Violence and Family Values

In “The Unmentioned Victim at Columbine High School” (Opinion, April 25) Richard Rodriguez makes a case for the victimization of public education. Is the culprit here the quest for individualism incubated in a society of anonymity, resulting in isolation? Sadly, there is no one explanation. The friend Rodriguez mentioned has wise insight, however. His belief that we cannot become individualistic until we have a strong sense of family or village echoes our nation’s cry for “family values.” I struggle with the notion that as a society we give lip service to these values as more and more of our children are “parked” in day care. Instead of teaching our children that there are serious consequences to our actions, we teach “victimization.” People question why the teachers and fellow students didn’t see or take seriously the warning signs of the shooters. Yes, we need to reach out to troubled youths, but as mothers and fathers don’t we need to be the first to see the signs and seek help? Has the American family grown so isolated that we have no clue that our children are this disturbed?

If violence in public schools drives families into private religious schools, Rodriguez states this may be the best hope for many families. He states, “In spite of their theological tribalism, or maybe because of it, a student is grounded in a larger reality than his separate self, call it a faith.” Isn’t this the core of what has been missing? If families actually taught responsible behavior, respect and faith in the home, instead of handing that job to a school, perhaps our children would thrive and so would public education!

CATHY CRAMM

Laguna Beach

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As a community college instructor and as an active parent of three children in the L.A. public school system (since 1985), I am absolutely infuriated at Rodriguez’s article. Rodriguez has gone too far when he makes the “giant leap” relating the terrible tragedy at Columbine to the idea that our public schools may be unsafe. This horrible event could have happened at any of America’s schools. The issue is not one of “public versus private” schools. It is an issue of communicating with our children and watching them for alarming signs of problems. This is the parents’ job--not the job of public or private teachers.

BARBARA JAFFE

Los Angeles

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Always insightful and original, I now think Rodriguez may be the most prescient cultural seer of our times. He has shown us the problem, now we need to search for common ground. Instead, we fiddlefaddle about whether or not principals and teachers should carry firearms to work. Back to the future and all the same mistakes that got us here?

KEN GALE

Santa Monica