School curriculum has role in violence

The editorial on Oct. 4 calling for media restraint in reporting on multiple murders in various settings was excellent. Irresponsible media reporting is probably an aggravating factor for repeated events rather than a causative factor. Indeed, there are a combination of causative factors for the incidents, and one of the most significant is the school curriculum.

Even Clarence Darrow, of the Scopes Trial fame, argued for blaming the university for the murderous behavior of the defendants in the Loeb-Leopold Case. He argued, "Your honor, it is hardly fair to hang a 19-year-old boy for the philosophy that was taught him at the university.'"

Teaching students that reality is just "matter and energy shaped by pure chance" will logically result in more Urnpquas. So, we needn't ask "Why?". We should ask "Why not?", and re-examine, as well as change, the philosophical underpinning of the curriculum in our government schools.

Unless and until we do, we can expect many more Columbines, Sandy Hooks, and Umpquas.

Walt Sivertsen

Grayslake