Occasionally in the past I have registered my objection to an email that has been broadcast to me (usually religious emails promoting what I call "prosperity religion", which I regard as totally at odds with the gospel).
But now I myself have received objections to an email that I sent off to numerous people. The original email came from Don's school reunion contacts, and it made me smile, so I forwarded it on. Here it is:
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SCHOOL -- 1959 vs. 2009
Scenario : Jack goes rabbit shooting before school, pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.
1959 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his rifle & chats with Jack about guns.
2009 - School goes into lock down, Star Force called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his ute or gun again.. Counsellors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1959 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2009 - Police called, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. Both children go to anger management programs for 3 months. School board hold meeting to impliment bullying prevention programs
Scenario: Robbie won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1959 - Robbie sent to office and given 6 of the best by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2009 - Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. Robbie's parents get fortnightly disability payments nd School gets extra funding from state because Robbie has a disability.
Scenario : Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1959 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2009 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Scenario : Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1959 - Mark gets glass of water from Principal to take aspirin with.
2009 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario : Pedro fails high school English.
1959 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2009 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. AFRE files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario : Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a bullant nest.
1959 - Ants die.
2009- Star Force, Federal Police & Anti-terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, Feds investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario : Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1959 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2009 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
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OK, everbody, settle down please! I do know that sexual harassment is a serious issue and it's better to overdo preventive measures than allow the possibility; I do know that bullying and violence are endemic and should never be treated lightly; I do know that parental abuse is common and the school cannot turn a blind eye; and I realise how important remedial programmes are for problem students. And no, I don't think that even in those laid-back days, any teacher would really be so nonchalant about a student turning up with a gun!
But hey, lighten up, everybody. Didn't you give a wry smile and admit to a grain of truth there somewhere? As a TAFE teacher, we were no longer allowed to give an aspirin to a girl with period pain; and as a Kids Club leader, I and the other leaders became very wary of cuddling a little kid who was crying. So the email was not completely off the mark.
I was going to end this by saying that if there was a way to Unsend an email, I would do so. But now I have talked myself into thinking I prefer dialogue and a bit of robust debate. Thanks, everybody.
But now I myself have received objections to an email that I sent off to numerous people. The original email came from Don's school reunion contacts, and it made me smile, so I forwarded it on. Here it is:
--------------------------------------
SCHOOL -- 1959 vs. 2009
Scenario : Jack goes rabbit shooting before school, pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.
1959 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his rifle & chats with Jack about guns.
2009 - School goes into lock down, Star Force called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his ute or gun again.. Counsellors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1959 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2009 - Police called, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. Both children go to anger management programs for 3 months. School board hold meeting to impliment bullying prevention programs
Scenario: Robbie won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1959 - Robbie sent to office and given 6 of the best by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2009 - Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. Robbie's parents get fortnightly disability payments nd School gets extra funding from state because Robbie has a disability.
Scenario : Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1959 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2009 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Scenario : Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1959 - Mark gets glass of water from Principal to take aspirin with.
2009 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario : Pedro fails high school English.
1959 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2009 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. AFRE files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario : Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a bullant nest.
1959 - Ants die.
2009- Star Force, Federal Police & Anti-terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, Feds investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario : Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1959 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2009 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
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OK, everbody, settle down please! I do know that sexual harassment is a serious issue and it's better to overdo preventive measures than allow the possibility; I do know that bullying and violence are endemic and should never be treated lightly; I do know that parental abuse is common and the school cannot turn a blind eye; and I realise how important remedial programmes are for problem students. And no, I don't think that even in those laid-back days, any teacher would really be so nonchalant about a student turning up with a gun!
But hey, lighten up, everybody. Didn't you give a wry smile and admit to a grain of truth there somewhere? As a TAFE teacher, we were no longer allowed to give an aspirin to a girl with period pain; and as a Kids Club leader, I and the other leaders became very wary of cuddling a little kid who was crying. So the email was not completely off the mark.
I was going to end this by saying that if there was a way to Unsend an email, I would do so. But now I have talked myself into thinking I prefer dialogue and a bit of robust debate. Thanks, everybody.
Barb - I had to remind myself that you live in Australia and not the U.S. It's true that there really are predator teachers and drug users and the like but you are dead right that there's truth in what you wrote. How did we ever survive our youths?
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