I’m making a u-turn, taking the high road ( I hope ) to address a boondoggle that is near and dear to me for many reasons.
I won’t belabor the horror and sadness I feel for all involved in the Barrow County School System. That has been said—–and re-said—-by better writers than I. But, instead, I’ll share my thoughts on the whys and wherefores.
My passion for education and , in particular, educating teens stemmed from those few wonderful years that I taught English at Winder-Barrow High School. This was in the 60s and long before there was an Apalachee High in the county. Those years in Winder fueled my passion for high school kids and all they offered……..to me and to the world.
I had a degree in Journalism and thought that I would spend my professional life in the media. But my very wise mother had said to me when I transferred from North Georgia to UGA’s Grady School of Journalism ” Diane, you need to look at Education. There’s a school in every town “. I listened and graduated with a degree in Journalism——-but with majors in Education and English. Thank God for a wise mother.
And so I speak from some 30 years of teaching, observing, leading, and LOVING teenagers. They, like the rest of us, come in many sizes, colors, backgrounds, interests, talents, and flaws. And , undoubtedly, some are mentally ill. But most are not.
So it is critical that any person in question be examined , tested , and analyzed by professionals and diagnosed. Then, and only then , should the legal, ethical, and moral protocol be followed and prognosis defined.
I have a deep and abiding concern when I note so many people jumping to the conclusion that all bad deeds are done by mentally ill people.
……JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE…….
That’s an easy answer. Way too easy ! If we make this into a one-issue problem, we will be missing opportunities to develop and implement a comprehensive plan. Taking the easy answer is not always the best answer.
There are bad people in our world, people who are evil, people who are empty, who care for nothing but themselves and their desires, their focus, their direction——and they are NOT sick. They are MEAN. They are BAD. They are DESTRUCTIVE. They are DANGEROUS———–but they are NOT sick.
I stand firm in my belief that most of us are good people doing good things. I stand firm in my belief that each generation brings forth a fresh view, a vision, a light at the end of the tunnel. And I stand firm in my belief that thoughtful consideration of this devastating national crisis will yield a solution.
May God bless all the victims , the families, the school system, and the Winder-Barrow community as they work toward finding solace.
And may God bless America…………….
———-IF YOU SHARE MY CONCERN, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SHARE ON YOUR PAGE————-
I seriously doubt if anyone could have said it any better. I truly agree with what you said. There’s got to be away to separate the sick from the bed and once done the treatment is totally different for the two.
Thank you. I get tired of excuses! Hope all is well with you and yours. If you’re ever this way, let us hear. Loving you from Lavonia…..
Amen. Thanks for sharing so concisely.
And thank you !!!!!! I am looking down the road and I see that, politically, the popular response will be to blame mental illness, thereby ignoring the very real and dangerous other threats. It is truly scary for one who has seen every possible evil wrapped in teen language and action. Blessings………………
Thank you for a very astute observation. Diane. When atrocities occur, we want answers, preferably easy ones. Most of the time, easy answers don’t exist. We live in a complex world far different from the one where you and I grew up. Despite some fond memories, I have no desire to relive those days, but we were faced with far fewer difficult choices than the current generation. We, most of us, had a great deal more supervision and guidance, not just from our parents, but from the community. That community doesn’t exist any more. I knew with absolute certainty that if I behaved badly, a well-intentioned neighbor would correct me when I was a young child. When I reached my teens, my parents would be speedily informed of my transgression.
Heaven knows I don’t have the answer nor do I pretend to. Of two things I am certain. It isn’t simple, and it isn’t easy.
Thank you. I am right there with you. I was indeed reared by a village, called Lavonia. I appreciate your thoughts and observations.
Very well said and I completely agree! As always, thank you for sharing your heart and words of wisdom! !
Always appreciate your reactions to my thoughts. In this case, we’ve both been there and seen that, haven’t we ? Oh, to someday, someway, have a better world. Love ya………….
Reasons why one person acts one way, and another acts differently, definitely exist, but often those reasons lie buried beyond casual, or perhaps human, observation. Excuses are easy. Reasons may be complex, excuses are easy. Excuses remove the need to investigate, and consequently, are easy. Is a fourteen year old child who murders innocent people mentally ill, or just mean or evil. The why of it matters. Indeed, it should, but don’t label him categorically mentally ill. That’s simply too easy.
Right on ! Thanks for reading and responding. Always appreciate your thoughts. It is indeed a complex issue which needs careful consideration and consensus.