More truth than Poetry...

SCHOOL -- 1958 vs. 2008

Scenario : Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lotwith shotgun in gun rack.
1958 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes tohis car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2008 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off tojail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in fortraumatized students and teachers.

Scenario : Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and endup buddies.
2008 - 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.
1958 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by thePrincipal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Testedfor ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has adisability.

Scenario : Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him awhipping with his belt.
1958 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes tocollege, and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed tofoster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sisterthat 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 aspirin to school.
1958 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2008 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario : Pedro fails high school English.
1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2008 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appearnationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement forgraduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against stateschool system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from corecurriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for aliving because he cannot speak English.

Scenario : Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them ina model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1958 - Ants die.
2008 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged withdomestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed fromhome, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch listand 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.
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny under goes 5 years of therapy