What is the world coming to?

Rebecca Ann Sedwick
Ciara Pugsley
Hannah Smith
Daniel Perry
Joshua Unsworth
Anthony Stubbs
Erin AND Shannon Gallagher (sisters)
Jessica Laney

9 well publicized teen suicides in the last year, linked specifically to cyberbullying.  Out of over 4000 in an average year, these are probably a small portion of the suicides related to bullying, but still a tragic and significant sample of society. Bullies and Bystanders
     It makes me wonder about where our society is headed.  But the evidence is mounting.  Whether it is bullying, mass shooting, gang violence, domestic abuse, etc., etc. ad nauseum.  There is a growing rift that is troubling, but no surprise to many.
     There are too many factors involved to "lay blame" on any one area, unless you are among the billions who do believe that there are forces of evil in the world.  Among many of the world religions, there are so-called "end of the world" scenarios.  Some are more of a "major changing event" concept, but among most of these, there is a growing effort on the part of "Evil" to gain greater strength leading up to whatever event might be coming.
     Now, for those who may be inclined to scoff at religious believers when it comes to this type of thing, I will make a very simple statement.  In the face of growing tendencies amongst our fellow humans, the concept of some major change that will "reset" the values of society as a whole, offers some hope for the future.  You might even say, it gives me some comfort.
     In the mean time, (was that a pun?........totally unintentional, until now!)  In the "mean" time, we feel an obligation to hold the line.  Who was it that said "Evil triumphs when good men [and women] do nothing"?
     Look around us.  Watch your children, your neighbor's children, your students, all of their parents.  Yes, Moms and Dads, I intend to include us in this.  The growth of digital existence plays a role, I think.  There is a noticeable sense of disconnect between people.  The "old fashioned" values of courtesy,  caring and community are diminishing.  Not only are we seeing the human interactions being replaced by digital everything, we are being drowned in a sea of so called entertainment where the attitude of "ME at all cost" is promoted as desirable.  Reality TV!  I could probably stop, .........but no, not yet!
     Rudeness, Total lack of common courtesy, backstabbing, deceit, intimidation, lack of overall decency!  These get ratings, and are being portrayed as necessary to "WIN".  But at what cost to humanity?  And digital telecommunications mean that many of these behaviors can be perpetrated with a sense of anonymity.
     Kids don't learn how to play with each other.  They spend so much time in front of their "digital umbilical" that they think these reprehensible behaviors are normal and good.   And "Stepping in".........  not seen as important, by many.
     Grandparents! Parents!  This is in your realm.  It should be a "natural given" that kids are learning values of compassion, toughness, courtesy, responsibility from their parents, grandparents, church leaders and other significant adults.  Well, we teachers have been effectively eliminated.  In so many ways and laws and policies, our hands are tied, when it comes to teaching any "values", ESPECIALLY if someone else might consider those values "religious".  Most of us still try, but I could lose my job every period of every day if any of my students ever took offense at my "values".
     This one is getting long, so I may need to follow up tomorrow.

     Coming:    Scott the bullied.....Scott the bully!