Received this in an email from the Moose Buyer's sister. Being in education I can say for certain that the 2007 senarios certainly ring true. (how sad) Just in case you are wondering, I didn't attend school in 1957 (I'm not THAT old)...not that having been in school in 1957 makes you really old...I'm just saying that I personally wasn't in school in 1957. I better stop now and just let you read this for yourself.
Without further ado...
School in 1957 vs. School in 2007
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Assistant principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lockdown, the FBI is called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to assist traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra state funding 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.
1957 - 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. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high-school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. US Civil Liberties Union files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway, but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak or read English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Independence Day firecrackers, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - Homeland Security and the FBI are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. Teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1957 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
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8 comments:
As funny as these are, they also represent a sad commentary on how things have changed. Sometimes "progress" isn't all that it should be.
I agree with Joan. Sometimes progress for the sake of progress is a bad thing.
Although the thing with the gun...back in 1982 a friend of mine brought his hand gun to sell it to another student. Someone squeeled on him...and I was almost dragged into the office as a witness...I didn't even see the gun that day!!! Luckily they didn't bother to call me in. Whew! The friend ended up hiding the gun on the roof and picked it up after school. I don't know if he ever got to sell the gun.
I don't even want to think what they'll be sending out in 2057 (comparing 2007 and 2057).... I fear for our children and their children.
TImes they have changed. I wasn't in school in '57 either (try '92), but the scenarios from '57 were easier to identify with than the ones from '07. Maybe I led a sheltered life, if the case, then I was lucky.
In the late nineties I was surprised to learn my high school had a security officer and metal detectors. What a difference eight years can make.
funny, yet sad. I saw on the news this morning that a nurse in massachusetts is trying to ban spanking. even in your own home, what a crock! apparently, parents could be charged with abuse, can you believe that? I think someone needs to spank her...with a 2x4. :)
Joan - What is so sad is that this is true. I've seen two kids get into the same amount of trouble for fighting, even though one was defending himself.
Renee - Friends with guns...sounds like you've lead quite an interesting life;~)
Jodi - Good point. It's hard to imagine it getting any worse.
Ms. Chica - Back when I was in middle school and high school, we all had lockers. Now many schools are doing away with lockers because they don't want the kids possibly hiding things in them.
Holly - Welcome to my blog. It is amazing what people try to legislate.
Hi blog sis,
Come get your award!
;-)
Patti - I'm heading over now:~)
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