We now know that outraged folks who watched the pitiless taunting
of the 68-year-old grandmother have donated almost $600,000 to her on the
crowd-funding site Indiegogo.com.
And we also know that at least two of the boys and their
parents sent her written apologies for the episode aboard the middle school
bus.
 |
| Karen Klein |
My question, after watching the video and seeing the many
stories about this unconscionable incident, is why it happened in the first
place?
In case you haven't seen it, here is the youtube version of the taunting video:
How could 7th graders behave in such a merciless and
heartless way? What kind of parents are putting kids like this on our streets?
It doesn't take an expert in child rearing to understand
what is going on in our country. Listen to the violent music (if you can call
it that) being produced by "gansta rappers" and other no-talent thugs
who call themselves musicians. Look at the vicious and sadistic video games and
movies that venerate carnage and bloodshed.
Is it any wonder when children are exposed incessantly to
this kind of violent behavior that a few might become inured to the very
violence they see on TV and in movie theaters or listen to on their I-pods?
Yes, I know. There are always those who point to studies
that say watching violent or aggressive behavior doesn't mean a child will
imitate the conduct they see.
I don't buy it. I never have.
Think about the themes that are contained in the products created
by the multi-billion dollar gaming, movie, and music industry:
·
the killing of people or animals
·
the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol
·
criminal behavior, disrespect for authority and
the law
·
sexual exploitation and violence toward women
·
racial, sexual, and gender stereotypes
·
foul language, obscenities, and obscene gestures
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry: "studies of children exposed to
violence have shown that they can become: immune or numb to the horror of
violence, imitate the violence they see, and show more aggressive behavior with
greater exposure to violence. Some children accept violence as a way to handle
problems. Studies have also shown that the more realistic and repeated the
exposure to violence, the greater the impact on children. In addition, children
with emotional, behavioral and learning problems may be more influenced by
violent images."
Are we to ignore such evidence simply because the
entertainment industry is earning billions of dollars by producing blood-soaked
video games and films and the dissonant vicious racket called rap?
The academy also points out that "a concern to many interested in the
development and growth of teenagers is the negative and destructive themes of
some kinds of music (rock, heavy metal, hip-hop, etc.), including best-selling
albums promoted by major recording companies."
The
following themes, which are featured prominently in some lyrics, can be
particularly troublesome, the Academy points out:
·
Drugs and alcohol abuse that is glamorized
·
Suicide as an "alternative" or
"solution"
·
Graphic violence
·
Sex which focuses on control, sadism, masochism,
incest, children devaluing women, and violence toward women
I grew up in the 1950s when Rock 'n Roll was pretty tame by
current standards. The themes of that music, for the most part, had to do with
teenage relationships, dating and going steady, etc.
Overt sexual activity was not something we saw on American
Bandstand or anywhere else for that matter--certainly not on TV or movie
theaters. The most shocking sexual conduct in high schools and junior highs was
a forbidden dance called the "dirty bop" or perhaps Elvis Presley's
pelvic gyrations. (That's why he was called "Elvis the Pelvis.")
"Making out" in the hallways got you in deep
doo-doo with the principal and smoking anywhere near the campus could get you
suspended. Today, both of these activities appear to be commonplace in American
high schools where the concept of discipline has gone the way of buggy whips.
Today high school students shout down teachers and in some
cases even attack them physically. And middle school students humiliate and
bully bus monitors and other forms of authority.
Is this simply because kids watch too much violence on TV
and in video games or listen to venomous music?
Only blaming the entertainment industry is wrong. While it
is indeed culpable for some of the behavior of out of control middle-schoolers
and teenagers, I think a larger part of the blame needs to be laid at the feet
of parents.
Ultimately parents
are responsible for the behavior of their children. But too many seem to have
abrogated their responsibility to schools and teachers. Then, when there is a
problem, too many parents side with their children and contest whatever
punishment is handed down by the school.
Teachers seem unable to establish any form of classroom discipline
without incurring the wrath of parents blind to the bad behavior of their
offspring.
"You can't discipline my kid," parents will shout,
"that's my job." If that's the case, then why are so many kids
undisciplined today?
In a society that glorifies celebrity and fame beyond any
normal parameter and elevates aberrant behavior because it is "cool,"
why are we surprised when kids emulate famous, but dubious idols?
In a society where civility and plain old-fashioned good
manners are almost totally extinct and aggressive behavior is the new norm, is
it any wonder that 7th graders can bully a 68-year-old woman on a school bus?
I wonder what kind of punishment these boys will receive
from the school they attend or, for that matter, from their parents?
I know what would have happened to me if I had behaved
toward an adult the way these brutish brats behaved toward Karen Klein--and
believe me, it would have been a hell of a lot more than a severe tongue
lashing or a (heaven forbid) grounding.
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