I probably need to stay off my pedestal about the disrespect that is shown by teen agers as a whole . However I know some that would eat their supper standing up if they dared to sass their parents. I have to speak to a bunch of them tomorrow morning and I hope and pray something will be said that help them to know there is something in life more that loud noises (notice I did not say music), Doing it (whatever) because it feels good and seeing how far they go without getting caught. And I fully agree with you Romona, that parents (as least some them) can't wait until the kids are gone so that they can do their thing (Whatever that happens to be) Someone said for one to Stand up to be seen, Speak to be heard and Shut Up to be appreciated - I want to be appreciated - So I will shut up - Good night everyone Grandma Fern

As a teacher for 21 years, I have seen the deterioration of manners and respect . I attribute that to the less and less involvement of the parents and adults in the child's life. And often when I meet the parents, I know why the children have the attitude, manners they do. I have to beg to get parents to talk to me. I do my best to teach manners - my boys hold open doors for others and those going through the door had best say thank you. Napkins are on laps in the lunchroom. Many parents have little to do with their children it seems - there is no conversation going on, no morals being taught, no manners being taught and kids basically raising themselves. I have had parents come in and say to my face they stay in bed all the time and they can not control a 6 year old and the kids drive them crazy. The schools feed the children breakfast (we have had parents say they do not like to get out of bed so the children do not get breakfast) , we feed them lunch, we are expected to teach character education and values (things that used to be taught at home and in church) - the schools are beginning to be expected to do it all and , to be honest, we can not. I have a sign in my classroom that says "Children do not need a better education, they need a better childhood". Guess I need to get off my soapbox now <G> Sandy Grandma Fern wrote: > I probably need to stay off my pedestal about the disrespect that is shown > by teen agers as a whole . However I know some that would eat their supper > standing up if they dared to sass their parents. I have to speak to a bunch > of them tomorrow morning and I hope and pray something will be said that > help them to know there is something in life more that loud noises (notice I > did not say music), Doing it (whatever) because it feels good and seeing how > far they go without getting caught. And I fully agree with you Romona, that > parents (as least some them) can't wait until the kids are gone so that > they can do their thing (Whatever that happens to be) > Someone said for one to Stand up to be seen, Speak to be heard and Shut Up > to be appreciated - I want to be appreciated - So I will shut up - Good > night everyone Grandma Fern