May 11, 2009

SS just might be stirring the pot...

Many times I watch the news and wonder "What is wrong with today's kids? Why don't they accept responsibility for anything? Where's the empathy? How do they justify their actions?"


Here's a great example. I am sure most of you have heard this story...

FINDLAY, Ohio (Associated Press) -- An Ohio teenager says he expects to be suspended from a Christian school for attending a public school prom with his girlfriend.
Officials at Heritage Christian School in Findlay had warned 17-year-old Tyler Frost that he would be suspended and prohibited from attending graduation if he went to the Saturday dance. The fundamentalist Baptist school in northwest Ohio forbids dancing, rock music and hand holding.
Frost says he went to the dance because he wanted to experience the prom and didn't think it was wrong.
School officials say he could complete his final exams separately to receive a diploma.
Frost's stepfather says the rules shouldn't apply outside of school and he may take legal action if Frost is suspended.

I have a very strong opinion about this situation...and I am sure many of you do not share it.

Here's my take: We have a parent who pays tuition to a school that holds their students to a different standard than the public schools. He knows their beliefs. I am assuming he supports them since his kid is a student there. More than likely his son has signed a Code of Conduct (standard fare in private christian schools) that states he (the son) understands their beliefs, supports them, will uphold them on and off campus in his daily life.

He decides he has been neglected his right to experience life outside his family's choice for him. The school stands their ground. He chooses to go against the rules. And then acts like he's the victim because they are going to follow through with their part of the agreement. Does Daddy-O use this opportunity as a very valuable life lesson? No. He chooses to teach his son the rules don't apply to us. We should be able to do what we want, because we want to. He teaches his boy that he doesn't have to take responsibility for his choices or actions. And he feels very justified in his actions because their strict standards and expectations are too much. Doesn't matter that he knew that going in...

He's passing on a lack of respect for authority.
He's passing on a lack of responsibility for ones' actions and choices.
He's passing on the self-indulgence that is rampant in America.
He's encouraging the distasteful habit of placing blame on others to justify oneself.

That's how I see it.

How about you?
And btw, I totally do NOT agree with the schools beliefs of no dancing, rock music and hand holding. But, that was not the point...

Love Note to my Big Shooter: When I read this the first time, it immediately raised my shackles. How dare this school tell this boy what he can and can not do! Then I thought about it and realized how very wrong I was. It embarrasses and humiliates me that my first reaction was the all too common worldly one... Will you still love me in the morning?

10 comments:

Flea said...

My initial reaction was the same as yours. But reading your post reminded me of my days at ORU. I had the same attitude toward the rebellious students and didn't hesitate to tell them so. They knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up. No one was forcing them to be there. They could just as well go somewhere else.

ShEiLa said...

SS.

I saw this on the news this morning. My first thought was... Are you kidding me? This sounds like the movie [Footloose].

What a blast from the past. We thought that was unheard of in 1984and 25 years later...

Anyway...
that is neither here nor there. Rules are rules and I tend to agree. You wanna go to that school you abide by those rules.

Amen Straight-Shootin' Sista!

ToOdLeS.

Rachel said...

I completely agree with you! I attended BYU, a private LDS university. They have a seemingly strict honor code (I didn't think it was all that strict).

Lots of people want to go to BYU because it's a great school, but once they get there, many of them have "problems" with the honor code which they signed before they came to campus.

I think it's ridiculous! If you sign an agreement, you follow through!

jenni said...

I'm whichu all the way, SS.

(but--and I'm whispering as I say this--I *think* you meant to say it raised your *hackles*...not your shackles...)

6 Happy Hearts said...

(((Sigh)))
I'll refrain from jumping on my soap box at this moment & just say...
The cartoons were hilarious & aptly depicted the state of our communities today.

Anonymous said...

I agree!

I don't think this should have ever made headlines. He agreed to live by the rules (a free country, it was his choice) and then he broke the rules. Now the consequences follow. What's the problem? It doesn't matter if the rules are stupid or not.

-FringeGirl

Anonymous said...

I agree wholeheartedly!!
Sadly, my MIL STILL acts like the boy in this story! Not so much breaking rules, but not thinking before she does something, and then wanting someone else to "fix" her mistake! She's always blaming someone else, and never wants to look in the mirror at the person she should be "blaming".
I don't want my children acting in such a way.

FIL said...

SweetDIL,
I might have to disagree with you on this one just a tad. You seemed to have bunched the father and son in the same group. The father is the one bringing the law suit, not the son. The father knows the rules of the school and chose to enroll his son, so hes a jerk for bringing the law suit. Not the son. My guess is, that he is in that school because of his parents. Signed a code of conduct because of his parents. He is a 17 year old kid, RIGHT ?? I didn't see where he is bringing the law suit and if he were it would my guess it is because of his parents. Give him a break.. they told him what would happen and he chose to check things out. The only fault I find is
( He didn't kiss the girl and have a beer )

Love Ya
FIL

Prudish in Pawhuska said...

Father-in-Law,

I agree. Though I do think if the horny little fella wants to go drinkin' and dancin' with the ladies he should do it on his own dime.

FerLee said...

As others have stated...I, too, reacted initially as your first reaction. But, I see your point completely!!! We are even allowing our Christian kids to believe they are not subject to the rules...NOT COOL!!!