September. The first of the “ber” ‘months. The month kids go back to school. And what a first week it’s been.
Two students and two teachers were killed in a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Nine others were injured. The suspected shooter is only 14-years-old. The gun used was a Christmas present from his father. At Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan a 15-year-old girl was lit on fire. She is in serious condition in hospital. Staff members who attempted to help her were also taken to hospital. A 14-year-old girl was taken into custody immediately.
When I was in high school in the 60s incidents like these were unimaginable. Fighting was generally among boys. By the time my kids were in high school in the 90s the weapons of choice were usually fists and the occasional knife. And it wasn’t always just boys. I shudder to think what is yet to come by the time my six-year-old granddaughter enters high school.
While the advent of the internet facilitates news reporting around the world, I’m sure there are many more accounts of violence in schools that we are not even made aware of. However, not only are students instilled with fear by these incidents, but many are also now given the wrong kind of ideas that they may normally have never even considered.
Parents and educators play a vital role in molding the youth of today. Bullying has been taken to the extreme when it becomes synonymous with school shootings and other forms of violence.
Let’s prevent our world from becoming even more crazy than it already is.

