The Coalition of the Swilling

The second was an opinion piece by David Broder mentioning the "discussion about the shortcomings in American high schools that had occupied the nation's governors" in Washington the previous weekend. That gathering addressed the alarming drop-out rate and functional illiteracy that is becoming the product of a high school education. The third piece of the pie was a cheerful blue piece of paper schmushed into the space 'twixt our door and it's jamb. From the principal and curriculum coordinator of our local elementary school (all emphasis her's ~ names changed, etc.):

Dear Parents,

We really need your help! Our tardy list is getting bigger each day. Your child's day begins at 8:00. Students should begin arriivng at school by 7:45 in order to prepare for the day. Our teachers are ready to begin teaching at 8:05. We cannot teach your children if they are not here. When your child comes in late, all activities have to stop until your child is oriented to the day's activities.
It is important for your child to be in class on time each day. You can help your child by getting them to school on time. We are an A+ school because our parents do their part and send their children to school on time ready to learn.
Be part of our A+ team. Children and learning come first at Hogwarts Elementary.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Hogwarts

Not one thing to do with the other, at first glance, right? But I'm clairvoyant, an all knowing horse whisperer and animal pyschic, who sees a pervasive social evil casting it's ugly tentacles. It's called 'adults who can't be bothered or just don't give a shit' syndrome. (Insert collective gasp! from riveted audience members. Then an anguished 'say it ain't so!!) Oh yeah, it is.

The first; that sweet, now dead, young thing. 16 years old. Sounds like your typical H.S. tragedy until you play connect the dots. I asked Major Dad 'she died on I-10 in Lake City! Isn't that, like, a gazillion miles away from here?' The long and short of it? She, at 16, could have only had that precious little piece of paper goods from the DMV for a few short months and yet was allowed by her caregivers, the people in charge of her life, to drive BY HERSELF to Melbourne FL to pick up her now deceased boyfriend. As the crow flies, from Pensacola, a round trip of over 1050 miles, on some of the most dangerous interstate in the country. Jesus. What a waste.

Now you see how it all comes together? Parents have to have a note sent home reminding them it's important to get their child to school and, God forbid, on time? When I first read it, in all it's infantile simplicity of tone, I thought 'damn! That's pretty freakin' insulting!' Actually though, it's pretty freakin' insulting to the taxpayers who fund school systems. And the educators who, bless their little pointy heads, sit there every day. Slogging through mess that a little discipline at home would cure and constantly under fire because they can't be pyschologists, EMTs, authority figures, Miss Manners and Dr. Rosemond and still teach to the test that decides if they're worthy at all.

I am sick to death of all the moaning and groaning about he's out of control, she don't listen to me, how do you handle a 7 year old...It starts young and it starts with limits and it starts with realizing that your responsibility as a parent, whether you like it or not, is to produce the best educated, well mannered citizen you can. Giving your 16 yr old the keys for a thousand mile solo trip isn't love. Letting your six year old dictate his bedtime and eating habits isn't love. Allowing your 10th grader to read 'Little Miss Spider' for his English book report isn't love. Giving the rest of the world excuses for your laziness isn't love. And when that over indulged, under-educated child attempts to make change when the Hardee's computerized cash register sh*ts out, or he/she's so out of control behaviour-wise that people flee at his/her coming, we all pay. 'Just say no' isn't just for drugs anymore.