A variety of factors could explain why deadly violence has replaced fistfights and other minor scuffles in U.S. schools

Deadly Violence Replaces Scuffles at Schools

Helen Smith, who authored "The Scarred Heart: Understanding and Identifying Kids Who Kill," pointed out that in the 1950s, schoolchildren were advised by parents to settle their differences face-to-face. Fathers roughhoused and wrestled with their sons. This activity taught boys boundaries, such as how to approach the verge of violence and then pull back.

"Boys don't have that anymore, either because their father is absent or because their father is taught not to teach anyone to fight," she said.

A new Zogby International poll found that today's parents advise their children to walk away rather than fight back. "Fighting is not really an option for most of these kids," Smith said. "Most tell me they've never been in a fistfight in their lives. They don't even know how to fight. They see only two options. One is to withdraw and to be weak. The other is to pull a gun and shoot someone."

Also contributing to more deadly violence at school, said Smith, are the many rules that today's students must abide by. In her viewpoint, these rules put more pressure on children. "I think we were allowed more latitude even 15 years ago," said Smith. "I remember in our hallway, if there was a fight we'd just yell, 'It's a fight!' and everybody would watch. And then everybody would walk off, and the teachers would push us back to class. Now it's a big deal. The parents are called in, the kid's expelled."

Smith said such expulsions are counterproductive. She noted that in earlier times, administrators took the time to sort the victim from his tormentor and acted accordingly. Today, "School administrators either don't do anything, or they put into effect these zero-tolerance rules so they don't have to think," Smith said. "That hypocrisy is causing a lot of these kids to act up.

"The media and our culture tell us that we can't be victims, and we have to stand up for ourselves. So you get this kid who tells himself he can't be a victim, but at the same time all these injustices are happening to him, and he doesn't have any way to retaliate because the laws and rules that govern his everyday life prevent it."

Smith added that more deadly violence is seen in schools today because middle-class children are given an exaggerated view of the importance of school success in their lives. "Parents and administrators make the huge mistake of telling kids that if they don't do well in school, they'll be nobody. It's not true," she said. "The kids are taught to be passive from very young ages in the schools."

Also missing, concluded Smith, is a sense of honor. "Kids are not instilled with a sense of duty to protect others," she said.

Smith based her comments on studies she conducted with violent youths. Her research is available at www.violentkids.com.

UPI August 9, 2001.
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