Then and Now...........

[LostArt]

.....and you wonder what is wrong with this Country?

Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.

1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.

2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counsellors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

++++++++++++++++++++++

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

1956 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

2006 - 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.

1956 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits still in class.

2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad gives him a whipping.

1956 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.

2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state psychologist 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 headache medicine to school.

1956 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock.

2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant.

1956 - 5 High School Boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a special school for expectant mothers.

2006 - Middle School Counsellor calls Planned Parenthood, who notifies the ACLU. Mary is driven to the next state over and gets an abortion without her parent's consent or knowledge. Mary given condoms and told to be more careful next time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1956: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

2006 : Pedro's cause is taken up by state democratic party. 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 can't speak English.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed ..

1956 - Ants die.

2006 - 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.

1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison

[graybeard]

LA
I thought you said you were a democrat?

[loodvig]

That Mary was a slut! What are you doing? Looking at your old year book? LOL

[LostArt]

LA
I thought you said you were a democrat?

OH NO!!! Not you too!!! :D

Actually, the part where Mary is pregnant, it goes like this:

1956 - Mary doesn't graduate high school but leaves and is never heard of again but her parents say she went to live with her aunt.

2006 - Middle school counsler sets Mary up for homebound with doctor's written request. After baby is born, she is returned to school and sent to a parenthood help classes and the state funds her with single parent funds. And the school is responsible to give Mary every opportunity to graduate, both with administrative leaves or excused absences due being a single parent that might pertain to her or her child. Since she is nursing, the SCHOOL nurse is responsible to make sure there are supplies for her and her baby's needs. The teacher(s) is/are to spend some extra time making sure she will be sucessful, in not only her education, but in a career.

Does Mary graduate? I'll let you all know the outcome.... since we have 4 Mary's right now in our school. Yeah, we (the school of EDUCATION) are failing in sexual education and not supplying condoms or some form of contraceptive. Maybe the EDUCATION system needs to try and find funding for THAT also????

Or find out if we need to do something about our water system maybe? It must be in the water, right?

[LostArt]

That Mary was a slut! What are you doing? Looking at your old year book? LOL

LOL! Believe it or not, we did have an 8th grade student that got pregnant by a 9th grader. They both got married. Her freshman year she received Freshman Attendent for HomeComing and her husband (who was then a Sophmore) escorted her on the field.

Are they still married? Can you believe they ARE????? True story and both graduated from HS! And she became the records clerk for the same school she graduated from. Her son(that baby) also graduated from that school. He is only 13 yrs younger than her.

She was also a member of our church and received the Youngest Mother every Mother's Day for about 10 yrs.

No lie. True Story.

[mrnick]

LA,
that was some good reading. things have changed so much. I remember when I was in grade school I beat up every bully that came along, I think i lost 2 fights though. I would never get in trouble, most of the times the teachers never knew about it.

I herd something on the news earlier this week. 2 kids got in a fight at a prince georges county Md. middle school. the child who was being picked on fought the bully and beat his sorry little ass. both kids end up in the principals office, having their parents called to pick them both up. The bully's parents decided to beat the kid up who was being picked on while he was waiting to be picked up.

road rage is another thing. I remember when you can drive SAFELY. now you got dumb asses who cut you off, give you the finger, tailgate and very impatient people and you got rich kids using mommy and daddys car to drive like a maniac....it's crazy how much things have changed.

[shaun]

Pretty cool tread LA. It really makes ya wonder how overboard we've really become. Where oh where did we ever go wrong? Today, I'd get a ticket if my kids are ridin their bikes without helmets. :eek: I wonder how we all survived? Funny, I can remember playin with some fire works and blowing a full garbage can clear over my grandpa's split level with my brother and cousin. Scared the crap out of everybody :cool: .......but that was just not good enough so the next "BlockBuster" was sent up into the crotch of the tree and BOOM! blew half of the main lead off the tree right into grandpa's pool!!:D Never did that again, I'll tell ya that for sure!! I could only imagine if it were done today?? I think those in power may have ordered an air strike or summin. I feel bad for my kids. They're not allowed to grow up and enjoy being a kid.

[Alan Mac]

.....and you wonder what is wrong with this Country?

Hey Grace, by this country I assume you mean the USA. It sounds just like lil' ol' Britain to me. You ain't got the monopoly on this ya know. Just when I think it got as dumb as it could, someone comes out with another stupid regulation.

Mac

[BigClive]

Hey Grace, by this country I assume you mean the USA. It sounds just like lil' ol' Britain to me. You ain't got the monopoly on this ya know. Just when I think it got as dumb as it could, someone comes out with another stupid regulation.

Mac

Banning steps and ladders off building sites for instance.... In case the workmen fall off them.

So you've not got a gun then Alan? :)

[LostArt]

Hey Nick. You are right alot more little things that send people into a full blown rage. Crazy.

Shaun, you cracked me up on your firerockets! Heh. But, you are right too much muffle on somethings and not even muffling on other things for the kids. Just seems like we are one extreme to another anymore.



Hey Grace, by this country I assume you mean the USA. It sounds just like lil' ol' Britain to me. You ain't got the monopoly on this ya know. Just when I think it got as dumb as it could, someone comes out with another stupid regulation.

Mac

Hey Mac!! Well, I was talking about America today, but I should have included the rest of the countries. However, I'm not familiar with what all goes on over yonder, or up there....or downunder! :D You all have to tell me!

Well, Clive...maybe they are walkin' under the ladders while you guys are working. Are the Brits kinda a superstitious bunch??? :D

[Dave@PSE&G]

OH NO!!! Not you too!!! :D

Actually, the part where Mary is pregnant, it goes like this:

1956 - Mary doesn't graduate high school but leaves and is never heard of again but her parents say she went to live with her aunt.

2006 - Middle school counsler sets Mary up for homebound with doctor's written request. After baby is born, she is returned to school and sent to a parenthood help classes and the state funds her with single parent funds. And the school is responsible to give Mary every opportunity to graduate, both with administrative leaves or excused absences due being a single parent that might pertain to her or her child. Since she is nursing, the SCHOOL nurse is responsible to make sure there are supplies for her and her baby's needs. The teacher(s) is/are to spend some extra time making sure she will be sucessful, in not only her education, but in a career.

Does Mary graduate? I'll let you all know the outcome.... since we have 4 Mary's right now in our school. Yeah, we (the school of EDUCATION) are failing in sexual education and not supplying condoms or some form of contraceptive. Maybe the EDUCATION system needs to try and find funding for THAT also????

Or find out if we need to do something about our water system maybe? It must be in the water, right?

I'm gonna sound like my mom, but here goes: It's TV, and the internet. Boys have been looking up skirts since the days of fig leaves, but girls have been given a "green light" to shake their money makers at a younger age. When I see 10 and 12 year old girls in the mall, done up to the nines (makeup, jewelry, etc.)I'm shocked. My senior prom date (in '82)didn't show that much skin. AND I PAID FOR A FRIGGIN' LIMO!!!!! Too much Britney Spears and too little fathers kicking some butt, and the world is shocked by a pregnant 14 year old. Boys are no angels, I'm just saying that what I think changed is girl's non-chalant attitude towards sex. I was reading somewhere that a poll of highschool girls found that they don't think that oral sex is a sex act. Are you kidding me? Thanks Monica and Bill. I'm glad I have a son. I will try to teach him to save it, but if that is not an option, I'll instruct him to use a condom and kick his ass if he doesn't.

[LostArt]

I'm gonna sound like my mom, but here goes: It's TV, and the internet. Boys have been looking up skirts since the days of fig leaves, but girls have been given a "green light" to shake their money makers at a younger age. When I see 10 and 12 year old girls in the mall, done up to the nines (makeup, jewelry, etc.)I'm shocked. My senior prom date (in '82)didn't show that much skin. AND I PAID FOR A FRIGGIN' LIMO!!!!! Too much Britney Spears and too little fathers kicking some butt, and the world is shocked by a pregnant 14 year old. Boys are no angels, I'm just saying that what I think changed is girl's non-chalant attitude towards sex. I was reading somewhere that a poll of highschool girls found that they don't think that oral sex is a sex act. Are you kidding me? Thanks Monica and Bill. I'm glad I have a son. I will try to teach him to save it, but if that is not an option, I'll instruct him to use a condom and kick his ass if he doesn't.

I'll have to agree with you on that Dave. I'm so thankful that my daughter came through all those times. She didn't even wear make up. The most she dressed up was going to prom. Not that she dressed in rags, I didn't allow that. Actually, she knew I better not get a call about dress code violation. I told her the first time I received one, the phone would go. And when she started driving, the car would stay parked in the drive. I laugh now, but when those baggy pants came out, my son wore one of his friends pants home and the boss said, "I hope you didn't use MY MONEY to pay for those. But, it doesn't matter. If it was your money, I'm sorry but those are going to go in the trash right now. My son said, "No Dad, they aren't mine." He wanted to be hip, but the boss wanted those pants to the waist and he better not see his underwear either.

Dave, now I hear my son say when I ask if he is dating anyone new, "Mom, it's not the same as when you grew up. You don't understand. These girls are wacky. They have major issues mom. The dating world as you knew it, doesn't exist any longer." I told him maybe it was the places he was hanging out at. He laughed at me and said, "Mom, you have been to the mall, right? And I'm sure there are some at the school. I've been in the dating scene for almost 10 yrs now and it's only getting worse." It really hurts to hear him sound so defeated about it though. 'Course he sounds more resigned to the fact.

You know Dave, I don't think there is any courting done these days. I mean....I don't even think the word foreplay is in the dictionary anymore! Well.........I don't!!!

[Dave@PSE&G]

I'll have to agree with you on that Dave. I'm so thankful that my daughter came through all those times. She didn't even wear make up. The most she dressed up was going to prom. Not that she dressed in rags, I didn't allow that. Actually, she knew I better not get a call about dress code violation. I told her the first time I received one, the phone would go. And when she started driving, the car would stay parked in the drive. I laugh now, but when those baggy pants came out, my son wore one of his friends pants home and the boss said, "I hope you didn't use MY MONEY to pay for those. But, it doesn't matter. If it was your money, I'm sorry but those are going to go in the trash right now. My son said, "No Dad, they aren't mine." He wanted to be hip, but the boss wanted those pants to the waist and he better not see his underwear either.

Dave, now I hear my son say when I ask if he is dating anyone new, "Mom, it's not the same as when you grew up. You don't understand. These girls are wacky. They have major issues mom. The dating world as you knew it, doesn't exist any longer." I told him maybe it was the places he was hanging out at. He laughed at me and said, "Mom, you have been to the mall, right? And I'm sure there are some at the school. I've been in the dating scene for almost 10 yrs now and it's only getting worse." It really hurts to hear him sound so defeated about it though. 'Course he sounds more resigned to the fact.

You know Dave, I don't think there is any courting done these days. I mean....I don't even think the word foreplay is in the dictionary anymore! Well.........I don't!!!
LA,
The problem with your son appears to be that you and the boss raised a gentleman, and that he doesn't know how to deal with these "freaky" chicks. Unfortunately, a lot of these girls are going to sow their oats (see "Girls Gone Wild)and run the risk of picking up either an STD or a little bundle of joy. The role models for girls these days seems to be Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Neither of them with a clue as to how to be a role model. Paris Hilton's parents must be SO proud. Eventually, the girls will tone it down. Hopefully, before real damage is done. Tell your son to stay the course and keep his eyes open. A good one will come along. Of course when she does she'll have to pass Mom's standards of integrity...
p.s.- I could be wrong, but I think today's version of foreplay is deciding what color condom to use. It's sad...

[BigClive]

You guys are right that the Internet is making it easier for kids to explore the more adventurous side of sex before they have reached a mature age. Most of them will laugh at what they see adults doing on the 'net, but they will also see the other side where it all goes wrong too. I'm not sure about America but the UK has never had such a high number of people choosing to live a single life.

But lets consider some of the positive sides of the 'net. It's helping kids meet truly compatible friends around the world. It's answering the questions they are too scared to ask their parents. It's feeding their minds with technical information on almost any subject that might catch their fancy.

Kids these days are just so different thanks to the Internet, and I think its made them wiser both socially and technically.