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Sunday, February 08, 2009

SCHOOL -- 1958 vs. 2008

Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school,

pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1958 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun,
goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2008 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail
and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in
for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.
Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2008 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.


Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1958 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.
Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie.
Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state
because Jeffrey has a disability.


Scenario:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car

and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1958 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal,
goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse.
Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang.
State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.


Scenario:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.

1958 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2008 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.
Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario:
Pedro fails high school English.

1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2008 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state.
Newspaper articles appear nationally
explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.
ACLU files class action lawsuit against 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 4th of July,
puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.

1958 - Ants die.
2008- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called.
Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents,
siblings removed from home, computers confiscated,
Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee.
He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job..
She faces 3 years in State Prison.
Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

you have to love the simpler times when you trusted your educators to do what was right.

Anonymous said...

And we wonder why kids treat adults with the lack of respect that they do. They are not made to "mind" when they are younger, at a time in which all children are the most impressionable. Its too easy to be their friend than their parent providing guidance. My dad beat my butt a few times, it didnt terrorize me for life. It actually gave a respect for parenting that I will never forget.

Moon Willow said...

I often say that I wish we could go back to the days of "Father Knows Best" and "Leave It To Beaver." This post is a perfect example of that.

Anonymous said...

Yep, I know what you mean. That ADD kid was my kid. However, he turned out pretty awesome, and is a great dad today. Times have changed and sadly, not for the better. I am sure we can all agree that situations need to be monitored closely, but a nice hug never hurt anyone!!!

Anonymous said...

that is truly an accurate account of how things were and how they are today. It is a shame that this is where we, as a society have gone in just a few years. If you can remember back that far we didnt even have to lock our doors at night back then