I am frustrated that the President of the United States, the congressmen, governors, state legislators, state school superintendents, city school superintendents, and local school principals are unable to stop kids from bringing guns into their schools. We can keep guns from entering commercial airliners, courtrooms, and also the prisons by using metal detectors and security guns. Where is the outcry from the American public? We need a Joe Clark type principal to put an end to this nonsense.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Answers

President Bush's Education Secretary has the correct approach. We must eliminate the rage and isolation that is driving our children to the point of bringing guns to the campus. He said and I believe he is correct that the large school districts such as Columbine and Santee are leaving many children isolated and left out. They are taunted by the "in crowd". The common element in most of these cases is that the shooter felt left out and isolated by his/her peers. Smaller high schools is part of the answer. Each child then would have the opportunity participate in some of the activities in the school and thereby connect with and establish relationships with other students. For example, a 2000-student school becomes 4 500-student schools. Assume the average high school football team consists of 50 players, then 200 kids are able to participate instead of 50. All other activities would also involve more students. Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Jazzman School violence is frustrating. My human rights organization does a school violence prevention program. I am asked to come into the schools when fights have broken out, guns have been brought to the schools. First of all let me say that Principals, and teachers are not trained to deal with the problems we are seeing in schools today. In addition to being a minister I have a degree in Social Work and Education with a specialization in working with teens at risk. I am also an alcohol and substance abuse therapist. One of the things that has come out of the investigation of the Columbine shooting; is that kids feel lost, and not connected to anything. One of the suggestions that crisis intervention specialists are talking about is SPIRITUALITY, yes we are being told that young people most prone to violence in schools are the ones that most need a relationship with God. Two weeks ago I was in a rural school that had a group of students who had written a list of fifteen students targeted to be killed. Those who wrote the list are part of a Satan Cult, combine this with drugs and it is a lethal combo. Imagine their surprise when a minister was brought into the school. I can go in as a social worker, but I always make it clear I am a minister. I think we as Christians can step up our efforts with youth in the community, go after those kids who normally would not be asked to youth group.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

We can make schools forts and that can help but the kids need Jesus. I think they are being raised in houses with no parents at home getting into all kinds of sin. This is because there folks are out running after the dollar. We can get by with less money but we do not want to.

In Christ Nathan Paujo

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Nathan I agree with you, I just got back from a rural school this evening, where a student had announced to a friend that he was going to kill students today. He even had a list. I do crisis intervention and violence prevention programs, I am getting calls from all over the state to come to the schools. I am seeing kids coming from homes where the parents are using drugs and the kids are on their own. Several counselors and I were comparing notes and there definitely is a correlation between drugs and violence in the schools.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001