| As I arrived home from work today, my wife | | | | any furthermedical attention. Police were called as |
| hadthe television on and she was watching the | | | | wellwhen it was suspected that a poisoning |
| news. | | | | hadoccurred. The local authorities are |
| This is rare, in and of itself, because I usuallyarrive | | | | currentlyinvestigating the case. |
| at home at least two hours before shedoes. | | | | Now, call me crazy or melancholy, but |
| Anyway, as I greeted my wife with a kissand I | | | | wouldn'tthose children have received a serious |
| was putting the mail on the kitchen tableand my | | | | pastingfrom their parents, oh, let's say 30 or 40 |
| gear temporarily on the floor; thetelevision | | | | yearsago? I do believe so. Not only that but |
| grabbed my attention. | | | | thesecases were very few and far between |
| I froze and carefully listened to all thehorrific | | | | becausediscipline ruled the schools and teachers |
| details. Apparently a 46 year old,teacher at San | | | | had theauthority to use corporal punishment |
| Ysidro Middle School, in thesouthern most part of | | | | andexercised it when necessary. Granted, there |
| San Diego County in | | | | werea few teachers who abused this, tool, let's |
| California, was monitoring a group ofapproximately | | | | callit, but they were also few and far between. |
| six to nine 12 and 13 year olds whowere serving | | | | Now, teachers and schools have no authority |
| lunch time detention for variousreasons, I imagine | | | | andno respect. It is evident in our currentsociety. |
| none of them good. | | | | Look at any teenager anywhere in the |
| It is reported by the local media that theteacher | | | | United States that is enrolled in public school. |
| excused himself from the group to use | | | | They do not respect their teachers and they |
| thebathroom facilities nearby. As the teacher | | | | sassand disrespect their parents as well. Still,most |
| madehis way to the bathroom, one of the | | | | parents are quick to react when theirtroubled |
| childrenserving detention, got the bright idea to | | | | teenager blames his teachers for theirown bad |
| poursome kind of hand sanitizer into the | | | | grades and others for their problems. |
| teacher'senergy drink that he had left behind on | | | | The teens will say "The teacher lost my |
| his desk. | | | | homeworkand now she won't give me credit, |
| As you may imagine the students were probably | | | | that's sounfair." "I'm failing the class because |
| ontheir best behavior when the teacher | | | | theteacher doesn't know how to do her job." |
| returned,anxiously awaiting the results of their | | | | Doesany of this sound familiar? If it does, take |
| antic,hoping the teacher would finish the rest of | | | | astep back and look at the whole picture. Talk |
| hisdrink in their presence. | | | | toyour children's teachers. If you do, yourchildren |
| Their wish came true; soon after returning | | | | will be less likely to lie, that'sright, your children lie. |
| toclass, the teacher, consumed the remainder of | | | | Check up on what yourchildren are telling you; |
| hisbeverage and a few minutes later, before | | | | take everything theysay with a grain of salt. |
| lunchended, began to feel nauseous and then | | | | No, I am not a teacher, thank God! (Nodisrespect |
| collapsed. | | | | intended because they are alreadydisrespected |
| The children, by now frightened and | | | | enough). But I am a very concernedparent. |
| beleagueredwith guilt, immediately sought help | | | | With that I will leave you for now. |
| from otherteachers nearby. Emergency medical | | | | Regards, |
| services weresummoned. Paramedics arrived at | | | | Martin Surop.s. One of my hidden cameras would |
| the scene andwere able to stabilize the bewildered | | | | have beenideal for this situation. |
| teacher,who refused to go to the hospital and | | | | |