A Defense of Culture Wars: A Call for Counterrevolution

[George_S]

The neocon, Peter Kreeft, as a strong selling point to his book:

A generation ago, the five most bothersome problems complained about in polled American high schools were:

1. disrespect for property
2. laziness; not doing homework
3. talking and not paying attention in class
4. throwing spitballs
5. leaving doors and windows open

Does this sound like another world? It is. The same poll was retaken a few years ago. The five leading problems in those same high schools now are:

1. fear of violent death; guns and knives in school
2. rape
3. drugs
4. abortion
5. getting pregnant

But is it true? Google doesn't hit anything to verify these polls. Anyone know?

[DenverDem]

1. Complete prevarication.

Neo-con=sociopathology

[George_S]

Yeah, that's the reason for asking.

It's probably a lie and a google search for the terms have so far only turned up his book. Thought someone might know.

[whistle]

2. More psuedoscience crap, totally made-up polemics

[FlemingsGhost]

3. Can't change the world, until one finds themselves.

In fact, that is changing the "world."

No amount of governmental legislation or religious prostelizing (sp?) can take the place of one's acceptance of true self. Somehow, I'm sure Peter Kreeft has engineered some plan to shape the world according to his own personal vision.

He is mistaken. And we should not follow.

[Liberal Gramma]

4. I think there's truth there

but the link between cause and effect is faulty. The reason those five issues are at the top of the worry list now is not due to the spread of civil rights and liberalism, but because of the spreading gap between the rich and the poor that results from the conservatives' policies. I know it's no excuse for antisocial behavior, but being poor and hopeless breeds resentment.

[George_S]

5. There could be some truth

But I won't believe any of it until I find the polls.

[George_S]

6. Basically a lie. Surprise!

High school juniors, African Americans, girls and students from one-parent households are the likeliest to report experiencing difficult times. And teens who express what they think is most challenging or difficult about their lives mention pressure much more than any other challenge.

Perhaps surprising to many, the top two pressures concern academics, not sexual activity and drug use. When asked to choose from a list of suggested sources of pressure, 44 percent of teens polled cite "the pressure to get good grades" and 32 percent cite "the pressure to get into college." Following those two issues are "the pressure to fit in socially" (29%), "the pressure to use drugs or alcohol" (19%) and "the pressure to be sexually active" (13%).

"Pressure" doesn’t necessarily equal "problem," though. When given a list of problems teens face, at least 65 percent of high school students report the issues listed to be a small problem or no problem at all within their group of friends (the one exception being "drugs or alcohol"). However, a significant minority think their group of friends have fairly or very serious problems with drugs and alcohol (43%), academics (35%), family life (35%) and school violence (32%). For African-American students, in particular, violence in school is the single biggest problem they identify (51%); high school students in the South also indicate that school violence is a serious problem (40%).

http://www.shellus.com/news/relations/features/feature01.html

[Flammable Materials]

7. Debunked Fabricated Bullshit (Snopes Link)

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/school.htm