Comments on: Local Blogging 01.10.08

By: aliecat

aliecat — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:19:54 +0000

Oh, Boo Hoo, kids think they’re being treated unfairly. Welcome to the real world, chumps.

By: jderusha

jderusha — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:15:58 +0000

I just got her e-mail, JACC, those kids are clearly very lucky. A lot of the e-mails people sent in will go on-line with my story tonight. Thanks guys! (Some will be in the story too).

By: as if

as if — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:08:27 +0000

Just watched the Telly Savalas thing on Jeremy’s blog. I thought it was going to be Rudyard Kipling’s “If” but instead it was a spoken version of the Bread tune. Brilliant!!!!!!

By: JACC

JACC — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:49:34 +0000

Then those kids are very lucky.
That's true.

By: mazasapa

mazasapa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:40:28 +0000

Then those kids are very lucky.

By: JACC

JACC — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:39:24 +0000

Can anyone imagine circumstances like that today? Teachers knowing the parents personally because they live in the same neighborhood? Me neither.

Not much of an imagination maz?
We live in the same neighborhood that my wife teaches in.

By: bud jr

bud jr — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:08:46 +0000

Maz, you are a true prophet.

By: mnblrmkr

mnblrmkr — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:05:03 +0000

Some of those cases described seemed to be based on pretty flimsy evidence (if true). Suspensions for holding a red cup? I['ve been to picnics and parties where the only drinks were water or soft drinks served in plastic cups.

Some of the pictures were also described as having been taken at family gatherings, or at times when the students were not covered under the schools policies.

As for Jason's question, schools now also have draconian penalties for even minor infractions. I've read of students getting expelled for behavior that only resulted in a call to your parents when I was in school.

There is also the increased stakes of ensuring the best opportunities, and even a small blemish on the record is seen as damaging those chances.

By: mazasapa

mazasapa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:44:17 +0000

we would say = “he” would say, obviously.

By: mazasapa

mazasapa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:41:51 +0000

I went to multi-racial, inner-city public schools. In junior high, one of my classes was choir. The choir director was a Mr. Ben Zachary. Six foot six, 280 pounds of former gopher football player. He also lived in the neighborhood and was the choir director for the A.M.E. church. He knew all our parents. He went to school with many of them and went to church with the rest.

Coincidentally, all the thugs in the school were assigned to attend the choir class. When anyone started to act up, we would say something like, "Now Rufus, do you want me to tell your parents about what you just did? Maybe I'll just drop by tonight and have a little talk with your daddy." Rufus apologized and got real quiet.

Can anyone imagine circumstances like that today? Teachers knowing the parents personally because they live in the same neighborhood? Me neither.