But, never play with their heads, especially by lying to them, because it breaks the bond of trust.

Once that bond is broken they begin experimenting with things that are harmful for them. Because, if the only one they can trust is themselves they will find out why things are bad for them on their own.

On a Monday morning last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at El Camino High School to announce some horrible news:

What would have happened to one of these students who made the same false statement to a highway patrol officer?

Another case for home-schooling.

Enrique on June 12, 2008 at 5:33 PM

A-M-E-N!!!

- The Cat

Awesome. Anybody who thinks otherwise is a pussy.

Darth Executor on June 12, 2008 at 9:32 PM

Said the man behind the keyboard :)

I understand, and even agree with the desire to have the schools stick to what they should be doing… a.k.a. Readin’ Writin’ & ‘Rithmatic. But, if they’re involved in this touchy-feely crap, at least this one might stick.

Awesome. Anybody who thinks otherwise is a pussy.

Darth Executor on June 12, 2008 at 9:32 PM

I agree.

A severe ploy, but a lesson hammered home, never to be forgotten.

The only people traumatized, I bet, are a handful of parents and a gaggle of commenters at HotAir.com

Sounds like something that would happen on South Park

redshirt on June 12, 2008 at 7:04 PM

This is the closest thing I think South Park has done like that..

I like to know what makes this particularly worse? Is it the element of deception? Is it the emotional pain?

Yes and yes. The deception undermines trust in authority figures (which maybe isn’t all that bad a thing, I guess). But the emotional manipulation is sick. Particularly since adolescents are emotionally volatile by nature and thus hypersensitive to this kind of thing, especially in today’s culture of wallowing in maudlin grief-orgies after every tragedy, crime, or accident that results in the death of young people.

So it’s a cheap stunt, a shot below the belt if you will. And to make it worse, the trauma (and then the rug-pulling-out “just kidding” afterward) is applied indiscriminately, even to kids who would never even think of drinking and driving — because I guess since you never know who’s at risk, you have to make everybody suffer, right? Reminds me of the justification for the TSA strip-searching little old ladies at airports.

I particularly hate the “if it saves just one life” justification for silliness, especially when there are too many “what ifs” to tell whether the silliness made any difference or not. Though I’m sure that if grad night goes off this year without any students being killed in drunken driving crashes, these administrators will rush to take the credit. Invisible tiger repellent, anybody?

(clicking just once this time …)

Alex_SF on June 12, 2008 at 5:38 PM

Alex_SF on June 12, 2008 at 5:35 PM

Alex_SF on June 12, 2008 at 5:31 PM

Alex_SF on June 12, 2008 at 5:30 PM

Dude?

“I just want you to know we’re all counting on you, good luck.”

As a teacher, I’d love to rip into the jackass who came up with this idea in the lunchroom.

Little Boomer on June 12, 2008 at 5:49 PM

How do you know that he came up with this idea in the lunchroom, teacher?

If you knew that keeping all the kids home under lock and key would prevent “killing themselves or someone else in a drunk driving incident, would it be worth it?”

If you knew having a person assigned to them night and day…
If you knew that having every kid in high school not allowed to drive…
If you knew that a curfew of 9pm for all high school…
If you knew how stupid that argument is…

right2bright on June 12, 2008 at 7:09 PM

Actually, I’m unsure of my position on this and honestly wanted to know what people thought. There’s no need to jump on me.

But, for the purpose of the discussion, I’ll take the bait. Why is the argument stupid?

Isn’t comparing a single traumatic “lesson” with revoking driving privileges indefinitely or posting constant watch on a child taking the concept to a ridiculous degree?

We all make choices to restrict freedom or impose penalties to teach our children. Some parents spank, some use time out. Some judge spanking cruel and even worthy of having one’s children taken away. These things are on a continuum, and I like to know what makes this particularly worse? Is it the element of deception? Is it the emotional pain?

My daughters SADD group did something like this but they had the grim reaper pull students out of class and later at an assembly explained why the students were taken. It actually was a wonderful program

CaCa on June 12, 2008 at 7:22 PM

That I get, this other I don’t get it.

No.

Esthier on June 12, 2008 at 6:56 PM

You’re a lot more patient and kind then me.

If you knew for a fact that it prevented one or more of them from killing themselves or someone else in a drunk driving incident, would it be worth it?

TheUnrepentantGeek on June 12, 2008 at 6:26 PM

If you knew that keeping all the kids home under lock and key would prevent “killing themselves or someone else in a drunk driving incident, would it be worth it?”

If you knew having a person assigned to them night and day…
If you knew that having every kid in high school not allowed to drive…
If you knew that a curfew of 9pm for all high school…
If you knew how stupid that argument is…