Faster paced lifestyles, increased pressures at the high school level, restructuring of families, depression and a feeling of not being understood have been identified as a few of the underlying risk factors fueling the youth behavior of today. Families in general have changed. A generation ago, Mom was Mom. She was the pillar of the family. Now, Mom and Dad are both working.
Kids socialize among themselves differently.
They have more information available to them. The family structure has changed so much that things seem to evolve at a faster pace. Kids are reacting to things more violently. Pete Zielinski, school resource police officer at Plattsburgh Central School and community service officer with the City of Plattsburgh Police Department, agrees. At the high school, Zielinski works with school officials, students and families on educational law issues, team teaches personal and business law classes, provides drug and alcohol prevention programming during health classes, and offers counseling and referral services to students.