Adolescent Behavior

* Thomas Szasz’s argument for why kids shoot up schools today (and didn’t do it 50 years ago) makes little sense (Commentary, March 15). I agree that adolescence is a difficult age to get through in this society, for many reasons. But school 50 years ago was no less compulsory than now. One thing that is striking compared to the past is the increase in bad behavior among children of all ages. There is less fear of and respect for adults, more peer power, and an epidemic of foul language and bad manners. This is not due to adolescence or schools; this is the parents’ domain.

Kids 50 years ago had a parent to come home to throughout their entire childhood. Absentee parents, more homes with guns (which should demand more vigilance, not less) and a decline of civility--it’s a miracle there aren’t more shootings.

PATRICIA CASEY

Fallbrook