The Real Reason Behind School Violence

Another week, another school shooting, and once again, we’ve immediately turned another tragedy into a political argument about gun control, Republicans vs. Democrats, Conservatives vs. Liberals, and how much we hate the President. Maybe it’s time we got real about school violence and stop blaming guns for the multitude of societal problems that are affecting our schools.

Let’s start with politics. I have seen proposals for several good common sense gun laws that I would gladly support. On the other hand, I do not support the position held by many on the left that the second amendment should be abolished and all guns taken out of the hands of American citizens. And who honestly believes that the President should immediately drop everything and do something about this gun problem? Seriously? What about the legislators who have been sitting around for about a hundred years up on the hill? Maybe we should look to them to pass some laws. Some people today have such a deep hatred for our current President they have lost all sense of reality. This is not a political problem.

So, about the guns. Does anyone seriously think that passing new gun laws will instantly solve the problem? Isn’t it against the law to murder people? That law didn’t seem to deter the last few school shooters. And do we really think that other weapons can’t be found if guns aren’t available. Just this week, a local man in my small community was arrested for attacking people with a machete! Anybody watch the AMC show Into the Badlands? It’s one of those apocalyptic futuristic shows where everything has gone to hell in a hand basket and oh my God, what are we going to do? In this future, guns have been totally banished, yet this is one of the most violent shows I think I have ever seen. The amount of weapons available is astounding and each episode features dozens of gruesome deaths, but at least the gun problem has been solved.

So, what’s the real problem here? I spent thirty-five years of my life working in schools. Over the years, I attended tons of workshops on school safety, wrote (or helped write) multiple emergency plans, conducted hundreds of drills, and spent more hours than I could tell worrying about the students and staff at my school. Of all those hours, I can tell you that almost none of them were devoted to guns or gun laws. Honestly, a threat is a threat. We prepared for all that we could anticipate and the priority was the safety of our students.

So what is the real reason for school violence? Could it be the fact that we live in an increasingly violent society? Just look at the news. If you can stand it. We don’t value human life anymore, do we? Or how do we explain sixty million abortions since 1973? We don’t value property anymore, do we? Watch the “non-violent” protests on the nightly news and see how much gets destroyed. We don’t value people anymore apparently, if the daily news endorses the most vile name-calling imaginable. If you don’t agree with their politics anyway.

The truth is that schools are not safe places anymore. We’ve thrown out God and the Ten Commandments in favor of political correctness. We’ve gone all in on protecting the rights of “some” and the preaching the “new normal,” but the reality is that many kids are still being ignored. Bullying is rampant, because accountability only counts on test scores and discipline is overridden by parents. Schools can’t teach the basics anymore, because we’re too busy teaching the social skills that kids no longer learn at home. And again, kids don’t feel safe anymore.

Every school I’ve ever seen has students who feel outcast and alone, who feel unloved and under-appreciated. And if they feel these things at school, then when they reach the point of lashing out, the school will be a potential target. Ages ago, they lashed out with words, or fights, or vandalism. Today, they lash out with more deadly consequences, but the root problem is the same.

So, how do we prevent school violence and keep our kids safe? I wish there were an easy answer, but there isn’t. The hard answer is that we take the target off the schools. We make schools positive and welcoming to all. We make schools the home, the family, the safe place. We make schools the place where every student feels engaged and loved and accepted. We look out for each other and remain vigilant knowing that it only takes one lone outcast to bring it all down. And we pray.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Poetry Snobs, More on Writing Accessible Poems

In a previous post I talked about accessible poetry and how to make your poems more accessible to readers. Personally, I think all of my poems are accessible and I still think that's a good thing. I read an article recently that suggested contemporary poets are "dumbing down" poetry by writing in a simplistic style. This poem is my response.

I write poetry to express my thoughts and feelings. If you read my poems and the words evoke a single memory or feeling in you, then I am satisfied. Thanks for reading!

How to Make Your Poetry More Accessible to Readers

Do you write poetry? Do readers find your work easy to read and understand? In other words, do you write accessible poetry? To begin, let’s make the basic assumption, that most poets wish to be understood. (If you intentionally write poetry that is meant to be deep, obscure, and filled with enough symbolism to render it incomprehensible, then this post is not for you.) Allow me to offer some suggestions.

What is Accessible Poetry?

Before we start, let’s define accessible poetry. Although some see this as a negative descriptor, I believe it to be the best quality a poem can possess. In my mind, inaccessible is the negative. Why write something that only you will ever truly understand? A poem that requires an explanation is no better than a joke that no one understands until you explain it. In the anthology 180 more, Extraordinary Poems for Every Day, the former Poet Laureate of the United States, Billy Collins introduces the book with a wonderful discussion of accessible poetry.

According to Collins, although the term “accessible poetry” is generally defined as “poetry that can be readily understood,” he prefers to think of it as poetry that “has a clear entrance, a front door through which the reader may pass into the body of the poem.” Once inside, the reader may find the poem deep and meaningful or not, but either way, they have hopefully found a foothold. I believe that reading poetry should be a pleasant experience, and I generally find confusion and lack of understanding to be rather unpleasant.

Vocabulary

So, how do we write accessible poems? First of all, I would suggest using clear and concise vocabulary. The internet is full of clever memes about using big words in an effort to look smart. I love a quote I found recently online, attributed to Sierra Bailey, “Writing isn’t about using big words to impress. It’s about using simple words in an impressive way.” To put it another way, if I have to stop and find a dictionary in the middle of your poem, I’m probably not impressed (or having a pleasant experience.) Truthfully, I won’t stop and look up words, I’ll just stop reading your poem.

Content

Secondly, stick to universal themes. There may be a million poems about love, but that’s because people can relate. Nature poems are popular, because people read them. Narrative poems that tell interesting stories work, because people are drawn to good storytelling. On the other hand, poems about unfamiliar or unusual topics may be hard for many readers to follow. That is not to say that they are inaccessible, but they may appeal to only a very small audience. I like to write about feelings we have all experienced – anger, frustration, love, and joy. I also like to write about people.

A Pleasing Sound

Finally, write poems that sound interesting. (Honestly, this doesn’t make your poems more accessible, it just makes them better all around.) Regardless of their structure, rhyme, rhythm, or length, poems should have a somewhat musical quality. When read aloud, they should resonate with the reader. Just my opinion, but good poems always have a pleasing sound!

Strive for the right combination of words (vocabulary), content (theme), and sound that will intrigue the reader and put a smile on his face. Or bring a tear to her eye. Whatever your intent, make them feel something! If they do, they might just come back for more.

Rain, Another Short Poem from the Collection

I had this one ready to share today, even though it's a beautiful day here in Livingston, Texas!  I'm still hoping to publish my volume of poetry soon, but in the meantime, I'll continue to post some of the shorter ones when I can. Also, The What If Project is on sale this weekend!

Super Bowl Sunday

I confess to being a fan of the New England Patriots. There, I said it. Many of my friends who are diehard Patriot haters are appalled when I make complimentary remarks about Tom Brady and Coach Belichick or actually say aloud that I want the Pats to win, but what can I say? I’ve always been impressed by the dynasty teams, the ones who consistently win over long stretches of time.

Growing up, heavily influenced by my older brother, I became a huge fan of the New York Yankees and the Boston Celtics. Year in and year out, you could count on those guys to be around when the playoffs began and often when they ended as well. As far as football was concerned, we pulled for the Dallas Cowboys, even though Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers kept getting in the way of a true dynasty. Fast forward to the present day and it would be hard for anyone to dispute the dominance of the Patriots in recent history. (New York Giant fans can just shut up at this point.)

This season I have not watched much of the NFL. I haven’t actually boycotted, but with all the hoopla surrounding the league, my interest has waned considerably. For a while, I would wait until the game was underway to turn on the TV. Not only was I missing the anthem and its associated protests, but I also managed to miss the ever-increasing number of semi-literate ex-players providing pre-game commentary. After every touchdown, I would immediately head for either a restroom or a snack break in order to intentionally miss the ridiculous and childish TD celebrations. Watching grown men play leap-frog or pretend to be bowling pins? Seriously?

When my Houston Texans lost our starting quarterback (after having previously lost numerous starting defensive stars), I gave up and quit watching anything other than some highlights on the local news channel for the remainder of the season. With the start of the playoffs, I began to watch a few games and by the Super Bowl, I had recovered my enthusiasm. I completely skipped the Pro Bowl, of course. Even the highlights. Who needs to waste time with that nonsense?

I approached the big game with mixed feelings. As well as dynasties, I also love a good underdog story. It was good to see Nick Foles play well and lead the Eagles to their first SB victory. I’m sure the Patriot haters enjoyed the game and even though they lost, I thought they played well and the game was entertaining. So, congratulations Eagles on a fantastic season!

And (IMHO) just saying … The commercials were a huge disappointment and the halftime show was too. Justin Timberlake? Seriously?

Songs of Joy

Self-Publishing and Marketing

When I published my first novel, I will admit to being woefully ignorant of the concept of marketing. By self-publishing, I knew that I would have a difficult time selling the book, but I had high hopes that my family and friends would get the ball rolling and eventually I might sell a modest number of copies. Using primarily Facebook and Twitter, I have managed to create some sales, but I am still short of my original goal for the novel. Hopefully, my blog will grow and more readers will discover The What If Project.

The best marketing advice I have found is to keep talking about the book and let people know the story. Don’t beg people to buy it or harass all your contacts with a bombardment of ads, but simply let them know it’s available and let them see some of that excitement that caused you to write it in the first place. So, let me tell you about The What If Project, an interesting tale about time travel and an ordinary man who can’t stop thinking about what might have been. The tag line for the book asks the question “What if you could go back in time and change one thing from your past?” Here’s the full description from the back cover:

Jack Mayland has spent a lifetime asking himself the same question over and over. What if? What if his little sister had not died as a child? What if his parents had not divorced after the incident? What if the entire course of his life had not been derailed by that one tragic accident? And what if there was a way to change it all and get his life back on track?

A chance encounter with the brilliant and controversial psychologist Dr. Jennifer Melton, gives him hope he may finally get some answers. The doctor has plenty of regrets about her own life, but she believes she has discovered a way to travel back into one’s own past and change a single event causing a ripple effect that can alter the present.

Jack agrees to participate in her study, but after several failed attempts, he begins to have doubts about the whole project. A new relationship with the doctor’s enigmatic assistant Rebecca, gives rise to a whole new set of questions. What if it’s all an illusion, a trick of some kind? What if the doctor is just manipulating him, using him for her own selfish reasons? What if the past really can’t be changed after all?

If you’ve ever had regrets about your past or wished you could go back and do things differently, read The What If Project, available now. If you’ve read the book and liked it, please recommend it to a friend!