Ninth-grader punished for asking M.Durant sensitive question - Page 6

Monk · 10-30-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonehead

Maybe the father is the only person who has heard BOTH sides of the story (from his son and the vice principle) Have You heard both sides of the story Monk? I didn't think so. If any one knows the boys true intentions, it would be the father. Not you, not me, or anyone else on this board. The only info we know is from tidbits from the Associated Press. In case you have not learned yet the press is good at leaving out relevant details and slanting stories to make the readers jump to the wrong conclusion. Shock value sell in the news. Ho hum stories do not.

Read my posts. I don't care what the boy was interested in. His question was out of step with social graces, capisce? And he asked this question of a national hero, which irritates me even more.

THL · 10-30-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monk

This statement is unacceptable to me. Any question which does not stand up to some fundamental moral code (self imposed not by restriction) is inappropriate whatever may be its impact on the one facing the question. What would be the impact or how the person handles it is secondary, primary is our responsibilty to ourselves.

My daughter asked why the old man with the oxygen tank in the store a few weeks back had a leash - referring to the tubing. Should she be banned from stores? Or coached? I explained to her what it was and why he had it and why we do not ask strangers these things. I put it ina way that when we were done talking, she felt bad. I was not mean to her, but she was on the verge of tears when our talk was done. Then we hugged and all was well. When we saw my step fathers father who also has an oxygen tank later on, she remembered, she said nothing while we were there, and she pointed out to me (very proudly) after we left that she had said nothing. Lesson learned. If a 3 year old can grasp this concept, I am sure a 14 yo could.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monk

And for the record, the boy's father is a moron, his ineptitude in handling the situation is galling.

Honestly, I have not paid much attention to the part of the boys father. I was focusing more on how the school reacted.

THL · 10-30-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monk

And he asked this question of a national hero, which irritates me even more.

I get it. If I thought that this kid was being deliberately disrespectful to the speaker, I would agree. Thing is, I don't know if he was. Maybe this kid is socially or mentally slow. We Don't Know. None of us have all the facts. I am just for giving people the benefit of the doubt with the information I have.

bonehead · 10-30-2005, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

I acutally wanted to know so as to relate the depth of sex education and the curiousity level that a 9 grader would have.

Also, I wanted to compare it with the discussion on the prom that was on a few days ago on the Pub where fathers giving their yatches for after prom parties were taken as fine and correct.

In other words, the same 9 grader in just two or three years, gets matured to go to such parties on yatch!

That appears a bit confusing to me. Since I think someone wrote that a 9 grader is in the range of 15 -16 years!

The little that I think that is causing heartburn here is that he asked the question of a war veteran.

The two incidences we are talking about happened at two completely different areas of the country. One urbanand one out in "the middle of nowhere" rural areas. The societies are different for each place. it is difficult to say how much sex ed a kid has because there are way too many variables and no two kids are the same. Couriosity is universal for young teenagers. Not all kids in the U.S. would be able to go to a boat, or any other party after the prom. That is ultimately the parents choice. For this thread, no one is denying the lad asked a difficult question.

Monk · 10-30-2005, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

My daughter asked why the old man with the oxygen tank in the store a few weeks back had a leash - referring to the tubing. Should she be banned from stores? Or coached? I explained to her what it was and why he had it and why we do not ask strangers these things. I put it ina way that when we were done talking, she felt bad. I was not mean to her, but she was on the verge of tears when our talk was done. Then we hugged and all was well. When we saw my step fathers father who also has an oxygen tank later on, she remembered, she said nothing while we were there, and she pointed out to me (very proudly) after we left that she had said nothing. Lesson learned. If a 3 year old can grasp this concept, I am sure a 14 yo could.

Your daughter's question was a quest for knowledge, the boys' wasn't.
You would have done better to tell your daughter to ask you the question in private rather than admonishing her for the question itself.
I am sure she is a wonderful girl considering that she is your daughter.

**Shek** · 10-30-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monk

You are missing the point. It is immaterial whether the kid was trying to be funny or not. His question was wrong. Period.

There is no "quest for knowledge" here. And he most certainly is not going to be "emotionally scarred" for the rest of his life due to the suspension.

He wasn't even suspended. Too many people are trying to cry over spilled milk.

THL · 10-30-2005, 13:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monk

Your daughter's question was a quest for knowledge, the boys' wasn't.
You would have done better to tell your daughter to ask you the question in private rather than admonishing her for the question itself.
I am sure she is a wonderful girl considering that she is your daughter.

Thing is, she did not ask me - she asked him.

I wish I knew more about this boy. I truly want to believe that he would not have asked this to be disrespectful. If I had proof to back up that he was being a smarta$$ - I would change my opinion on this immediately. I just don't know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was.

bonehead · 10-30-2005, 13:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

I hope my question is not taken as rude or inappropriate, but honestly, I would like to know, as I am not aware, at what age and grade is sex education introduced in US Schools?

In case my question is inappropriate, my sincere apologies

Depends on the local standards where the school is located. Some schools do not teach sex ed at all. For the schools that do, anywhere between the seventh and twelth grade. (13- 18 yrs)

**Shek** · 10-30-2005, 13:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snagglepuss

And there you are. Immature kid. Not teenager, not child, not just a simple kid, but an IMMATURE kid.

A black fool. Not a woman, not a lady, not a citizen, not an American human being, but a black fool.

Now, in both cases, groups are stereotyped. Some adults seem to think so ill of every child, to think that none of today's youth can do anything but wrong, just as some whites thought so ill of every other race. Even today, in every area I have stayed in for even a few days, there are those stereotypes, still hanging in there.

When some people think of a black person, images of gang members come to mind. When some people think of a young person, images of complete idiots that know absolutely nothing and are out to get adults come to mind. Because of this, I believe, few are willing to acknowledge that children are human. Just like whites used to be against acknowledging blacks were human.

But, Shek, to answer your question, nothing. He has offered nothing to the world, because he has not yet had a chance to. He is not old enough to join the armed forces, not old enough to have a well-paying job, not old enough to do much of anything. Just like Rosa Parks when she sat down on that bus and refused to move to another seat, the kid in question hasn't had a chance to do much of anything yet.

But again, something came to my mind. What have poor people offered to the world? Nothing. Therefore, I see no reason to help them. Do you see the similarities?

Edit: There was an odd censor...Nothing inappropriate, by my reasoning. Like I said, very odd...O.o o.O

Snagglepuss,

Sorry, but your hyperbolic stretch of analogies is pitiful and either ignorant or intellectually dishonest.

But, since you misunderstood my question, I'll rephrase it for you. What did this kid offer to the world by asking this particular question?

Don't try to make this out to be some heroic stand by a poor little teenager who was fighting the power. This is about a kid who asked a former POW who had already discussed details of his capture, explicity declined to discuss any further details about his time in captivity, and then was asked a very question about his time in captivity despite Mr. Durant having said he wasn't going into any more details. Mr. Durant, the professional he is, handled the situation very well. The same cannot be said about Mr. Sannes.

Monk · 10-30-2005, 13:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

Thing is, she did not ask me - she asked him.

I understood that the first time around. This is like the old joke, where a 8 year old boy points at a pregnant woman and says "I know what you did". Your daughter should have just been told to ask the question in private to you, thats it.

Monk · 10-30-2005, 13:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

I wish I knew more about this boy. I truly want to believe that he would not have asked this to be disrespectful. If I had proof to back up that he was being a smarta$$ - I would change my opinion on this immediately. I just don't know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was.

You don't need to know anything about the boy. Do you feel his question was in line with what should be his self-imposed standards of regulation? Yes/No, thats it. If the Answer is "No", then you know that what happened is correct.

**TopHatter** · 10-30-2005, 14:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

If a 3 year old can grasp this concept, I am sure a 14 yo could.

I think you're giving teenagers a little too much credit.
A 3 year old can indeed be instructed in this concept and quickly at that.

Your typical teenager doesnt have a clue when he/she should speak or shut up.

Snagglepuss · 10-30-2005, 15:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

Snaggle- If you see this comment by Bluesman as being "barbaric" and "hurtful" - Sweetie, you are in the wrong place. If you are looking for a bunch of nice, soft, fluffy, pink comments you are setting yourself up for a HUGE dissappointment.

I don't view it as hurtful, I view it as barbaric. Resorting to such language is uncalled for, thus I restrain myself from using it. I do not know why anyone sees it as acceptable any more--Dick Cheney can't get away with it, and he's the Vice President of America. Why should we?

Quote:

Also, directing this comment @ Monk appears to be an attempt to turn members against eachother or to get someone "on your side". Probably not a good idea. There are people here that already agree with you, I have agreed with much of what you have said myself, for example.

Directing my comment at Monk was not 'an attempt to turn members against eachother or to get someone' "on my side". I simply thought it odd that Monk goes on about self-regulation and not using the freedom of speech to say 'hurtful' things, then turns around and praises someone who did just what he was speaking against a few posts ago. Very odd indeed, from my point of view.

Bulgaroctonus · 10-30-2005, 15:29 PM

I think this thread is spiraling out of control. I don't see how this event is even controversial.

Ray · 10-30-2005, 15:34 PM

Bonehead,

Thanks for the info on sex education.

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10-30-2005, 15:29 PM	#89 (permalink)
Bulgaroctonus *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 10-29-04 Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ Posts: 1,139 Country:	I think this thread is spiraling out of control. I don't see how this event is even controversial.

10-30-2005, 15:34 PM	#90 (permalink)
Ray Postmaster General *Military Professional* Join Date: 08-20-03 Posts: 27,304 Country:	Bonehead, Thanks for the info on sex education.

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