I read with concern the statement by the Minister of Education about the level of violence in schools. I know that it is difficult to identify the specific variables responsible for this phenomenon, but when we look at the environment that is shaping so many of our children, then we should not be surprised by the violence we are witnessing among young people. They are constantly bombarded by violence in the media, TV, internet, video games, sports-ad naseum. In other words they are raised on a diet of violence. What is most alarming, however, is the way parents feed into this trap-they are the ones who buy the video games, do not monitor their children’s TV viewing or internet activity, and themselves watch kick boxing and wrestling during family time! Is it any wonder that the children are acting out the violence that has become such a big part of their lives? I guess the ball is in the court of parents. They are ultimately responsible for raising their children to respect and love others, and to learn that there is an alternative to violence to resolving conflict.