Longview, TX (Longview News-Journal) — The first time Tricia Biggs heard the song “Pumped Up Kicks” on the radio, she thought it had a cute, catchy tune.
Then the mother of five and president of the Longview ISD PTA Council looked up the lyrics on the Internet to see exactly what the song was about.
“I was horrified,” Biggs said. “It sounds so upbeat, but it’s really about a kid shooting other kids. I made an immediate decision that it wasn’t a song our family would be listening to.”
The PTAs of Longview, Pine Tree and Spring Hill are holding a joint meeting Monday to help parents better understand much of the media their children are exposed to daily.
Devices such as smartphones, iPads and iPods make it possible to listen to music, stream movies and play video games pretty much around the clock. And just as Biggs had no idea of the true meaning of that song, many parents and educators are clueless about the content of many popular songs and games, she said.
“What surprises me most about the lyrics and story lines of so much of today’s songs and shows is the way they try to sexualize kids at such a young age,” Biggs said. “Activities that were once considered inappropriate are now celebrated.”
Monday’s program. “Avoiding the Dangers of Today’s Media.” will be presented by Spring Hill School Resource Officer Roger Askew who warned, “Some of the lyrics and scenarios we’ll be discussing in detail will be pretty lurid, so this is an all-adults event.”
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