FREE ESSAY ON TEEN VIOLENCE

TEEN VIOLENCE

Teen Violence has become an appalling problem in the US today. Statistics show that teen
homicides have gone up 300% in the last 30 years. Suicide rate for 15 to 19 year olds has
tripled to 10 per 100,000 in the past 30 years. Firearm death rate for 15 to 19 year olds
has gone up 43% between 1984 to 1988. What seems to be our problem? Volcanic anger due to
kids constantly picking on each other. Maybe teens just don't have any skills to vent the
anger. Could it be that there are no trusted adults to turn to? Possibly, the easy access
to firearms. The results of these issues are dead and wounded students, faculty, and
staff at schools in all parts of our nation.
In school violence is just one of the many branches of teen violence, but it is one of
the most important and most prevalent at this time. At any rate, it is unwarranted,
intolerable, and needs to be stopped. "If present trends continue, American schools,
colleges, and universities will be increasingly unsafe. More resources will have to be
allocated to campus security and crime prevention." (The editors 6) Contrary to what many
people may think the most extreme forms of violence are rare. The most important issue
here is that students need a safe place to learn, and teachers and staff need a safe
working environment. Personal security may become a major factor when students,
especially women students, select their college. Minor issues or daily pressures are what
causes kids to snap. This violence may eventually cause kids to be scared away from
school programs like after school activities, and may also cause students to leave in
fear every day. 
Who exactly is to blame for this out-lashing? Some say teachers are the problem. They say
that teachers put to much pressure on students, and some times even pick on students.
Could this be? Are teachers too hard on kids? Do they single certain students out and
pick on them? Others will say that all of the blame should be put on parents. "It's the
parents fault, they don't know how to raise their kids." That statement has been said
many times when discussing the issue of teen violence. If it is the parents fault then
what can we do to fix that? Take their kids away from them? Many say that it's constant
pressure and teasing from peers. Kids are teased in school. That is a fact and it has
always been a fact. Kids have teased each other since the beginning of time, so why is
this all of a sudden a major issue today? Kids didn't shoot each other in the 1920s. So
why blame it on teasing? While I disagree with teasing, it just does not seem to be a
great reason to shoot someone. Could it just be the communities kids are being raised in
now? Do we expose our teens to too much violence and street life? Maybe we should look to
the communities and how they are trying to solve the violence issues. Our kids don't play
stickball in the street anymore, or go down to the local baseball diamond to hit some
balls or play a game of baseball. Instead they go to clubs and do drugs, or hang out on
the streets with friends doing nothing constructive, or they just sit in the house all
day doing nothing but playing on the computer because they don't have friends or choose
to not socialize. What are we so afraid of? Being a normal civilized person and talking
out our problems? Meeting new people and doing something to further our well being? Who
knows? All we know is that something needs to change.
How can our issue of teen violence be prevented, one way is programs. Programs that teach
teens how to cope with problems in a non-violent way. Programs that allow kids to have a
mentor or a mediator. Another solution would be to keep guns out of kids hands. Lock them
up in cabinets, and use child safety locks. There is no need to ban guns completely. We
have had guns since our country started and we never had a problem with shootings until
now, so there is no reason to jump to the extreme and completely take away the right to
bear firearms given to us by our fore fathers. Everyone must pitch in. This isn't a
problem settled by just one person. Everyone must know the signs, we have to put on more
positive TV shows, and provide healthy environments for our teens.
How can you help? Parents can help by following these few steps: Do some research, lock
up your guns, and use child safety locks. Get others to discuss the signs with your
children, they will not want to discuss the signs with you. If you notice a problem get
help as soon as possible. Teach that guns and other weapons kill and hurt. Show children
how to settle an argument with out resorting to violence. Everyone that interacts with
your child including relatives, siblings, teachers, and baby-sitters need to set a
positive example. You can also look for other ways other than guns to protect yourself
for instance: locks, jamming devices, a dog, security systems, or self-defense classes.
Get the community to help by asking them to follow some simple steps also. Ask them to
provide safe places for children. An active mentor program could provide a lost child
with a role model. Have them provide positive events like carnivals, or circuses. A paid
public class could help with coping. If you recognize the signs in
someone else's child try to help. The neighborhood could launch public education programs
to raise awareness. Allowing a place for someone to report a stolen weapon anonymously
would help. Everyone needs to participate in the neighborhood watch. Everyone must know
the facts! In a school situation, a positive environment is imperative. A peer mediation
program must be offered along with support during major problems. Schools need to
encourage students to report any citing that could lead to violent situations. Show
students how to deal with problems with out violence. Start groups against the issue that
include student participation. All of these things will not work with out youth
empowerment. Kids need to want to help themselves, you can't just tell a teen what he or
she wants or feels. Positive actions, feelings, etc. are needed. We need to limit the
amount of violence on TV along with limiting negative actions towards teens. Without
knowledge nothing will persevere. If you don't know what your trying to fix then you
won't be able to fix it.
In conclusion, teen violence has become and appalling problem in our society today. The
blame shouldn't be put on one group or one person. This problem is a joint effect of
American culture and society today. Contrary to what people think the issue hasn't become
to extreme yet, but it will if we don't do something about it. Everyone must help to stop
this problem, because not just one person can fix it. Know the facts and try to help. A
chain is only as strong as its links, and without knowledge and self motivations we have
a very weak chain and our problem will never be fixed. 
Bibliography
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