Wednesday, April 5, 2017

N.C. Middle-School Science Teacher Hospitalized Over Student Prank!

It's disturbing, but I am not surprised to learn of this particular incident. Is it the first time it's happened? I seriously doubt it, and it won't be the last, either! 

My big question is... What type of consequences will the school district meet out on the students who committed this potentially life threatening "prank" if something more toxic been chosen. Also, if the district doesn't give the teacher at least the option to instruct another class by arranging for a swap, or transfer, then they'll be creating a hostile work environment.

What happened? Well, you be the one to determine its severity, and use this link to read the article.

I guess I could count my blessings, as a former middle-school science teacher retiree, that this kind of malicious act didn't happen to me. 

To illustrate just how far our modern societal culture has deviated from our past, I'm providing this scenario shared by a friend of mine about the difference of public schools when we were students and today:

HIGH SCHOOL --  1957  vs  2016

Scenario 1:
Jack goes duck 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 shotgun to show Jack.
2016 -  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.
2016 -  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 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.
2016 -  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. 
1957 Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and  becomes a successful businessman.
2016 -  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 spanked 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 . 2016 -  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.
2016 -  Pedro's cause is taken up by a radical group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.  ACLU files a class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher.  English is then banned from the basic 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.
2016 -  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. 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.
2016  - 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.

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