I'm guessing it started with the later half of my generation when they effectively took the board of ed out of the school system. One of the reasons that two high school teachers I know recently retired was that they aren't backed up by the administration when it comes to discipline in our county.

"...discipline..."

In our schools? I fear that went out many many years ago, never to be seen again...

I see bth sides to that. Sure discipline is needed, but then some people take it too far. My MIL thinks kids need disciplined if they don't sit and stare at the TV while she watches Opra and she thinks smacking, screaming, and swearing at kids is ok instead of spanking when needed. She disciplines when something annoys her not when something was done that was wrong. I saw the same thing happening in shcool as well, the teacher going by their own rules/morals would discipline for their own reasons. Once basic right and wrong became a gray area and open to interpretation discipline and when to and when not to became useless.

"Sure discipline is needed, but then some people take it too far."

That is not discipline, that is abuse.

Sue

Try explaining that to your MIL.

"Try explaining that to your MIL."

Please see my post on the Survival Forum/Concerning the "Altoids Tin Survival Kit", near the end, I believe. The subject (evolving, as usual) was about practice in dealing with amputations.

An acquaintance once mentioned that he considered his MIL as part of the food chain... preferably a shark's. He said it would be an interesting contest, with the personalities as closely matched as they were.

Sue

"...the teacher going by their own rules/morals..."

You are right. And that, unfortunately, is the real world. Who hasn't had a boss/stupervisor who made their own rules up as they went along. Maybe experiencing that in school will help prepare the little brats for what comes next. I had one teacher who would what you with the narrow edge of one of those thick, brass tipped yardsticks, whenever she felt like it. Did me no lasting damage that I can see...

We should start a MIL thread, I had a dandy...