Subject: HIGH SCHOOL — 1957 vs. 2011
You should know that by today’s standards none of us was supposed to ever make it.
HIGH SCHOOL — 1957 vs. 2011
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.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2010 - 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.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2010 - 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.
1957 - 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.
2010 - 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 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2010 - 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.
1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock .
2010 - 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.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2010 - 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.
1957 - Ants die.
2010 - 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.
1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2010 - 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.
How stupid have we become?
Freddie falls off of his bicycle and breaks his arm.
1957 - Parents take Freddie to the hospital, get x-rays, arm is set in a cast and 6 weeks later Freddie is fine.
2011 - Parents take Freddie to the hospital, get x-rays, arm is set in a cast. Parents hire a lawyer who sues Schwinn for 20 million dollars because a bicycle is an inherently unstable vehicle and should no be manufactured for minors. Schwinn settles out of court for 7.5 million.
Subject: Real Life - Real Story 1957
Six year old boy falls out of tree he's climbing in and lands on a Mesquite tree branch, causing a large Mesquite thorn to lodge in his left forearm. Knowing that it will really hurt when it is pulled out, boy refuses to let Mom touch it. Mom grabs boy and catches bus to town to doctor's office. Doctor, full grown adult male, 'accidentally' steps the boy's foot. He cries out in pain only to find the doctor holding the Mesquite thorn in front of his face yelling, “you made your Mama come all the way down here for this - you'll be lucky if I don't write out a prescription for a good spanking. Now get this silly boy out of here” Boy and mother stop and have an ice cream cone, then catch the bus for home.
2011 Version - I do not have the stamina to write the novel it would take to describe the same event today. Undoubtedly it would involve child protective services, the Arbor Society, numerous lawyers, the doctor losing practice, new insurance regulations, and changes to the mass transit rules.