Overly Slack to Over-Reaction? -- LONG
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| Tue, 03-20-2007 - 11:32am |
In our little town, one of the members of the school board writes a column for our little weekly newspaper, mostly dealing with issues at the schools, the proposition for our own high school and the like. Last week he submitted the following. He didn't write it, but didn't give credit for who actually did, either. I laughed at parts of it, but it's a bit sad to think it's not completely ridiculous or exaggerated and that the it might be the reality sooner or later.
1973 versus 2007
Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with a rifle in a gun rack.
1973: Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's gun, goes to his car and gets his own to show Jack.
2007: School goes into lockdown. FBI called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1973: Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and become best friends. Nobody goes to jail. Nobody is arrested or expelled.
2007: Police called. SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assult. Both expelled from school even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeff won't be still in class. Disrupts other students.
1973: Jeff sent to principal's office and given a good paddling. Sits still in class.
2007: Jeff given huge does of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeff has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in Dad's car and Dad gives him a whipping.
1973: Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2007: Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy is told by state pscyhologist that he remembers being abused and Dad goes to prison.
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1973: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes on to college.
2007: Pedro's case is taken up by the state democratic party. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a graduation requirement is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit agains the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway, but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1973: Ants die.
2007: BATF, Homeland Security and FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism. FBI investigates parents. Siblings removed from home, computers confiscated and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
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ROFL !!!!
Oh this is too funny...
I've done all but one of these.
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Did a WWII report in social studies. Brought a German Luger pistol and an American hand grenade as visual aides. (Of course, both were harmless but that doesn't matter in 2007)
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Sure! While dogs pee to mark their territory, young boys would sometimes whack each other around a bit to establish the unwritten pecking order, then become best friends. The similarities are uncanny....
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7th grade math. Jeannie R. wore a T shirt showing cleavage for the first time in school history. Needless to say, I didn't learn math that day, but the principals office was worth it.
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Replace "whipping" with "spanking" and we're right on. Didn't matter that it was an accident and I was really, really sorry. That was how it worked back then. I don't recall my childhood as "abusive."
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Not a bad idea, but my ordinance of choice was empty metal lipstick casings. They did an impressive job on mailboxes when I was 12. Incredibly stupid I know, but since destroying mailboxes is a "Federal" offense, I'm surprised I made it to law school.
Looking at this article, I guess it's good to be 50.
Rose
LOL! So close to being true!! Yet, this closeness to being the truth also makes it sad. Kids also interact with each other so differently now compared to 1973.
Julie, you got me longing for the "good ol' days"! (Notwithstanding that there were other issues taking up the front page of the newspaper!)
... gasp! ... daddio ... a juvenile delinquent? Horrors!
Methinks you must have been the inspiration for this little piece ... lolol
No kidding, huh? A couple weeks ago, DS told me he (and his friends) would no longer be allowed to take their footballs to school to toss around during lunch.
Why? Because someone 'got hurt'.
???? Can't say I know the details of the injury, but to ban footballs from the school entirely seems a bit extreme for what may have been, a sprained pinkie finger.
It makes me sad, too. Seems like our 'freedoms' are being slowly and steadily taken away. Been through an airport lately?
Last month I had to fligh up to Northern California to attend the funeral of an aunt. I had one carry-on bag and my handbag. Since I was only staying one night, I tossed my face wash, toner, etc., in the bag with my clothes.
Because of the size of the bottles, I either had to throw it all out or check the bag. I chose to check the bag, but threw out an unopened bottle of water I brought from home so I could go through security and pay $3.50 for another one on the other side of the gate.
Whoops ... got a little off topic there! Sorry!
Last time I flew I had forgotten a bottle of water in my backpack. I chose to go back to the end of the line, chugged it, and went through security again. I'm a recycler and could not throw it in the trash. I even have to bring home empty bottles/cans if there's no recycling container at a sporting event. And I refill water bottles from the tap whenever possible cuz the trucks that transport all that water cause too much noise, pollution and damage to our roads.
I agree with others, the post is funny, but sad.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM
I'm a recycler, too!! Good for you!
Amelia