Children in Pain

Today, the media is engulfed with news regarding the shooting episode in Cleveland. Asa Coon a teenager attending what some call a Magnet School felt he had no other choice but to enter the school he attends and begin shooting. With so much living ahead of him, why would this young man give up his entire remaining life? What would cause a promising future to be cast away so haplessly? Psychologist, parents, leaders and others are asking this same question around the country. We have asked this question over the last years with no end in sight. Children, teens, young adults, adults and seniors alike commit horrendous crimes and we ask why after it is too late to prevent the injury and killing of others.

As we so often hear, students who came into contact with Asa tried to warn adults in positions of authority of threats. The warnings came prior to the actual episode. However, despite warnings, nothing was done to try to help this child. The warnings were ignored. Had those who were in a position to do something, taken the warnings seriously and acted, maybe Asa would still be alive today. And just maybe, he would have received the assistance he needed to help him ease the hurt he obviously felt so intensely.

Recently, in a school in the state I reside in, students heard a rumor regarding two young males threatening to bring guns to school. The students warned their parents and the parents warned the school administrative staff and Law enforcement of these threats. The administrative staff became furious at the students number one, for spreading these rumors. They then became angry at a Wal-Mart employee for announcing in the store the threat of a shooting. The administrative staff then threatened to file a lawsuit against Wal-Mart.

There was no shooting. The problem with this scenario is that while we ask students, and profusely encourage them, to let someone know if they hear anything regarding a shooting, we then turn around and become angry to the point of denying extra curriculum activities if they bring these treats to someone's attention other than themselves. The administrative staff did nothing to try and determine if there was any truth to the rumor. They in essence placed fear in those students who did what they were told to do. They then went so far as to place the entire school in lockdown.

Lockdown is where all doors and windows are locked prohibiting anyone entry into or exit from the school. I find this a little confusing. If indeed there were to be an episode of shooting, your intent is to keep the kids in the confines of impeding danger?

America please wake up. Children who threaten to inflict harm are asking for help. They are warning you in advance that there is a hurt so deep they are not able to handle the pain. Along with that hurt, they are warning you of the intent to hurt someone other than just themselves. This is a plea for help. Let's start taking these pleas seriously.