(May 31, 2001)

I find the point of view expressed in your Staff Editorial [May 1, 2001] disingenuous and disturbing. While it is understandable to question the level of supervision during the time of the incident (no doubt Thomas’ parents have done that countless times since this happened), the fact that he was watching TV unsupervised doesn’t necessarily mean his parents were negligent.

Even if they were, it is troubling that the writer (and perhaps many of his peers) fail to realize how much influence popular media (including television) has on our attitudes and behavior. MTV bears some of the responsibility for this incident, whether or not we rush to judgment on the quality of parenting Thomas Hitz receives.

Most of the young people I know (including my own children) have enough freedom in their daily lives that they are not with their parents 24 hours a day. Most of them would say they prefer this to having parents who hover over them constantly.

It is crucial to realize that the media’s freedom of expression (and, by extension, our own) comes with responsibilities attached.

         - Fred Blattner, teacher