Topic : 12/06 Teacher Troubles

What a creative way to get the message across!! If a 5-y/o can get the point after that, it makes you wonder about these teens...

I must admit, I like the sandwich board, too...however, the legalistic nature of our institutions ("you do this, that will happen, period, no deviation") and the fact that the civil courts are or are about to be involved suggests that the time may be past for the parents and Anna to settle it among themselves. Clearly, she has decided to go after the "deep pockets," whether out of sheer frustration or spotting a golden (parachute) opportunity, I cannot decide. Since the courts are involved, I wonder whether a criminal or a civil court could or would impose such a creative solution.

BTW, I do disagree with Dr. Phil's suggestion that the matter be resolved "within the system." As has been mentioned ad infinitum on these boards, these darlings did their dirty work outside of school, off school grounds. If they had, instead, spray-painted the wall of a local furniture store with similar sentiments, I doubt that the owner of the building would be settling for a school-based punishment. No, s/he would be looking at the possibility of criminal charges (vandalism, criminal mischief?) if an acceptable settlement with the kids' parents could not be worked out.  That said, felony charges sound like utter overkill, even though the Internet was involved.

I'm gonna sound like an "old crank," but too many of our young people (you know who they are; they're in every town) walk around with the attitude (reinforced by their overindulgent parents, many times) that "because I've got $$, my s**t doesn't stink, and I can get away with whatever, cuz the parents will get me out of any punishment/consequences." Words/phrases such as "empathy," "putting others before yourself," "putting yourself in the other person's shoes," and the like are mostly (if not completely) foreign to many (but definitely not all!!!) folks under a certain age. Whatever happened to boundaries?

If I were an intelligent high school student, i would find those people who think I was a child with poor impulse control just because I was a teen very insulting. They are in essence calling all teenagers, stupid and impulsive.

If a teenager hasn't learned right from wrong by his teens then blame the parents who didn't teach him.

Also, he should be blamed for what he does. Taking responsiblility is part of the growing up process.

Just because your kids were raised with poor impulse control, doesn't mean mine were. Mine are certainly smart enough not to do what those kids did.

Instead of raising a bunch of semi-illiterates who don't know what plagarism and defamation  of character is, try teaching it to them.  I knew what defamation of character meant at 12 and that is was something that could cause me a lot of trouble if I did it.

It is funny we think they are mature enough to guide a 2 ton missle down the public roadways. I should think if they are as dumb as we think they are, we would not let them do that..

Of course two-year olds must be taught. By the time a child is a teenager he should be smart enough to know the consequences of some acts. When I was in grade school, we used to tell each other not to say bad things about us or we could sue them for defamation of character. Even though, as kids, we exaggerated, we had an idea what it meant.

The future of this country will depend upon the intelligence of its people and when teens are not supposed to know what these words mean, heaven help us.

I completely support the teacher's decision to take the parents to the judicial system. They do it constantly to teachers. The only thing that gets parents attention these days is when it involves money. A slap on the wrist from the school will mean absolutely nothing to these students or other teenagers.  Administrators answer to school boards who want to keep getting reelected so school discipline is severely compromised.

These students knew what they were doing was wrong. They have ruined her character and this will affect the rest of her life. Teenagers today want to act like adults, they need to be prepared to accept the consequences. This wasn't just a silly prank. And since the parents didn't even have the decency to meet with the teacher and talk to her personally, this seems to be the only way to get their attention.