Then and Now
School 1960 vs. School 2007
Scenario: Jack goes
quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun
rack.
1960 - Vice
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 fist fight after school
1960 - 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.
1960 - 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.
1960 - 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
1960 - 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.
1960 - 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.USCivil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against 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 English.
Scenario: Johnny
takes apart leftover Independence Day firecrackers, puts them in a model
airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1960 - 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.
1960 - 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.