Fixing Columbine: The Challenge to American Liberalism by Doriane Coleman. 

2/5 rating. 

Book #113 of 2019. Read September 30, 2019.

This book discusses Doriane’s main explanations for the Columbine school shooting, as well as her recommendations to fix these issues. As is all too obvious because of the continued shootings, this topic is quite important in today’s America. While I thought there were some thought-provoking ideas in here about the causes, I think that she makes some jumps from data to her statements. I do think that her idea of implementing a larger moral and more inclusive curriculum into schools is a great idea. “Following Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold’s rampage through Columbine High School, it became something of a national pastime for those in the spotlight – parents, educators, schoolyard bullies, media representatives, and the gun groups – to point fingers at one another, suggesting that, but for the other’s negligence, Columbine would never have happened. Each sought in the process to absolve itself from direct blame, by distancing in time and value their own contributions to the immediate disaster. The fact is, however, that individuals in all of these groups share some of the blame”.

Quotes:

“In total, mental illness, including suicide, accounts for over fifteen percent of the burden of disease in the United States, more than that attributed to all cancers combined.”

“Ultimately, this recognition that money (and perhaps even certain unspoken notions about race) does not insulate children from emotional dysfunction is Columbine’s most important legacy.”

“The critical developmental needs of millions of American children throughout the period of their childhood are not being met. Indeed, to the contrary, these children have been left in various circumstances that place them at great risk of serious emotional dysfunction.”

“Thus, ‘a growing number of educators, child development experts, and doctors are beginning to speak out against early computer use, especially when coupled with regular television watching. Too much “screen time” at a young age, they say, may actually undermine the development of the critical skills that kids need to become successful, diminishing creativity and imagination, motivation, attention spans, and the desire to persevere.’ As a result of these concerns, several prominent experts have called for ‘”an immediate moratorium on the further introduction of computers in early childhood and elementary education” until it can be determined what effect they have on young children.’”

“Aronson’s research and conclusions are confirmed by, among other studies,a finding of the National Threat Assessment Center, which is operated by the U.S. Secret Service, which ‘found that in more than two-thirds of 37 recent school shootings, the attackers felt “persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked or injured.”‘”

“It is not popular to view Harris, Klebold, Williams, and the other recent school shooters, as victims. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly true that their personal circumstances, the bullying and ostracism to which they were subjected before they became ultimately violent themselves, reveal the pervasiveness of this deep disturbance and perhaps even something about the different nature of the taunting and clique mentality that exists in American schools today.”

“Lest I be misunderstood in this respect, I would like to make it perfectly clear that in rejecting an attack on guns as a useful solution to the Columbine problem, I am not subscribing to the National Rifle Association’s public position that ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people.’ This position is simplistic, and disingenuous at best. It is a fact that both the gun and the person generally are necessary to cause a death by gunfire. If Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had been armed only with knives of their fists when they launched their assault on Columbine High School, it is quite unlikely that at the end of the day, fifteen people would have died. That they had guns made all the difference. On the other hand, it is also a fact that emotionally stable individuals with a well-developed sense of (positive) values do not so easily pick up a gun and shoot people, unless it is in self-defense or in a context of war.”

“[T]he prevalence of parental disengagement is 25-30 percent, and [that] a quarter of American adolescents are not sure that their parents love them.”

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