Sandy Hook Demolition

[Chief Gump]

So apparently the Sandy Hook task force recommended that they demolish the school and rebuild. I just don't see how that helps the kids involved and would be a huge waste of taxpayer money. What do you guys and gals think?

Poll forthcoming...

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

I am not advocating "erasing the memory" with a new building. I assumed that was obvious.

But you can minimize the daily traumatic experience by altering the environment. As you know, environment is a huge factor in human emotional status. Alter it, minimize the effects. That is what I am advocating.

You can't expect to use taxpayer money for every tragedy, but this is a special case. I can expect taxpayers to foot the [minimal] bill because it is an isolated incident. That's my point.

As for it's justification, that's entirely subjective. I think it is justified due to the rarity and the magnitude of the situation.

I think there are many ways of altering the environment to reduce trauma, that don't require complete demolition and rebuilding. Which should be considered first, since there's no obvious and easy way to pay for this.

And I disagree with your justification. Response to childhood trauma shouldn't depend on how rare the tragedy is. Each response should depend on the individual situation at hand. In this case, it would be nice if we could provide a new school. But the community can't really afford it and the taxpayers shouldn't be held responsible just because the community can't afford it. A new school would be the best outcome. I'm not denying that. But we can't force that outcome just because we want to, and just expect somebody else to pay for it because that would be the nice thing to do.

[kepp]

So wouldn't it be true that, by the time the new school gets completed, the kids that it harbors bad memories for will all have moved on from it, and completely new classes of kids will have taken their place? Kids that were in diapers when this happened.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Chief Gump

I am completely surprised by the poll results.

I'm not. It's a combination of me first (add to my taxes while not benefiting ME) and an inability for abstract thought.

Concrete thought- "Building's not broken, don't demolish it. Emotions? What are those intangible things?"

Abstract- "Emotions are real, and certain emotions can be elicited in the presence of a stimulus, such as the exact environment where the situation occurred."

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Fish

I think there are many ways of altering the environment to reduce trauma, that don't require complete demolition and rebuilding. Which should be considered first, since there's no obvious and easy way to pay for this.

And I disagree with your justification. Response to childhood trauma shouldn't depend on how rare the tragedy is. Each response should depend on the individual situation at hand. In this case, it would be nice if we could provide a new school. But the community can't really afford it and the taxpayers shouldn't be held responsible just because the community can't afford it. A new school would be the best outcome. I'm not denying that. But we can't force that outcome just because we want to, and just expect somebody else to pay for it because that would be the nice thing to do.

First bolded is exactly what I said in different words.

Second is the exact reason why the minimal burden on taxpayers is warranted. Relatively speaking, it will cost us a lot less than the small community who was the victim of circumstance.

[lcarus]

As long as there isn't any blood or things like that, I don't really see the point but whatever. Just being at the school Sandy Hook is going to bring up thoughts of what happened, whether it's the same building or a new one.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

First bolded is exactly what I said in different words.

Second is the exact reason why the minimal burden on taxpayers is warranted. Relatively speaking, it will cost us a lot less than the small community who was the victim of circumstance.

Many of the taxpayers being taxed would likely disagree with your opinion of it being warranted. I think the poll results reflect as much..

[Iowanian]

Financially it seems like a waste of tax dollars to tear down and replace a nicer building that many students currently attend in our country.

That said, when something like this happens, you can't remove the stain or the stigma from the building.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Chief Gump

I am completely surprised by the poll results.

Why?

Clean it up/fix it up, put new paint on the walls, beautify the outside with something that remembers those who were killed and move on. That's what you are supposed to do. Terrorist planes didn't take down a school building. A maniac tragically killed some innocent children and adults. Demolition is an overreaction by a biblical mile.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

That would work if children were only able to perceive colors while failing to perceive every other component of their environment.

Otherwise, it won't help.

Do you have kids, or have dealt with them a lot?