EPIDEMIC sounds like a better description. There are several issues to consider. The most important is that Western society as a whole has become hatefilled and apathetic due to the sense of helplessness promoted by a phony sense of democracy promoted by Corporate control of peoples lives. There is not outlet for real expression or choice. We get what McWorld offers us and no more. that runs ,like piss, downhill due to a lack of civility . Our educational systems are so deficient that kids have nothing to do but act out these "lord of the Flies' scenarios . Society is falling apart at the seems and what will happen is that the hand of corporate machinery will pull it att together in unpleasant ways. In the lack of any sense of principle the law of the jungle prevails and, "gay" just means powerless or
weird._not in line with the Bosses .

I noticed some time ago, in America, at least,
that with H.S kids, "gay "didn't refer to sexuality but to just being different-not nec. even necessarily with a bad connotation. E.g. A rock singer might be "Gay": if they were far out of the norm. The teachers may not have asked what it realy meant.

The fact that teachers feel unable to correct students on behavior that they take to be highly inappropriate and abusive is beyond the pale; Radically wrong! I may have come from private school and a small town but no one would ever consider mouthing off to a teacher yet threatening them. or picking on other students.This is the case in America too.

"or picking on other students"

you need a high school refresher, 'cause after four years in public high school (which ends in MAY!!!!), it's not pretty.

the word gay may not have had a bad connotation back in your time, but my god does it ever nowadays. gay and faggot are, hands down, the two most commonly used words in high school today. Stupidity, weakness, poor taste in clothes, you name it; if it isn't a good quality, gay or faggot is the most common synonym.

I had a very reassuring gov't class this year. The first time we had class, my teacher explained his m.o., the class structure, and his expected class conduct and at this point he took time to share some generalized facts. Paraphrased, he said "around 6% of the population is homosexual, knowingly, unknowingly, or out about it. In my class we do not use the word gay unless we are talking about this group of people." He's unique. Most of the time, it is unstopped.