that explains it

I'm reading this article on psychopaths, because it is interesting and my students might find it of interest, they may have to read it next year. Nice story how science thought develops.

Then on my drives NPR has a series on the test used to test prisoners. Prisoners who rate high on the psychopath scale have little hope for parole. The parole boards will simply not release them.

Following up on the article I look at the test they give. Some of the conditions stand out. These describe many of our problem children. Especially the "failure to accept responsibility". A problems student always describes his punishment as "he's trying to suspend me", no darling, the dean of students can't "try" either you are suspended or you are not.

Item 3 Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom

Item 4 Pathological lying

Item 5 Cunning/manipulative

Item 10 Poor behavioural controls

Item 11 Promiscuous sexual behaviour

Item 12 Early behaviour problems

Item 14 Impulsivity

Item 16 Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

Item 18 Juvenile delinquency

According to the article psychopaths are a small part of the population. There is another quote we use "5% of your student population makes up 95% of your discipline problems." Or in my words when I'm reading off announcements of who has lunch detention or ISS/OSS..."the usual suspects". Its the same kids.

Can we identify them where they are young? Before the programimng of a human being is done? We look at the young students and by 3rd grade we can tell you if they are going to jail or not.