YOUTH RAGE TAKEN TO TASK; GROUP EXAMINES WHAT CAN BE DONE

Parents, educators and others believe collaboration is the key to combating youth violence.

About 30 people attending a youth-violence seminar at Southeast Missouri Hospital Wednesday night agreed that youth violence is unpredictable because no single cause makes a youngster more prone to violent action.

Socio-economic status, personality, personal history and glamorization of violence are only a few of the factors that can contribute to the possibility of juvenile violence, they said.

Although there aren't any clear indicators that distinguish a violent youth, partnerships that can develop good working relationships with adults in various areas of a child's life can greatly reduce the likelihood that a child will become violent, they said.

"We're living in a time when we are allowing our kids to raise themselves," said Cape Girardeau policeman Ike Hammonds. "If you allow them to supervise themselves, often they will do something that's against the law or that's disruptive."

Hammonds was one of five panelists who led discussions on ways to reduce youth violence. Other panelists were Barry Hovis, Cape Girardeau school resource officer; Dr. Ken Callis, psychologist; Jim Davis, licensed clinical social worker; and Jim Watkins, retired elementary school principal.

Violent incidents in Cape Girardeau schools decreased last year, said Hovis. Fights at Central High School decreased better than 50 percent, possibly due to more visibility of Hovis and other adults before and after school and during lunch hours. More visibility, better access to anonymous hot lines, and behavior contracts with parents and students will deter violence in schools, but a determined offender will find a way around the system, he said.

"If someone wants to do something, I don't care what measures you have in place, if they really want to do that they're going to find a way to do it," Hovis said. "I listen to other school districts and other law enforcement officers talk about the problems they have, and I know we're way ahead of the curve. That doesn't mean you can stop everybody you think is potentially violent though."

Panelists said youth violence came under national scrutiny after a series of school shootings occurred in rural communities in 1997 and 1998. People are alarmed and believe a problem has only recently developed, despite the fact that more school shootings actually occurred between 1992-93, they said.

"Press coverage has created kind of a hysteria because small towns are not expected to have these kinds of violent activities," said Hovis. "Now, simple threats and things that kids just said in the heat of the moment can't be taken for granted -- you've got to take that stuff seriously."

Many seminar participants said youngsters often pit parents against teachers, law enforcement officers and others. Parents and educators often feel the other party isn't "managing a child." That leads to hostilities on all sides that allow a child to dodge punishment and not accept responsibility for their actions, they said.

However, when adults resolve to work together and set boundaries for behavior, children will realize they can't manipulate the adults to accept their behavior, they said.

"The perception that nobody is doing their job makes people helpless because it creates a hostile environment," said Davis. "Once we open the lines of communication and establish that we have to work together, that's when we see the margins for behavior set."