Then and Now

[SiriuslyCold]

text of a rather depressing email, just nice to push you over the edge from Monday blues.

 

Scenario 1: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.

 

1977 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up mates.

 

2007 - Police are called, Armed Response Unit arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. Mobiles phones with evidence of fight are confiscated. Both are charged with assault, ASBOs are taken out and suspended even though Johnny started it. Diversionary conferences and parent meetings conducted. Mobile phone video shown on 6 internet sites.

 

Scenario 2: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.

 

1977 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given 6 of the best. Returns to class, sits still and never disrupts the class again.

 

2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Counseled to death. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADHD. School gets extra funding because Jeffrey has a disability. Jeffrey drops out of school.

 

Scenario 3: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him the slipper.

 

1977 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normally, 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. Psychologist convinces Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has an affair with the psychologist. Psychologist gets a promotion.

 

Scenario: Mark brings cigarettes to school.

 

1977 - Mark shares a smoke with the school principal out on the smoking area.

 

2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug possession. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.

 

Scenario: Gagajeet fails GCSE English.

 

1977 - Gagajeet retakes his exam, passes and goes to college.

 

2007 - Gagajeet cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally, insisting that making English a requirement in school is racist. Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and his English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Gagajeet is given his qualification anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

 

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers, puts them in a model plane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.

 

1977 - Ants die.

 

2007 - MI5 and police are called and Johnny is charged with perpetrating acts of 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 with American airlines ever again.

 

Scenario: Johnny falls during playtime and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.

 

1977 - 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 prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy; becomes gay.

[Spunky]

Scenario 2: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.

 

1977 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given 6 of the best. Returns to class, sits still and never disrupts the class again.

 

2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Counseled to death. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADHD. School gets extra funding because Jeffrey has a disability. Jeffrey drops out of school.

 

 

It's amazing how eager those docs are in giving out Ritalin at the slightest sign of ADHD!!! >:(

[louco73]

 

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers, puts them in a model plane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.

 

1977 - Ants die.

 

That one had me in stitches.

 

I used to do all sorts of things with fireworks in New Zealand. Blowing up dirt mounds, firing empty cat food cans into the air, and generally making a nuisance of ourselves.

 

I remember one of the lads managed to get one of those single use rocket launchers from somewhere. We fired the fireworks rockets out of it.

 

Kids have no fun these days ;)

[SiriuslyCold]

I used to do all sorts of things with fireworks in New Zealand. Blowing up dirt mounds, firing empty cat food cans into the air, and generally making a nuisance of ourselves.

 

I remember one of the lads managed to get one of those single use rocket launchers from somewhere. We fired the fireworks rockets out of it.

 

latent terrorists... I see why there was this huge civil war in New Zealand a couple of years ago that was made into a movie... ;D

 

back in the unenlightened days, my friend used to dab lighter fluid on the back of cockroaches ... set them alight and watch them run, smoking down the corridor.

 

[kelso1624705851]

 

 

Scenario: Mark brings cigarettes to school.

 

1977 - Mark shares a smoke with the school principal out on the smoking area.

 

2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug possession. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.

 

This is very close to home. In the late 70's I was in a JC here, one morning I was walking with my friend who's my senior. Now he was considered the coolest guy because he was leader of the band, not the marching brass band but the rock band you see (there are advantages knowing him because suddenly all the hip girls know your name :) ). So we were talking on our way to morning assembly and he was smelling of cigarettes, I think he just finished one. Then horror of horrors, or so I thought because coming along side to join in our little chat was the vice-principal. But while I was shrinking underneath, he very coolly put his hand on her shoulder (the further shoulder I might add) and said 'Oh hi Mrs. Lee' in his raspy voice. And the VP actually said 'Hi Kevin (yes she's on first name basis with him) I see you haven't given up smoking....' Anyway I left them chitchatting like old friends.

[armoury]

And the VP actually said 'Hi Kevin (yes she's on first name basis with him) I see you haven't given up smoking....'

Well, I suppose since she didn't catch him actually smoking on school premises, technically she couldn't do anything?

[kelso1624705851]

She could've got the disciplinary master to do a search of his body/bags/locker which is quite the norm now, they like to shame you as punishment in lieu ...in case they can't find anything