troubled youth

[HobbyMan]

I am sort of ashamed to say this, but I think it is important that everyone think about it:
Early this morning at my school (Grapevine HS), 4 students broke in an vandalized the school. Apparently paint ball guns were the method of choice. Many windows were broken and paint was everywhere. They chained the parking lot attendant's golf cart and painted it. The whole school was a mess this morning.
Apparently they thought this would be a funny prank, but it landed them in jail this afternoon. I knew the 4 students but was not "friends" with them. I am upset that my peers could do this to our school. I think that there is something going wrong when this sort of thing happens frequently. Also, our school is ranked one of the top 100 in the nation academically. Our school district is one of the best in the area. This event seemed out of place for our school.
When I was trying to find out more information for a art project, I was bored so I googled Grapevine High School and clicked news. The story was already posted on the Star Telegram at noon. While I was searching through various articles, I found a story where a student from Greenville HS shot himself last month. What is going on? Does anyone have any ideas why these types of events keep happening? Are these "Normal" events that happen everywhere?

[Wildkat]

Unfortunately...

Saw the end of a movie called Havoc while flipping through channels in the middle of the night... about teens who were bored so they ended up getting involved in gang activity to spice up their lives... so there's a part of... too much privilege and not enough responsibility...

Drugs don't help either... a recent story of the Barbie bandits... Two girls from well to do families who got mixed up with drug dealers... One of the girls was trying to help one of the boys but instead of pulling him up... he pulled her down...

Larger populations.... proportion of crime stays close to the same... but the number of crimes will go up due to the simple fact that there are more people...

News coverage... more reports on bad things happening than good things... There are lots of good kids out there... but you don't hear about them nearly as much because they aren't as interesting to the public as the bad ones...

Many simply don't value their lives... They don't think they are important... and some just can't find a way out from the bullies and think killing themselves and a few others along with them is okay...

There are a lot of answers to these problems... it's just a matter of making certain that the right people get the right answers...

Sorry to hear about your school... but glad they caught the kids who did it...

[John]

Probably some rich punks from Colleyville

[jimboreeno]

I don't want to start preaching...but knowing myself as I do, I am sure I will.

I have worked with troubled youth in psychiatric and residential treatment centers for over 20 years. I currently train staff who work in these facilities for a large corporation that runs them.

In my experience, many of the youth that do this sort of thing have had very little, if any, active parenting. I am not saying they are all the victims of child abuse or neglect, though many are, I am saying their parents either do not have the skills, or do not have the inclination to parent them.

Many come from poor, uneducated parents who do not have a clue how to raise them to be responsible citizens. I guess I can better understand and feel empathy for them. But many come from seemingly "good" families. These are often run by parents who are exhausted from working and running to and fro. They use money, television, video games and malls to parent their children. They often do not have a clue what their kids are in to, and frankly, often don't want to know; as long as it doesn't directly pull them from their comfort zone and routine.

Hobbyman, I really don't have a clue about the situation or motivation of the kids that did that to your/their school, but they very well may be desperately attempting to be noticed. Noticed by somebody who will actually pay attention to their accomplishments...what ever they may be. If so, it worked!

[HobbyMan]

Well, I don't think that they will be getting much attention in Jail. I am glad that I don't live in the "rich" part of Colleyville. You may have a point on that one. I notice that the "kids" driving the $70,000 corvetts don't really care where there parent's money comes from. As long as it buys them new tires and gas every week. In a way, I feel sorry for them because of the fact that I have been in a lot of trouble before, just not of that magnatude. I could be in jail or juvi right now if it wern't for a lot of forgiving people who were willing to let me see how wrong my actions were and give me a chance to change. I hope they, like me will get that chance and make the best of it.

[Kurt]

It seems like there are a lot of kids that just don't appreciate what they have. A lot of the kids my little girl goes to school with are already wearing designer jeans, wearing make up, and have cell phones. She is 8 and is in SECOND GRADE. It makes me sick to see how parents are teaching kids to grow up WAY to fast. Seems like the days of jacks and hopscotch have been replaced by two ways and myspace.

Kids aren't allowed to be kids in certain situations, ie single mothers/fathers, or 16 year olds trying to raise them. They don't get the time and attention that they need to fully grow and learn how to be kids. They just see mommy struggling to pay the bills and then they go hang out at the mall as a "family outing." Then they come home and mom goes in her room and lights up while her kid watches TV by herself.

I think that this plays a huge part in how an adolescent will behave badly or make bad choices. They simply don't know any better. It's terrible that it is popping up so frequently. I'm sure that you've seen the news about how that 16 year old girl and her boyfriend killed her mom, then two of their friends joined in attempting to dispose of the body TWICE and ended up just leaving the poor womans body in the trunk of her car for THREE WEEKS.

A lot of kids these days are simply tragic victims of their parents bad choices. It's hard to overcome that.

[kjoslin]

Sorry to hear about your school hobbyman. I have taught Jr.s and Sr.s in a vocational school for the past 13 yrs. In NY (probably other states as well)...vocational schools are a place for districts to send the students that they don't want to deal with.

My students range from reg ed. kids...to alternative ed...to special ed kids...basically all abilities and attitudes are covered.

But, generally my students are great kids, respectful, etc...but over the years I have noticed some trends.

Many of my students live each day with very little thought towards any firm goals re: a career, etc. Whatever happens, happens. Many are easily steered into bad behavior...or just stupid pranks...with absolutely no thought of the consequenses. The "worst" of my students are intimidating towards others, disrespectful, sneaky, liers, lazy...etc (will make good citizens huh!!!).

I know, when I was their age we had a lot of the same traits...but it seems much worse now. Perhaps with all the s^#t going on all around on the news, etc...it probably causes a loss of "hope" or sense of a "future" for these kids. I do what I can to try to get them motivated and to be forward thinking...but I only reach a small percentage. I'll keep pluggin away.

Joz

[John]

Those kids will make good politicians.

[jimboreeno]

Well, I don't think that they will be getting much attention in Jail.

Hope for their sake you are right

[webbcraft2150]

A just sentence would included mop buckets and scrub brushes and some painting supplies to undo the damage, all work needs to be done during school hours. There parents should be included in the sentence to.

[HobbyMan]

The only problem is that the mop buckets won't replace broken glass. I found out today that the new damage estimate is just below $40k! THey found much more windows and doors that had be smashed. Aparently they made their way into the band hall and did some damage there.

[John]

Sounds to me that when these punks get to the 'County Hotel', they need to be some bad mans' boyfriends. Fresh meat, yum

[DiverRay]

I know here in CA when a kid does damage, the parents have to pay to repair it. We had some kids get drunk and burn down the school library, and the parents of the three "get" to split the 1.1 million dollar cost of replacement.

[Jerry]

too much privilege and not enough responsibility...

A-Men to that!

To many kids don't have to work for what they have and therefore don't understand/respect the time/money/effort that goes into paying for "things". They think money comes from a teller machine. Parents are largely to blame for this condition; if they give their kids stuff without demanding something in return ( does not have to be a great contribution) kids don't value what they are given. After all, it cost them nothing so how can they be expected to treat it otherwise?