We Want Your Thoughts On Prayer In School -
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There is a thought provoking email forward that is circulating about the mass school shootings that have taken place in our nation. It is a letter to God from a student:

Dear God: Why didn’t you save the school children at?...

Moses Lake , Washington 2/2/96
Bethel , Alaska 2/19/97
Pearl , Mississippi 10/1/97
West Paducah , Kentucky 12/1/97
Stamp, Arkansas 12/15/97
Jonesboro , Arkansas 3/24/98
Edinboro , Pennsylvania 4/24/98
Fayetteville , Tennessee 5/19/98
Springfield , Oregon 5/21/98
Richmond , Virginia 6/15/98
Littleton , Colorado 4/20/99
Taber , Alberta , Canada 5/28/99
Conyers , Georgia 5/20/99
Deming , New Mexico 11/19/99
Fort Gibson , Oklahoma 12/6/99
Santee , California 3/ 5/01
El Cajon , California 3/22/01 and 
Blacksburg, VA 4/16/07?

Sincerely,
Concerned Student

Reply:

Dear Concerned Student: Sorry,
I am not allowed in schools.  

Sincerely,
God

Many Christians have made an inseparable link between the removal of prayer and “God” from schools to the increase of school violence, drug and gang activity, etc. What do you think? Are such things like the removal of prayer from schools partially to blame for the increase in school violence? Or what do you think are the primary reasons for violent behavior amongst our youth?

I’d love to hear your feedback. If you would like to give your thoughts on this subject, please click on the “Comment on this article” link in the online version of this editorial, which can be found at www.goodnewstucson.com.

While there are most likely many sociological reasons for the onslaught of school violence, one thing that most agree upon is that violent behavior at schools will not end anytime soon.

According to the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, a school crime takes place every six seconds, and each day some 100,000 children take guns to school. School campuses are obviously susceptible to scenes of violence.

As parents, our worst nightmare may be a mass shooting at our kids’ school, but we must realize that children are susceptible to violent activities everyday, including being teased, bullied, threatened, and even assaulted with or without weapons.

The truth is, there is a real likelihood that your child might be picked on or pressured to drink or experiment with drugs. And there are some key things we as parents can do to protect our children. We hope that this edition of Good News Tucson will help you be proactive in protecting your children as you formulate a strategy to make sure your kids are safe at school. All the professionals we interviewed agree that parent involvement is foundational to school safety.

Looking Ahead
Next month we will continue talking about violence, but violence in the home. Locally, the Tucson police respond to approximately 10,000 calls each year related to domestic violence. And these are from those who have made the decision to pick up the phone. There are thousands more who suffer behind closed doors…in silence.

NO ONE should have to endure verbal, physical, or psychological abuse. We will focus on domestic violence and provide you with information on how to get help if you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is.

Editor,
Good News Tucson Magazine

© 2008 Good News Tucson™

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