Dean Minnich: Actions by students reflect adults’ turmoil | COMMENTARY
School fights are nothing new. But some new and alarming things are showing up in school fights, as pointed out in a recent Times series.
The headline on Monday’s online story: “Referrals for fighting in up 70% in Carroll’s elementary schools over past two years.”
Yes, that’s right, in elementary schools. One school board member said the numbers are frightening: 403 students issued 1,572 major referrals through February. But there have been just 16 suspensions.
A mother said her daughter has been the target of assaults in the classroom half a dozen times. Violent physical abuse, repeatedly.
Some blame the long COVID layoffs for the tensions. Kids have forgotten how to get along with each other after several years of relative isolation.
Others say teachers and school administrators are hobbled by legal and regulatory policies. You can’t kick a kid out of class without getting snagged in a briar patch of something called “restorative practices,” or intervention, or anything that sounds like punishment, or even discipline.
My take is that what’s going on reflects the anger and acting out — the incivility — and abdication of the rule of personal responsibility going on all around us. The kids see it.
They see it and hear it on social media, on television and in the home. And they see it in their own secret world that is easier for them to dwell beyond the scrutiny of adults who are busy with work and striving to achieve what we call a modern standard of living.
They’re picking up on the anger and worry fueled by misinformation, misunderstanding and loss of faith in institutions.
Too many promises are made, too much promotion is focused on glamor and material success, and it’s too easy to blame someone else for failures.
Violence is the primary plot line of entertainment. Vengeance is the driver of political action, instead of social justice or the greater good or even progress toward improvements in the quality of life.
We’re actually debating whether we value democracy. Really?
Instead of using the word “we,” most effort is competitive or at least transactional. Us versus them. Those people. Our people. Who wins, and don’t be a loser.
Ads on television feature candidates saying they will fight for us. Not work for us, or work with others to come to agreeable solutions to complex issues. Fight.
Opinion and inflammatory rhetoric outplay consideration of relevant facts and listening more than talking.
Our nation’s foundations were put down on the bedrock of individual dignity and liberty working as part of a structure to shelter the rights and opportunities of everyone.
The plans for America as we have evolved began in a simpler time, when inclusiveness was easier because our very definitions of diversity were different.
So were our definitions of justice. But the agreement was to be willing to welcome new things, new people, new challenges and anyone who would agree with that can contribute something.
The rule of law rather than the rule of Man (referring to kings and dictators) was the path chosen and defended, until now.
It won’t continue if we insist on tribalistic vengeance instead of justice, power over collaboration, and winning the fight over constructing safety for each other.
Dean Minnich writes from Westminster.