Living Behind Enemy Lines, Tale #17: Wonder Why Teens Were Less Violent In Past Generations?

My first memory of a student shooting up his school was May 21, 1998 in Springfield, Oregon, just 100 miles from our home in West Linn, OR. After killing both parents, 15-year-old Kip Kinkel drove to his school, Thurston High School, with a rifle where he killed two students and injured 25 others. Of course, the following April, in Littleton, Colorado, 18-year-old Eric Harris & 17-year-old Dylan Klebold, teamed up to slaughter 15 and injure 24 at their school, Columbine High School. More recently, 14-year-old Colt Gray, killed four and injured nine at his high school.

On a recent podcast the host (start at 19-minute mark), George Caylor, reminded Steve Putney and I, his guests, that during our time in public school (1950s, 1960s), in different parts of the country, if boys didn’t leave their rifles in the “cloak room” during class, they left them in gun racks in their pickups. Neither Steve’s nor George’s nor my classmates ever fired their guns inside the school building, nor did they ever harm anyone.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

The complete answer to this question would take far more time and expertise than this American has. However, one of my subscribers, Kathleen, has a pretty good idea why a troubled teen is ignored until it gets to the point he/she shoots up a school: CRT, DEI, social justice & other Leftist poppycock. In her own words:

“I live in Yakima, Washington which is currently purple and getting bluer all the time. Also, I worked for the State of Washington’s Juvenile Department for 18 years before being discharged for refusing to take an experimental drug (The Covid Jab).^ Thus, I would say I lived behind double enemy lines until October 2021, when I left state employment.”

[Editor’s Note: Washington State has been controlled by Democrats for well over four decades, during which it moved further & further Left.]

“It didn't start out this way. I started working for the state in 2002. At that time errant youth were held accountable and rehabilitation centered around correcting their erroneous ways. Within a short amount of time, squishy soft enabling policies began to be implemented and escalated over the years. Since objections and expressions of concern regarding this trajectory fell on deaf ears and/or resulted in retaliation, I coped by focusing on my Intake Coordinator and Fleet Manager position, turning a blind eye to the rest.”

ANTI-WHITE RACISM BECAME STANDARD POLICY

“About 2011, the powers that be decided we were all to undergo sensitivity and diversity trainings. Some were two days long and focused on how bad white Christians were and what victims everyone else was.  We also had weekly staff meetings where some sort of DEI/CRT type presentation was on the agenda. I think most of my local team felt the same way I did, that it was a waste of our time. I think I was probably the only one who said out loud, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Our group was comprised of all colors, ages, shapes and sizes and backgrounds and we all treated each other with respect and got the job done.

I think I was lucky I worked with the team that I did. I was aware folks in other Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration offices were not so fortunate with their office cultures.  

In conversations about "disproportionate minority contact" I raised the question "if a cop sees someone run a stop sign, is he not supposed to pull them over if the driver is dark skinned?"  I think by and large, my co-workers respected me and even admired my courage. Everyday it was getting harder and harder to stay there, but there weren't many other options available with the same hours and salary. In March of 2020 we were sent home to work remotely, which was fine with me, yet the weekly CRT meetings continued.”

KIDS COULD DO MOSTLY AS THEY PLEASED

“Regarding the errant youth, in 2002, when I started working at Parke Creek Treatment Center run by Washington State Department of Social & Health Services, as an intern, the environment was very strict: no TV or radio or electronics were allowed, and youth were expected to focus on their chemical dependency treatment and rethinking their life choices. They were taken to AA/NA meetings in town and were expected to behave themselves. The kids were excited to go because that and church were the few outings they were allowed. 

By the time I was hired as regular staff in 2003, everything had changed. A new Integrated Treatment Model had been adopted which focused solely on positive reinforcement. Kids were no longer required to go to AA meetings and they now had TVs in their rooms and video games. Employees saying “no” to kids’ requests and enforcing the rules were punished by management as "failing to consider individual needs." The kid who was just slightly less of a jerk this week than last was awarded "resident of the week" while the kid who was toeing the line and doing everything he was supposed to do on a regular basis was passed over.

Any objection to this resulted in a write-up for the employee as "not following the ITM model." To ensure compliance, around 2007 they made an example out of the Assistant Secretary of JRA (head honcho) for challenging the ITM model by firing him.”

MANAGEMENT ABUSED EMPLOYEES

“Along with this change, management dictated that counselors would be required to spend 100% of their shift on the floor. We were told to go to the restroom at our own peril.  I requested 16 hours between shifts due, in part, on advice from my counselor because I suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder. Management loved to schedule people off at 12 am and back at 7am simply because they could. 

To say the retaliation was swift and severe, would be an understatement. Prior to making this request I had excellent evaluations. After making the request, I was being written up for every little thing they could find. I believe this had something to do with my speaking out, questioning the wisdom of the new programming.  Eventually, I was able to transfer to the regional office to a position that allowed me to focus solely on diagnostic evaluations, quality control, and fleet management. After the initial evaluations were finished, I was able to avoid dealing directly with youth so I was able to avoid most of the ‘woke’ insanity.” 

GEORGE FLOYD MADE THINGS MUCH WORSE

“Things intensified after the George Floyd thing, especially with our administrator constantly pushing that racist agenda. In one of those "meetings" after the Chauvin verdict, we were told we could feel "safe" expressing ourselves. I decided I was going to test just how "safe" it was and expressed my disgust at a US Congressperson, Maxine Waters, calling for violence if she did not get the desired verdict. Another guy in the group with whom I had exchanges in the past jumped down my throat, calling me “racist” and "how dare I do that to my dark skinned co-workers!"  I attempted to explain I meant no harm, I simply thought that Waters’ behavior was grossly inappropriate for a Congressperson no matter his or her skin tone.*

In 2021, I applied for both religious and medical exemptions from the Covid Jab, and was granted both but denied accommodation. Although I hadn't seen a client in person for the past five or six years, all my work was done by phone even before being sent home to work remotely, they claimed I might give Covid to someone since I did not take The Jab. They claimed there were no alternative positions available. They went through the motions of evaluating me for re-assignment; but, I have no doubt that they had no intention of reassigning me.  In fact, no one I know who got the exemptions was accommodated, and thus lost their jobs.

I have absolutely no doubt that this was a purge of all free thinking individuals who were liable to challenge the powers that be, from state employment. I firmly believe the Covid Jab mandate was designed for that very purpose.”

^In October of 2021, the last straw came in the form of the Covid "vaccine" mandate.  I applied for both religious and medical exemptions and was granted both but denied accommodation. All the while, I couldn't believe they would actually go through with it as it was so ridiculous and a flat out violation of the Nuremberg code, but they did!  The Democrat governor's henchmen owned the courts, so no attorneys or unions would challenge it.  

*Incidentally, I grew up in a small backward town in the 1960s that was on the outskirts of the Colville Indian Reservation. Being red-headed and ruddy skinned, I had a constant target on my back.  I knew racism was real and very wrong. I also knew finding it under every rock was a bridge too far. I did, however, witness Native American and black students being automatically funneled into special ed programs and otherwise mistreated by the school system. Anyone who lacked light or mid-toned skin, and brown or blonde hair was fair game.