What You Missed on the 9/28/08 Show: Teacher Accused of Slapping Student

Story in this previous week’s paper: “Tarpon Springs Teacher Accused of Slapping Student” – A history teacher at Tarpon Springs High School has been accused of slapping a 10th grader on the head and pushing the student against a wall……….causing a bruise……Tarpon Springs police said this week that the teacher was charged with child abuse when he was arrested and had to post a $5000 bail bond to get out of jail…….
Obviously the radio show does not endorse undue force and punishment. From the newspaper account, and from the viewpoint of this 56 year old guy, this story exemplifies the changes that have taken place in our society and culture. When I was in high school you didn’t tell your parents that a teacher slapped you. That would put you in even more trouble with your parents for causing problems within the classroom.
This story saddens me because “old fashioned discipline” has been replaced with anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, methamphetamine replacements (ADHD) and alpha adrenergic agonists. The mother who went nine months with the fear of taking a Tylenol will willingly give their child any chemical that the medical system endorses. We are now freely giving our children the very chemicals that Congress is debating on how to prevent from getting into our streams and rivers and putting teachers in jail for attempting to maintain order and discipline in their school.