CHILD DISCIPLINE 1960 v 2006

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. 1960 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled. 2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrest Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled from school even though Johnny started it. Scenario: Jeffrey won't stay still in class, disrupts other students. 1960 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a smack on the bum by Principal. After a very short time, sits still in class. 2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money because Jeffrey has a disability. Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad gives him a thumping. 1960 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to uni, and becomes a successful and responsible citizen. 2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by psychologist "Of course, you remember being abused" and their Dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mary is pregnant. 1960 - five high school boys leave town. Mary does her final year at a special school for expectant mothers. 2006 - School counsellor contacts Planned Parenthood. Mary gets an abortion. Mary given condoms and told to be more careful next time, and also kids don't need fathers, anyway.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from cracker night, puts them in a bottle, blows up a red ant hill. 1960 - Ants die. 2006 - Fire brigade and police called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, government investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch-list. Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher Mary who hugs him to comfort him.
1960 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing. 2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in prison