Dear god will people ever stop waxing poetic about "back in their day?" Today, unlike many years ago, many teaching strategies are based on empirical evidence and research. Giving students the correct answer, instead of simply telling them they are wrong without providing the correct answer, is a learning strategy. I would rather get a test back with the right answers, so I know how to change them, instead of just getting a useless piece of paper slashed with red ink.

Just because something is different than what it used to be like doesn't mean it's bad. People like to pretend that the world is the worst it's ever been- and in many ways it is, like global warming and people still living like it's 1950 and we don't know how harmful certain behaviors are when we really do. But in many ways society is better. There is less violent crime than ever, less teen pregnancies, LESS problems with youth.

I also think it's terribly hypocritical to tell teenagers on one hand to buck up and "live in the real world" and on the other give them a condescending lecture about how they are not adults. Fine, if teenagers are not adults, then don't expect them to act like it. I think people expect teens to act a certain way, so they do.

As far as the kid with the trays goes, all he's being denied is walking down to get his diploma. So what? What kind of punishment is that even? He still gets to graduate. I don't understand what the big deal is.