School Life: 1960's vs Today

We have seen many changes in our lifetime; some good and some not good. The fictional scenarios, below, describe likely incidents at the schools we send our children to and how they would have been treated in the 1960's versus now. They make a strong statement about where we are going as a nation. They would be funny if they were not so true.

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.
1960's - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
Today - 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:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1960's - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
Today - 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 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1960's - 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.
Today - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy hits a baseball through a neighbor's window, and his Dad gives him a whipping because he had been told not to play baseball there.
1960's - Billy listens to his Dad, is more careful, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
Today - 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.
1960's - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal during recess who has a headache, too.
Today - 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.
1960's - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
Today - Pedro's cause is taken up by ACLU. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro graduates and 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.
1960's - Ants die.
Today - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents. 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 on a commercial airliner again.

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary, who hugs him to comfort him.
1960's - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
Today - 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.

[My thanks to Edna Oeth for forwarding me this article. I did apply some minor editing for applicability to my audience prior to posting. Original author is unknown.]