not to blame, the parents are!

If parents feel that the school is not doing their job, THE PARENTS should take the matter up with the school board!

Don't just blame the school!
GRRRR! This accusation really trips my trigger. And no, I am not a school teacher or employed at a school. I am a person who stayed home and raised my kids!

Answer 8

In part but the main problem is lack of discipline and morality thanks to the lousy left undermining it. Also you have sick role models like Marilyn Manson who promote immorality and death to sell so called music . The so called counter culture of the sixties has know become today's culture and it feeds on disfranchised youth filling there heads full of garbage. The media promotes excess and we have gangster rappers celebrating promiscuity and drugs and gang violence and greed. What is needed is a counter revolution to restore civilized society so children can grow up with proper role models and influences so they become responsible adults.

Answer 9

The guy was 20 years old,what does school have to do with it?

Answer 10

They shouldn't have called him a worthless pig. I'm not condoning the murders but if they knew he was unstable they should have kept their mouths shut.....end of story.