School Days

[nana]

HIGH SCHOOL

1957 vs. 2010

Scenario 1:

Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.

1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.

2010 - 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 2:

Buster and Dale get into a fist fight after school.

1957 - Crowd gathers. Buster wins. Buster and Dale shake hands and end up buddies.

2010 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Buster and Dale. They are both charged them with assault and both expelled even though Buster started it.

Scenario 3:

Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.

1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.

2010 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:

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.

2010 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by 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 5:

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

1957- Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock

2010- The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:

Pedro fails high school English.

1957- Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.

2010- 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 the state school system and Pedro's

English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7:

Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.

1957 - Ants die.

2010 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:

Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.

1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2010 - 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.

This should hit every email inbox to show how stupid we have become!!

[Brian]

This is so... true. Sad times we live in.

[AimeeG]

As a teacher, these scenarios hit hard. I've read them before. And I've seen some of the results in the 2010 versions happen. It is a difficult time to be a student. I can' say that I agree with the 2010 versions, but I do understand why those ended up being the results: Can we say "overreaction" in many cases?

I have another one to add:

Scenario 9:

Jane is bullied at school. Kids tease her about playing soccer with the boys instead of playing four square with the girls.

1979: Jane goes home, practices soccer, becomes world famous player.

2010: Jane commits suicide because the bullying doesn't stop when she leaves school, it continues on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace.

[Mark]

Sad but true--

[kitsune]

so sad and so true. Thats why I beat my children daily......They are both in college and doing well (and have jobs).....may need psychiatric help when they can pay for it......

Ok--so maybe I didn't beat them everyday......

Probably should be expecting a call or visit from the authorities soon after this post !!!

[Uma]

Crazy true. Very sad. Quite an eye opener!

[snubber]

That is so true. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and it wasn't anything like today. Parents took responsibility for their child's actions and kids were just kids.

Maybe we didn't all turn out great, but we weren't nearly as screwed up at the kids today. (well maybe, just in a different way).

It's really sad where we've let this country turn into.

[mcquinn]

Not to sound too preachy but it seems when people feared God and knew he was watching and they would have to answer for what they do we were a little more civilised society.Im. just sayin.

[nana]

Not to sound too preachy but it seems when people feared God and knew he was watching and they would have to answer for what they do we were a little more civilised society.Im. just sayin.

Can't argue with that.