Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Philosophy Corner - School Days

The following was sent to me by a friend and may not make sense to you young folks, but as a 12 year-old in 1958, I can identify with it and confirm its validity. I decided to post it to show how much our society has changed and in some cases how ridiculous we may have become.

SCHOOL DAYS -- 1958 vs. 2012

Scenario 1:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2012 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 2:
Jeffrey will not behave in class, he disrupts other students.
1958 - 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.
2012 - 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 3:
Jack goes duck hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1958 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2012 - 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 4:
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.
2012- 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.
1958 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2012- 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.
1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2012 - 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.
1958 - Ants die.
2012 - 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.
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2012 - 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.


Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.


Two years ago:  An Asparagus Tutorial

Larry

12 comments:

  1. So true, so true Larry. Makes ya miss the good ole days.
    Sam

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  2. I scratch my head wondering what happened to our world. Things are so crazy!

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  3. Funny, but so true Larry! I can remember kids getting paddled with "the board of education" by the principal when I was in school.Of course that was back in the late 50's and early 60's, the
    'good ole days".

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  4. I think it is funny but unfortunately is it all too true. The world is changing and sometimes not for the better.

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  5. A lot of very sad truth in this, Larry. Schools shuffle kids through now without much concern whether they can read or write. My daughter is a middle school counselor and almost daily has parents screaming at her that their precious child shouldn't be disciplined in any way no matter what they do. I went to a Catholic grade school many years ago and the nuns had no problem giving out a good whack with a ruler to students who misbehaved. But those were the old days...

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  6. Preach it, brother!

    People think I'm an evil mother, because I don't go in for all the mollycoddling that goes on these days. And when the school tried to force me to have my second son diagnosed with ADD and drugged up, I threatened to sue them for interfering with my parental rights. But I think a little common sense and some discipline will go a lot farther than all this psychobabble crap.

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  7. This reminds me of just how good the Good Old Days really were.

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  8. Supposed to be funny I'm sure---but to me, some of this is just sad.... Where are the good ole days???? I miss them. AND--I hate to see what has happened in our wonderful country.

    When I was growing up, we never locked our doors ---and I could walk all over our town and never be frightened.... Oh Well---tis life!
    Betsy

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  9. HA! I think several of the scenarios happened to me, the '58 versions that is... another sad commentary of our times

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  10. Larry, Your comments remind me of a time when kids would just go out and play; when one could be spanked by teachers and parents and no one would go to jail; when kids didn't always win...no one always wins or gets a ribbon in real life. Fact...We aren't all born equal in all ways! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  11. The NSA is monitoring this post ;)

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