| Mr. Brinkley helped with the judging of our violence in school essays, and we wanted to get some feedback on how he chose the essays that went to the next level. This is what he had to say during an interview with Raquel Broome in April 2003! |
Officer Larry Brinkley,
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About judging the "Violence in School: What Should Be Done?" essays, Mr. Brinkley says,
"I looked for four main points and the essays I chose mainly covered these points...
"The first point I looked for was that everything begins at home. A child's character is pretty well developed by age two. So parents need to set rules and regulations early in the child's life. They also need to teach their kids respect for themselves and others. All parents have to punish their kids while they are young because kids only do bad things that they know they can get away with.
"The second I looked for was that kids need to learn the difference in right and wrong. They need to learn not to do bad things because they are wrong, not because they will get punished.
"I believe that counselors are trained people who know how to deal with aggression management. They are there not only to make schedules and deal with report cards. They are in schools to help kids with whatever the need. It is our responsibility to let the kids know this.
"The last point I looked for, basically, was that school resource officers are here to protect and give kids a comfortable safe environment. If kids feel safe, they are less likely to have problems."
