In response to an editorial in the July 7, 1999 Citizen by Flat Rock Middle School student Ben Hurst, I agree wholeheartedly with him that students will find a way to kill if they so desire.

As a 1998 graduate of Sandy Creek High School, I am appalled at the recent actions of the Fayette Country School Board. To begin with, taking away bookbags is preposterous.

My books easily weighed at least five pounds apiece and I carried several at a time, not to mention binders for each that held my notes, pens, and pencils. My schedule was such that I did not have time to go to my locker after each class or even after every other class. Carrying that large amount of supplies in my arms would have proved impossible, and I cannot count the number of students who were in the same predicament.

Not only that, but I often had a lot of homework, and I needed my bookbag to carry it. I am sure I echo the sentiments of every other student when I say that prohibiting bookbags will not only hinder our productivity, but will also not stop another student from bringing a gun to school.

As for the dress code, let me once again assure the school board that further restricting what students can wear or even requiring uniforms will not solve the problem of school violence. If students want to fight over some girl or because their opinions on race vary, they will. Forcing them to wear uniforms will not change that.

The notion of a stricter dress code probably came as a response to the shootings at Columbine High School where the gunmen wore long trenchcoats to school and used them to hide guns. You want students to wear uniforms so they can't hide a sawed-off shotgun in long trenchcoats? Then you better restrict pants with pockets, because some guns are small enough to be hidden there, as are knives. You also better not allow girls to wear bras because once again, a small knife could strategically be hidden there. I hope everyone is beginning to see how ridiculous this is getting.

Even if the school board wishes to change to dress code to avoid other problems such as girls in short skirts and boys with excessively baggy jeans, I firmly believe it is a person's right to dress as he/she sees fit. In the 13 years I was in the public school system, never once did I witness or hear of someone's clothing interfering with my or anyone else's education.

Restricting bookbags and forcing students to wear uniforms are two more ways the schools take away the rights of their students. Withholding the rights of students will not solve the problem of school violence, nor will it give them a better education.

Problems are not solved by creating more rules. Problems are solved by changing the conditions around which they occur.

I was once asked who was to blame for the shootings in Littleton, Colo. My response? “We all are.” That's right, I believe society is to blame. We are a violent society and we create violent children. Due to economics, both parents usually have to work and therefore cannot spend as much time with their children as was once possible. Sadly, often the time they do spend with them is not quality time.

We must not also not forget the overwhelming amount of children who grow up in single parent homes. They too often compete for quality time. Parents today, whether they may be married or divorced, must spend quality time with their children from day one, teaching them right from wrong and what is real and make believe. Parents must also make sure their children know they can come to them with any problems they have in their lives.

As for the media, society is quick to condemn the news and Hollywood for its portrayal of violence. However, society is hypocritical. The very same society that condemns violence flocks to movie theaters to see the latest Arnold Schwarzenegger movie or to the Georgia Dome to watch a wrestling match.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed another fact about the media. Those who have killed others in the school shootings of the past two years were mostly outsiders seeking attention. After their murderous actions, the media, newscasters, and talk shows talked about it for months, giving the troubled teens exactly what they wanted, attention.

Other troubled teens see the attention they receive and realize they could get the same if they perform similar actions. However, they may want even more attention and decide to perform their actions on an even grander scale resulting in more deaths. The first step toward stopping violence is to simply stop giving offenders the attention they crave.

Let's face it. Solving school violence will not be easy, but it can be accomplished. However, creating more rules will not do it for too many outside factors affect the way our children think. Society must stop endorsing violence, the media must stop glorifying violence, and parents must play an active role in the lives of their children.

Numerous things contribute to the making of violent children and no single entity can counteract those contributors. Instead, we must all work together toward a common goal: saving our children.

Laurie Pittman
AngelofDH@aol.com

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