There is a scourge of violence festering in our country. Too many people now believe that using violence is acceptable. America’s youth are watching as criminals are treated like the victims. Did we not understand how eventually this problem would bleed into our youth?
The terrible outburst of violence in America is now showing up in our schools. At one Texas middle school, it exploded. An eighth-grade student at Bowie Middle School in Odessa, Texas, has been arrested for felonious aggravated assault.
The male student brutally beat his female teacher. Apparently, the incident was triggered by something as trivial as the teacher confiscating the student’s cell phone. The use of cell phones is prohibited in the Ector County, Texas Independent School District.
The school district statement read, “This is shocking and terrible, and will not be tolerated. We have been dealing with fights and violence recently, and want our community to know that behavior is unacceptable, and we will do all we can to prevent it.”
The person stressed how startling it is to watch the level of violence rise all across the country. “We know our children are hurting and need us to address mental health challenges.” The mental health of children was pushed over the edge during the pandemic.
Now, they watch as violent thugs riot and destroy cities across the country. If we don’t think children, especially those at or near puberty, don’t see this, we’re kidding ourselves. Violence in America is becoming the norm, not a punishable abnormality, as it should be.
Another student in the classroom captured the attack on video. What’s equally disturbing is the failure of students to intervene. During the assault, students stood by screaming and shouting. Students just watched as the assailant pummeled the teacher with a series of punches.
After punching her in the face, the student shoved her to the ground. The assault continued for a full 20 seconds without anyone even attempting to intervene. Teaching is a thankless job. It can be both difficult and yet rewarding.
However, when teachers can no longer feel safe in their own classrooms, competent people will question why they even bother. The Ector County Independent School District has a chance to set an example. This type of violence cannot go unpunished. America should be watching.