Do you think this is acceptable? My school accepts a person who has been convicted on four counts of drug possession, one count of sexual assault, four counts of armed robbery, and three counts of aggravated assault to speak as a guest speaker about HIS life and how he lived it/got out of it.
The school said that it was meant to teach teens to stay away from the gangs, but I think they just glorified gang life for the high school students.
Do you think this is acceptable?
2007-12-10 13:08:19 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
That would depend on the manner in which the speaker was referring to drugs and gang violence. You mentioned that in your opinion, the speaker was glorifying gang violence. If the speaker was truly condoning violence, and it wasn't just your perception of what he said, then I don't see how that could serve to discourage anybody from joining a gang.
If, however, you viewed his mere presence as glorifying violence, but he did not actually say anything to that effect, then I don't see a problem with it. In fact, if what he was actually saying the things he did in his life were mistakes, then I think it's great the school allowed him to speak. What better way to learn about the horrors of that kind of lifestyle than by hearing them from someone who has lived them?
2007-12-10 13:29:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is one of those few questions that makes you pause for a moment and think.
So basicly the guy shows up and explains he made some bad choices and he fell into it because of his situation once upon a time. But he had a choice at some point.
I think what it communicates to the kids is that you can make some serious bad choices, live that life for a time and then gain some sort of respectability. Sort of like a free pass.
Having somebody like that speak does not say that once you get in trouble you are done for life. It says that you will not forever be outside of mainstream life. The school having such a person does not "scare straight". They should be saying no way.
Yes, it glorifies the gangs. Why not have speakers that have done well in life? To open their eyes to what is possible?
2007-12-11 14:05:21 · answer #2 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no such thing as an ex-felon. Once a felon, always a felon. As far as him speaking, keep an open mind. Everyone has value, and you can learn something from anyone, even the worst among us. However, the school bringing in a felon convicted of a sexual assault would anger me as a parent.
2007-12-10 21:21:41 · answer #3 · answered by WVAttorney 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Just say no" never worked.
Parents evidently have no more influence on teens than the "just say no" campaign has............
There was a message if you were willing to listen, which as usual probably fell of deaf teenage ears................. Did this person have a well paying job?...Probably not. Did this person have a college degree? Probably not. Did this person regret his past...........I guarantee it! The person was trying to be politically correct (which never works) while telling you of the horrors of the AFTERMATH of being a criminal and druggy.
2007-12-10 21:43:50 · answer #4 · answered by Jeffrey F 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
now a day's yes I do, way too much gang related death's, way too many shootings, way too many young people dying, way, way too many drug's, I saw a t.v. show about ms-13 scarry
2007-12-10 21:26:12 · answer #5 · answered by poopsie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋