Classroom discussions should addressing the taboo that prevents emotionally vulnerable teens from taking responsibility for healing their emotional wounds. Ignoring this type of emotional education is dangerous in a gun-filled society. Teens suffering from accumulated rejection and humiliation are at risk of expressing their pain by punishing others. Yet they would go to their grave hiding the underlying pain that led to the Columbine High killings and their suicide. Future tragedies like this can be averted by schools helping teens to take responsibility for healing painful feelings, and not being captive of a code of silence that may lead them to harm themselves or others.
All children can learn they have choices in dealing with their emotional wounds.
One strategy is the self-deceiving Code of Cool. Another is striving to recognize and heal hurt feelings before they accumulate and detonate as rage against oneself or others. What a tragedy he had never learned at home or school about choices teens have in dealing with painful feelings. It is time to break the silence about this potentially fatal teen taboo. Parents and school personnel can learn to help teens deal with their emotional wounds.