Much gnashing of teeth has come from society over teens’ seeming inability (unwillingness?) to control themselves. Many think not at all or not long and hard enough before a cutting remark, obscenities or threats come out of their mouths.
One of the students in the article “Schools crack down on kids’ threats” (News, June 16) is quoted as saying, “Even if they know they’re going to get in trouble. . .they just say what they’re thinking.”
Exactly.
It will be too bad if the law has to force self-control on those who should speak, like young adults, but something had to give. If it makes teens learn to stop blurting garbage but first ask themselves, “Is what I am about to say true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” and then figure out how to change it if any of their own replies are negative–or just be still if they can’t–well, the world will breathe a sigh of relief.
