World News and Trends
The cure for violence
A problem in Texas public schools is a case in point. Last year school officials recorded nearly 51,000 assaults against students by other students. Another 3,800 incidents of assault were reported against the teachers, and 500 guns were confiscated from pupils.
The State of Texas had already formed a 22-member school-violence task force after the school murders in Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. At the center of the Texas committee's recommendations are character-education programs. It was wisely recognized at the onset that personal character is the key to the prevention of violent behavior.
However, character must first be taught in the nation's homes by responsible parents. Teachers cannot make up for parental neglect. By age 6 much of a child's character is already formed, and even teachers imbued with the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job are hard pressed to deal effectively with neglected children. (Source: The Corpus Christi Caller-Times.)