Even if a person is not Christian, they must have some kind of faith. It is faith that keeps people from doing terrible things. Christians feel that if they are violent they will be letting both God and Jesus Christ down, and therefore at least think twice before doing something bad.

One way that I have seen this positive influence at work is through one on one mentoring or discipleship. When someone takes time to teach you how Jesus Christ has worked in their life, it biulds your confidence and it is a direct testimony to the Lord. Christian mentoring has changed lives right before my eyes.

Jesus Christ isthe one constant positive influence and he should be included in all aspects of life including school. Teens need this positive influence that is constant and will never let them down when parents and teachers ultimately will at some point

He is a superstar that helps, it's true!

Jesus Christ, the ultimate role model and definitely someone that almost anyone can look up to with only the slightest knowledge of his doings. Encourage others to visit your church in order to understand what HE has in store for you. Apply Jesus Christ to your everyday lifestyle, whether it be the type of music you listen to or even the places you go or 'hang out.'
 

Teachers as well as parents need to give kids a more solid foundation of ethics and moral behavior. Schools should have ethics classes where they can teach kids about ethics in the workplace and in life.

This has to be reflected by the parents to be effective.

I think that one thing that needs to be done is that prayer needs to be put back in school. All public schools are required to have a moment of silence that the begining of the day but it is never really silent. I go to a public school and I think that these things could really help. I thinkt that the Ten Commandments need to be put back in the schools. I am praying that the legislation will pass and it will be able to happen.

Parents, teachers, church leaders and friends all need to be good examples of morals and ethics because these are the people that teens look up to and are influenced by

these are all good and well, but one must have unconditional ethics and impecable morrals! God's word is the sole source of these morrals annd ethics so we must all study with a ferver never seen before that we may be like David and hide God's word in oure hearts and be protected in his hand of soverignty.

morals and ethics are responsible hor helping teens to make several decisions in their life no matter how big or small they are. parents and teachers should be supportive of teaching good morals and ethics. this will lead to good decisions

have teachers use positive examples in the classroom. When problems arise, have the teachers explain that no matter what the student has done, there are still people there forthem. Try to talk to the teenagers, and let them know that their teachers care. School is the only thing constant in the lives of teenagers, so it seems to be the only place where that unconditioal love can originate.So the schools must show that people care,because all students can get it there. Offertimes for teachers to talk withkids.

have teachers smile in the hallway, and tell the students they care. Require teachers to attend workshops that teach unconcitional acceptance.

Teens want their friends' approval very much. When someone is denied love they become prone to loneliness and depression. They need to be taught that actions alone shouldn't determine love. Unconditional love is the best thing a friend can give.

people that experience love are more likely to show love to other people. if a teenager feels like they will be loved no matter if they succeed or if they fail then they will be more willing to try and achieve their goals. However if teens are always afraid to step out and be different than eventually they will become frustrated. we should all try and foster an environment that allows people to be who they are. and above all, we should try to love everyone even if we dont necessarily get along with them

having and knowing that someone loves you unconditionaly can turn your world upside down (in a good way, that is). Everyone needs this. it can be given by an admirer, teacher, family member, etc...it is very important. and if you are willing to show this love to someone, then in return they may be able to do the same...and this can lead to a positive and happy life.

parents are the people who have the most influence in a teenagers life. The way that teens were raised by their parents affects what they believe, how they act, and how they treat other people. If parents raise their children to know what is right and what is wrong then teens will act accordingly. whether its what time you come home at night or what kind ofmorals you have, your parents influence every aspect of your life

I believe that parents are the foundation of their children's raising. If parents do not set positive examples, then the children are likely to follow in their ways. Parents must first set their own priorities so that their children can follow likewise.

Parents need to set good behavioral examples for their kids. All kids learn first from their envirnment, or their parents. If this envirnment is not positive, then it will effect the child's behavior.

A person's ideas, values, and beliefs are all set in his or her early years. A parent's behavior is crucial to a teen's behavior. Parents have a great responsibility for shaping their children's actions.

my parents have had the biggest influence of anybody that i have come in contact with. they have taught me what is right and wrong and what is good and bad. i think that if more parents got involved in there childrens' lives, and set good example's for their children, then alot of the violenve would be resolved. most peope, if abused when a child, follow along the same path as their parents. we need to prevent stuff like that.

Your parents should be more than supportive. They need to be there period! Although peers influence teenagers more than their parents, who do you think the kids go to when there confused? Kids believe their friends, but in the long run we know who has the real answers, our parents.

the school system should stop taking the responsibility of raising a kid. schools are to educate, parents are to raise children. most pparents will rise to the occasion if the government will stop trying to do there jobs

Supportive parents allow their children to feel confident in the decision that they make. The parents will often times provide suggestions, but in the end they leave the decision with you, and support you no matter what decision you make.

supportive parents are very important in the life of a teen. parents that continually support their children make them feel loved and accepted. if kids feel loved and accepted they are more likely to act in a positve toward others. they will have less haterd and be less likely to kill others.

Many people in school try to be as popular as possible, but do not have time to spend with so many people to get to know them better. Have as many friends as you like, but have a close net group,perhaps a youth group, where you feel comfortable talking about your feelings.

having true friends that care is important. If you don't have friends then this is what can lead to violence. Friends help you through the good and bad times. They are there for you and you can depend on them.

Friends are the most important thing in a teenager's life and without friends, most kids feel they have nothing. Without friends, kids can be in a very unstable mindset because they have noone to rely on when they need someone to talk to.

Surround yourself with encouraging friends that will love you for yourself and not who you may try to be. For example, join a church or get involved in scouting or a youth group that will fulfill your time doing constructive rather than destructive activities.

what is a true freind? it is someone who will tell you when you've screwed up, and then help you make things right. it is also someone who rejoices in your success with you. everyone else is an acquaintance.

A true friend is one who is faithful in good and bad times. When things are hard it is easier to slip into depression and, possibly, violence. A supportive, loving friend is helpful in times like these.
 

Knowing God and Jesus Christ are very positive influences in the lives of people in general but just because someone doesn't know God in the christian form, as is stressed in our votes, doesn't mean they don't have a positive influnce somewhat in that form. For instance, other religions have positive influences. Religion in general needs to be marked as a positive influence.

by having unique teen-lead ministries, they can reach out to their peers who may not know God. sometimes the regular ministry stuff may become boring and over our heads, and a more laid back approach to outreach programs migh be more successful

I must be the voice of reason. We all seem to agree that the answer to probles of violence is getting back to the fundamental beliefs of this nation-- a strong faith in God. However, we cannot legislate religion and faith. This getting people to know God must be a persoal endeavor that each of us undertakes on a persoal basis. the state can do nothing concerning religion, we mustdo that on our own. We, the leaders of tomorrow, must teach people about our God,and then the violence will cease.

even though its not a problem at my school, a lot of teenagers dont know God because there is no kind of religious influence in the public schools. I do have prayer at my school and even though many students take it for granted i think it is a big help at letting the students know that they are not alone and that God is always with them. I think that there should be some way for students to express their religious beliefs at school but without infringing on others

when people do not know God they try to fill their life with things that can never satisfy them. They often turn to negative influences to fill them. Christian groups and churches need to reach out in schools and communities to make others feel accepted and loved.

Being actively involved in a church and youth group helps you to get to know God. Jesus is someone who will love you unconditionally which will be a positive influence on your life and help you to respect others and yourself.

the root of every problem is the sinfullness of man. violence in any form is simply a unrestrained manifestation of that evil nature. not knowing God means that there is no reason why that nature should be restrained.

I belive that everyone should have the opportunity to hear about Christ. Religion of any kind should not be pressed upon kids but they should be exposed to it. I think that God should be a part of the classroom because it is an important decision that everyone has to make at some point in their life.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS IN THE CONSTITUTIION. YOU CAN NOT TEACH RELIGION AT SCHOOL---NOT IN THE CLASSSROOM. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.but we,as teenagers can lead groups and have meetings before school to teach people about our savior.

The wages of sin is death and that is where this country is going without the God and the positive teachings that have been written in the Bible.

it is not inthe constituition

Parents should be involved in their child's everyday life. They should be involved and interested in what is going on with their child in his or her school and be aquainted with thier child's teachers. Parental involvement in school would boost their child's confidence in their school endeavors greatly. Not only should they be involved with their child on a deep personsal level from day 1, they should know their child well enough to forsee potential problems and be able to talk it out or take action. A child who is loved and accepted at home will be much more unlikely to completely go against that love and acceptance by getting involved in violence.

people are running headlong in to sex without realizing the realities of their actions. Sex was designed by God as a means of procreation and enjoyment for married(opposite sex) couples. So when a child is viewed as a contraceptive failure and not a blessing from God they are neglectful in their duties set forth by scripture.

i think that it is important for parents to understand that they are responsible for their children and how they behave. Parents want to allow the blame to be put in the children but, in reality, the children don't know that they are doing anything wrong unless they are told. This instruction must come from the home and it must be consistent. I'm not saying that children shouldn't be held responsible for their actions but the parents can't not take any responsibility themselves. The children usually are going to be whoever the parents raised them to be. If the parents don't take the time to raise their children then the children use their undeveloped sence of right and wrong for making decisions.

Maybe not so much as "neglectful" parenting, but rather no reinforcement. No reinforcement, either positive or negative, will not correct problems. Most problems will more than likely begin in the home, therefore the parents must be there to discipline, support, encourage, and provide.

I think that parents play a HUGE role in childrens life. Many times, the parents know what is going on with the child but they will not take the time to talk to the child or get help for the child. In the recent school shottings, the parents had some type of warning. They new that something was going on with their child. I don't think that you can live in a house with someone and not know what is going on.

parents must get involved with their kids.if there is not a parent at home after school a child is going to get into trouble,theres no doubt about it. parents must get involved.if they don't, the schools will continue to have shootings. because the kids will learn about violence while thier parents ae at work.parents need to know who ther kids friends are, and what they are watching.personally i thonk that violence starts at home with the PARENTS.

Teachers, not only parents, should not be neglectful. Too often, teachers don't take time to notice individuals and invest time in them. That is what teaching is supposed to be all about! I am in full support of the system one of the Colorado schools has started where every student in the school meets in a small group each morning with one or two teachers. These groups are assigned and make it easy for students to get to know at least one teacher in the school on an intimate level where they would feel comfortable coming to them if something was wrong. The groups can be large or small, maybe 8 to 10 students. This way, teachers would have no choice but to NOT neglect individual needs of students.

teens who are not disciplined properly in the home at a young age are taught that there is no consequence for their actions. Children who are disciplined early learn valuable lessons that help them later in life.

Schools need to focus more on discipline, not necessarily on the punishment of affences, but more on the way kids should behave in public. Show them ways to discipline themselves in their work and in life.

there needs to be definite consequenses for violent actions. teachers and administration should be given more authority to discipline students without being worried about courts and lawsuits

Early on in any child's life, the parents must ensure that the child learns not only discipline, but also ethics, and must understand what is right from wrong. The child must also understand why they were punished, or else they will do it again.

One problem with discipline is that teachers will not discipline students at school. If someone gets in a fight at school, they will be suspended for a day and then come back. I don't thinkt that this is helping the problem. Something needs to be done where the students will be punished for their actions.

the disicpline at school should be inforced alot more.if someone brings a gun to school they should not be suspended they should be exspelld.guns do not belong in schools.

teens and kids should be punished for there actions. if they are not punished at a young age they grow up thinking that you can do bad things and not get punished for it.

Discipline, or the lack there of, will be determined from early childhood by the parents. If the parents allow a child to get away with small things as an infant, the child will learn to test the limits that the parents have set form him. If the parents do not discipline him when he breaks the limits then he will continue to do it even when he is a teenager.

Parents need to understand that children want attention and someone to listen to them. Kids want their parents to be their best friends and they want to be able to go to them with problems but if the parents don't show an interest or have he time then the kids will turn elswhere. If the kids don't turn to Christ then they will keep looking for satisfaction in other things of the world without ever being satified or feeling loved.

This is a major point and is very relevant to what has been happening in schools today. Most of the violent acts at schools have been caused by kids who have been considered outcasts my their peers. This is a very hurtful thing. Kids need to be more open to others kids and be more accepting of other beliefs and interests.

Teens need to accept each other for who they are and the good qualities which are in all people. these good qualities may be hard to find but they are there People need to accept each other on these qualities rather than what they look like or what brand clothes they wear.

when people are outcasted by their peers they look for places to fit in. the place where they are usually accepted is not always the place where they get the best influence. in those groups they develop violent behaviors. students involved in many school groups need to reach out to individuals that feel outcasted so they will not turn to violence to express how they feel.

being outcasted can lead to many different things. if you are outcasted in highschool, etc, then you may be able to grow from this and learn how to "ignore" this or how to "accept" IT... or better yet..how to improve. This can also help people to find their true friends and who they can trust. But, in most cases..being an outcast is horrible. It can make a person hate life and hate others. We have to be careful and one of the most important sayings "treat others as you would want to be treated."

This doesn't really belong in any category but if you would look up and notice that violence isn't just now occuring then you would realize that we will never get past it. You think these things are just now happening in the bronx or L.A. They are not! Even in Birmingham we have had school shootings and disruptions and it has been stifled by the media and closed up fast. It's just recently that people are saying things, and pardon the black-white intervention, but it is racial. People didn't start realizing what was going on until it startd happening to their white kids and their white kids started doing it. HOw people in here are black...NONE! One more thing, and I hope the governor gete this, truly I do. Why get the honor students and good children in here?

If someone has a true relationship with God then they should know that sins are forgiven. However in other religions they are not as fortunate and that needs to be looked into, not that the only problems are coming from people of other religions.

sin is the root of all evil!!! Upon mankinds fall in to sin he has no choice but to sin! Through the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ we have means of atonement and propitiation of our sin. We must all repent of Sin and ask Jesus into our hearts, to be our LORD as well as Savior!!!!!!

In most cases, doing the right thing is the hardest thing, and sinning is the most fun. Without faith, as well as ethics, most teenagers do not even think twice before sinning. Youth groups could help this, as well as the community reaching out to do good things.

Anyone who is willing to act violently against another person suffers from a lack of respect for other people. Not only do they not respect authority, but they also do not respect the sanctity of human life. This lack of respect is introduced first through movies and music. They do not realize the seriousness of their actions.

The lack of respect, both for others and for one's self, is a result of societies view of life. In our generation our society has obtained a devalued look at life in general and has become too acceting of killing and violence.I think that the media and the entertainment world should focus more on the value of life and not how to end it.

teach kids that no one is superior. Openly discuss differences inh the classroom...this is the only thing that all teenagers share,school.So we canuse our schools as an avenue to educate. We can teach and celebrate differences by having multicultural programs. Teach about the worth of everyone,and teach that even though we may disagree,WE MUST LISTEN TO EVERYONE, AND HAVE THAT RESPECT. Haveschools showthat respect to their students, and in turn we canbuild a society thatr respects itself

people need to learn how to respect other people and their beliefs. This whole "If you don't accept my opinion, then blah blah blah," is a very negative and demeaning attittude that can cause a whole lot of violent behavior.

In all schools there are cliques. In some ways cliques are very good, but they can also isolate teenagers. Many groups are also enemies to eachother. When people are rejected from a certain group, they become depressed. Everyone needs a sense of belonging, and this is partly the school's responsibility, but the responsibility is also shared with the community. Rec centers could even provide kids with a sense of belonging.

I don't know how you can prevent people from rejecting others but I think that if you start at an early age and teach people that no matter what the other people are like, it is not right to make fun of others. I think that being rejected and having people make fun of you can leave life long scars. I think that this is one of the biggest factors of school violance.

it hurts a lot

ALL SCHOOLS HAVE THE POPULAR GROUP BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER FEEL LEFT OUT

you can't make people like someone, but youcan be the one to reach out and make the difference