According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, several teens were arrested last week in Hawkinsville, GA for a senior prank that got out of control. http://www.ajc.com/news/17-arrested-when-chicken-521799.html I am not a fan of senior pranks, but every few years we hear about a bunch of kids who get in trouble trying to perpetrate one.
The kids let some chickens loose in the school and spread corn everywhere for them. Naturally the chickens made messes all over the school. The kids also put sardines in the AC system. I agree that they very clearly did not use good judgement.
The latest news reports I heard were that the kids, one of whom was the valedictorian, were charged with felony trespassing. Is it necessary to charge them with a felony? These are young adults who did something stupid. What adult can look back and say that they always used good judgement when they were that age? A felony conviction prevents them from voting. It affects their ability to get a good job for the rest of their lives. I don't think the prosecutors should punish poor judgement with more poor judgement. No one was hurt, after all. Yes, it cost the school money.
And here is what I think should be done instead of charging them with a felony. The kids should have to make restitution in terms of labor and money to fix the damage they caused. A few hours on their hands and knees scrubbing chicken poop off the floor will do a lot to improve their decision making skills.
They should also be on the hook for the repair costs to the AC system. The parents should not be allowed to pay for the damages on behalf of their children. The perpetrators should have to either get jobs and use their income to repay the school, or they should have to do janitorial work at the school through the summer until they have worked off the debt.
Ruining the lives of otherwise good kids should not be the outcome for a "prank." They didn't hurt or kill anyone, they didn't steal anything, they didn't cause major structural damage to anything. Let's get things into perspective.
What do you all think? How would you punish them? Or, if you have an update to this story, please comment and let us know.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Is This America or Not?
Events over the past few days in Morgan Hills, CA have captured my attention. That is where the four students (two of whom were of Mexican descent) at Oak Hill High School were told to go home for wearing shirts with the American flag on them on May 5. Yes, it is Cinco de Mayo and most of the hispanic students were wearing the colors of Mexico that day.
My question is: if one was allowed, why was the other not? The last I looked, we live in the United States of America, not Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is not a recognized US holiday, so what is the fuss about a few T-shirts? Let the kids wear what they want, or mandate the wearing of uniforms.
The kids celebrating Cinco de Mayo said it was disrespectful to them. Really?? Are they here illegally? If not, they are welcome to be here and celebrate their culture. They can wear the red, green, and yellow shirts every day if they want.
The kids in the flag shirts were exercising their First Amendment Right to free speech in their wardrobe choice. They were proclaiming their love of our country and making a statement about the illegal aliens that are invading our country. Also these kids were in school--a school paid for by the United States of America. They did not trespass on or disrupt any Cinco de Mayo celebrations outside of school
Would I have recommended to my child to wear it on that day? Probably not, but they have the right to do so. It is never wrong to display the US flag in the United States of America, or it shouldn't be.
And now the "disrespected" kids walked out of class and marched to the court house chanting, "Si, se puedes" which means "Yes, we can". Yes, we can WHAT? What is their point in this? I think it is just an excuse to make a scene since the national cameras are on them. What a shame.
When I was in school I learned that the US is a melting pot of many cultures. It is what makes us special. Each group should never lose their heritage or the traditions that make them unique. However, we are all blended as Americans. If you don't want to blend, go away and go back to the country that you think is so much better than this one.
Many of my ancestors immigrated here for a better life. I get that. But they did it legally so the country could allow the ones in that really wanted a better life, and reject those that were criminals or had communicable diseases. Americans value and welcome any immigrant that comes here legally. We hope you live a wonderful life here.
But for the illegal aliens that are coming across the borders, that is a different story. Sure, most of them are wonderful people who are hard working and just wanting to make a better life. But they shoud do it legally. This world is too dangerous and there are too many people who want to do us harm to allow the porous borders.
The Mexican people I have met are kind, hard working, religious, and family oriented. Welcome to you if you come legally, melt into our society (while retaining your culture), learn our language, and pay taxes like the rest of us. Many of the Ellis Island immigrants spent months, if not years, waiting on that island before they were allowed to enter the country. And it was for a good reason.
Do the immigration laws need to be changed to make it easier? Absolutely! No question in my mind. But until that is done, those laws are what we have. Instead of protesting a few kids in T-shirts, you should be protesting the grotesque immigration laws from Congress.
My question is: if one was allowed, why was the other not? The last I looked, we live in the United States of America, not Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is not a recognized US holiday, so what is the fuss about a few T-shirts? Let the kids wear what they want, or mandate the wearing of uniforms.
The kids celebrating Cinco de Mayo said it was disrespectful to them. Really?? Are they here illegally? If not, they are welcome to be here and celebrate their culture. They can wear the red, green, and yellow shirts every day if they want.
The kids in the flag shirts were exercising their First Amendment Right to free speech in their wardrobe choice. They were proclaiming their love of our country and making a statement about the illegal aliens that are invading our country. Also these kids were in school--a school paid for by the United States of America. They did not trespass on or disrupt any Cinco de Mayo celebrations outside of school
Would I have recommended to my child to wear it on that day? Probably not, but they have the right to do so. It is never wrong to display the US flag in the United States of America, or it shouldn't be.
And now the "disrespected" kids walked out of class and marched to the court house chanting, "Si, se puedes" which means "Yes, we can". Yes, we can WHAT? What is their point in this? I think it is just an excuse to make a scene since the national cameras are on them. What a shame.
When I was in school I learned that the US is a melting pot of many cultures. It is what makes us special. Each group should never lose their heritage or the traditions that make them unique. However, we are all blended as Americans. If you don't want to blend, go away and go back to the country that you think is so much better than this one.
Many of my ancestors immigrated here for a better life. I get that. But they did it legally so the country could allow the ones in that really wanted a better life, and reject those that were criminals or had communicable diseases. Americans value and welcome any immigrant that comes here legally. We hope you live a wonderful life here.
But for the illegal aliens that are coming across the borders, that is a different story. Sure, most of them are wonderful people who are hard working and just wanting to make a better life. But they shoud do it legally. This world is too dangerous and there are too many people who want to do us harm to allow the porous borders.
The Mexican people I have met are kind, hard working, religious, and family oriented. Welcome to you if you come legally, melt into our society (while retaining your culture), learn our language, and pay taxes like the rest of us. Many of the Ellis Island immigrants spent months, if not years, waiting on that island before they were allowed to enter the country. And it was for a good reason.
Do the immigration laws need to be changed to make it easier? Absolutely! No question in my mind. But until that is done, those laws are what we have. Instead of protesting a few kids in T-shirts, you should be protesting the grotesque immigration laws from Congress.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Who is Your Hero?
When I was a little girl, my dad was my hero. As a teenager, I worshipped rock stars and movie stars. In fact, I probably still have a little crush on Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone. What?? You don't recognize that name? He was Herman of Herman's Hermits.
What?? You still don't know who he is? Well, neither do a lot of people. And that is what happens when your idols are stars. They flare up brightly then disappear. In my book I encourage parents to introduce real people who have done something extraordinary to their kids. On my radio show next week, Brad Meltzer is my guest. He has written a wonderful book to help parents do just that, entitled Heroes for My Son in which he briefly discusses several people who have made a mark on the world. He also has a blog on the website, http://www.herosformyson.com in which he presents lesser known people who have also been extraordinary in some way.
My advice to parents is to talk to your kids about why we look up to people who seem bigger than life, who we should look up to, and how it should affect our lives. If your child's favorite football star gets accused of rape, talk to him about it. Let him know that all people are human and fallible. And especially let him know that not all of their actions should be imitated.
If your daughter wants to copy a rock icon, look to see what she likes about that star. Let her know that some outfits are great for the stage, but not to be worn to the mall. Focus her on the reality that the star's life is not her life. And discuss how the star got to where she is--what work did she have to do to get there? How many years did it take? What sacrifices did she make?
Interest your child in biographies of real people. Amelia Earhart was, and is, a hero to me. I read all I could find about her when I was a kid. Let your child see the struggles people go through like Helen Keller and Anne Frank. They will learn that if those people can triumph and succeed, then they can also. Show them by examples that life is not always easy and it is not all about them. But if they work hard and believe in themselves, good things will come to them and/or to others.
We are humans. God has given us an amazing ability to rise to any challenge, to triumph over adversity, to scale or tunnel under any obstacle in our path. Others have done it and so can we!
And who is my hero now? Well, I am back to my dad.
What?? You still don't know who he is? Well, neither do a lot of people. And that is what happens when your idols are stars. They flare up brightly then disappear. In my book I encourage parents to introduce real people who have done something extraordinary to their kids. On my radio show next week, Brad Meltzer is my guest. He has written a wonderful book to help parents do just that, entitled Heroes for My Son in which he briefly discusses several people who have made a mark on the world. He also has a blog on the website, http://www.herosformyson.com in which he presents lesser known people who have also been extraordinary in some way.
My advice to parents is to talk to your kids about why we look up to people who seem bigger than life, who we should look up to, and how it should affect our lives. If your child's favorite football star gets accused of rape, talk to him about it. Let him know that all people are human and fallible. And especially let him know that not all of their actions should be imitated.
If your daughter wants to copy a rock icon, look to see what she likes about that star. Let her know that some outfits are great for the stage, but not to be worn to the mall. Focus her on the reality that the star's life is not her life. And discuss how the star got to where she is--what work did she have to do to get there? How many years did it take? What sacrifices did she make?
Interest your child in biographies of real people. Amelia Earhart was, and is, a hero to me. I read all I could find about her when I was a kid. Let your child see the struggles people go through like Helen Keller and Anne Frank. They will learn that if those people can triumph and succeed, then they can also. Show them by examples that life is not always easy and it is not all about them. But if they work hard and believe in themselves, good things will come to them and/or to others.
We are humans. God has given us an amazing ability to rise to any challenge, to triumph over adversity, to scale or tunnel under any obstacle in our path. Others have done it and so can we!
And who is my hero now? Well, I am back to my dad.
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