Halibut Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Last year in Texas, 300,000 children in Texan in and out of schools were charged with misdemeanours which have landed them before a court, resulting in fines, community service and in some cases even prison. The most common reason for the police dishing out misedemeanour tickets is 'disruption of class' - a definition, bizarrely which can include shouting within 150 metres of school property - 'making an unreasonable noise'. One child was arrested for making paper aeroplanes. As well as leaving children with a criminal record, those unable to pay the fines (up to $500) can be jailed once they turn 17 and will be ineligible for federal aid money when they apply to colleges or universities. Many more horrendous examples in the link. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/09/texas-police-schools?INTCMP=SRCH Those who mither on about the alleged lack of discipline in schools might to well to consider what happens in Texas and see what can go wrong when society becomes too heavy handed in such matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj.scuba Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 That's disturbing, no need to criminalise kids for being kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halibut Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 That's disturbing, no need to criminalise kids for being kids. Isn't it just - that 12 year old girl who was being bullied with taunts about smelling bad and ended up with a criminal record for using perfume in class was quite shocking - as was the 16 year old tasered in a row that blew up when he wasn't wearing his ID tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthenekred Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Those who mither on about the alleged lack of discipline in schools might to well to consider what happens in Texas and see what can go wrong when society becomes too heavy handed in such matters. Law enforcement and the judicial system isn't exactly a beacon of hope in the discipline department either. http://eji.org/eji/node/506 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferno Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Sometimes Americans are so stupid. There are more Americans in prison for cannabis offences than the total number of all UK prisoners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygardener Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 There are clearly issues of overexuberance over there ny law enforcement but their situation is much more violent than the UK. http://www.teenkillers.org/ gives some sobering memorials of the victims of these "kids". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferno Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 There are clearly issues of overexuberance over there ny law enforcement but their situation is much more violent than the UK. http://www.teenkillers.org/ gives some sobering memorials of the victims of these "kids". No it doesn't because that's a link to "teen killers" not "teen paper aeroplane makers". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffragette1 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Isn't it just - that 12 year old girl who was being bullied with taunts about smelling bad and ended up with a criminal record for using perfume in class was quite shocking - as was the 16 year old tasered in a row that blew up when he wasn't wearing his ID tag. Texas, that well known enlightened state! Texas instruments of torture. Sometimes Americans are so stupid. There are more Americans in prison for cannabis offences than the total number of all UK prisoners. I read somewhere, in Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great, I think, that if you state that you're a Rasta you will be exempt from prosecution, such is the power that religion has in the US. I'm not sure if this applies to all states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthenekred Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 No it doesn't because that's a link to "teen killers" not "teen paper aeroplane makers". It's all very serious but that's gotta be the quote of the week. :hihi: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halibut Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 There are clearly issues of overexuberance What there is a system that criminalises thousands of children for 'offences' that would be dealt with over here by a stern talking to, detention, or possibly even temporary fixed term exclusion. Surely you can't pretend that that's an acceptable or admirable idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.