Peter Benson’s book, “The Troubled Journey,” paints a portrait of youth from sixth through twelfth grade.
In it, he made an interesting observation.
He wrote: “It is not clear whether growing up now is riskier business than it once was, or whether we are simply doing a better job naming and counting problems that have existed before.
“It doesn’t really matter,” he wrote. “What matters is that there are too many casualties, too many wounded, too many close calls.”
Looking around our community, it is clear that he is correct.
His recommendation is one we can all agree with. He wrote: “Our highest national priority should be to mobilize our collective energy, commitment, and ingenuity to ensure a bright future for each and every child.”
It is hard to argue with that worthy goal.
The good news is that efforts are underway locally to help in that battle, particularly through various nonprofit and government organizations, and through our local school districts.
We should not, and cannot, rest until we make sure we’ve given every child an equal chance to succeed, in a safe and supportive environment.
