Then and Now

Rico says his father sends this historical perspective:

School in 1957 vs. 2011 Scenario 1: Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack. 1957 - The Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car, and gets his own shotgun to show Jack. 2011 - School goes into lock-down, the FBI is called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers. Scenario 2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. 1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies. 2011 - Police called and the SWAT team arrives and they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled, even though Johnny started it. Scenario 3: Jeffrey will not sit still in class, he disrupts other students. 1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again. 2011 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability. Scenario 4: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt..  1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman. 2011 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself, and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist. Scenario 5: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school. 1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock. 2011 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons. Scenario 6: Pedro fails high school English. 1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college. 2011 - Pedro's cause is taken up by the state. Newspaper articles appear nationally, explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. The ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from the core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway, but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English. Scenario 7: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed. 1957 - Ants die. 2011 - ATF, Homeland Security, and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents, and all his siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terrorist watch list and is never allowed to fly again. Scenario 8: Wally falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Nancy. Nancy hugs him to comfort him.  1957 - In a short time, Wally feels better and goes on playing. 2011 - Nancy is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in State Prison and Wally undergoes five years of therapy.