Another reader writes:

That was a shocking piece. I live in a town of 2,500 folks in southern Utah and I would like to think that the actions mentioned in your article don’t go on here but I wouldn’t be surprised. Last week an official with the local National Guard unit was convicted of making porn videos with a couple of high school girls. It is depressing to a parent of teenagers. I was most interested in the comments from your friend that taught in Appalachia about students ignoring their surroundings. That same scenario exists everywhere in rural and remote America. The best way to counter it is to do what we did in our family when we moved to a new house in 1996-eliminate TV. After a 90-day withdrawal, I can honestly say we don’t miss it. In fact our lives are much richer for not having it. Our children are better informed on world affairs (because they read newspapers and news magazines), great students and well adjusted-I recommend it to anyone with the courage to try it.