Gee, I think one of the big problems teenagers face is the mushy enforcement of rules, by parents and other authority figures. In fact, younger children face the same problems. Inconsistent discipline is one of the things that spoils children of all ages. It is really too bad that one set of parents was able to bully their way around the rules, but it is their child who will ultimately suffer, because the message the child receives is that money and status confer different, more lenient rules upon her. The first time this does not work for her she will be in for an even bigger shock, and since she will be older then than she and the other teenagers are right now, she will probably fall harder.
I would not be too concerned about all this ruining your daughter's graduation. I personally believe that all the children learned a lesson of some sort from what happened, and sometimes that is better than a "perfect" occasion, don't you think?
While I am being opinionated, I might as well add that teenage drinking is a health problem with a large and very unnecessary death and injury rate in this society. This is NOT France, where children drink small amounts of wine from the time they are small, and learn wonderful, moderate drinking habits. There is so much excessive behavior in America that moderation is a lesson hard learned. I think it is a mistake to assume that teenagers WILL be teenagers and will experiment with drinking. I think we are all so relieved that they are not using drugs (we hope), that we overlook a very dangerous behavior.
I am really glad the school officials took the stance they did--it's just too bad that they chickened out with the obnoxious powerful parents. |
