# Dear Parents of my Students: It's Your Fault. (F that 'sensitivy training'!) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253 "2011-10-11T03:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/41 "2011-10-11T18:16:20Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Kids in 1981: I can do anything I want if I work hard enough! > > Kids in 2011: My mamma says I can do anything I want!!! > > Pretty much sums it up. I was a kid in 1981, and people said the same things about us: Kids in 1951: I can do anything I want if I work hard enough! Kids in 1981: My mamma says I can do anything I want!!! “Kids these days are lazy and spoiled” is an ancient meme. It goes back to Socrates time, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/42 "2011-10-11T18:16:23Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Prepare for the ram, **CP**. You’re about to catch hell. This thread is going to be a real tar baby. Get it, folks? _Tar baby?_ It’s funny because **Argent Towers** knows all you liberals are just dying to jump down **CitizenPained** ’s throat for criticizing bad parents and drug addicts and gang members. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/43 "2011-10-11T18:19:49Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Dunno, CP seems to be in a really shitty neighborhood, but teachers’ rants about bad parenting and how that leaves teachers picking up parens’t slack is something I’ve had to listen to all my childhood. If any Doper has teachers in his/her family, he/she wouldnt find CP’s rant outrageous. I don’t find it outrageous. Even though I teach Taekwondo and not a class in a public school like math or English, I have the same problems. Thankfully, not as many of them. I’ve had a mom bring her 14 year old kid in so that I could teach him to “kick ass” so that he could better steal from younger kids, and then demand that I teach him for free because she was on welfare. I had a mom with two kids, daughter age 12, son age 9, who were with me for a couple of years. They stopped coming and I lost contact with them until one day, they dropped by to show off the now 16 year old daughters baby by a 24 year old who was living in their apartment with them. I’ve had kids get strung out on drugs by parents who thought nothing of lighting up a joint in front of the kid. I’ve managed to get the parents of two kids arrested for doing that and get the kids away from the parents and into a more safe, supportive environment. I am proud as I can be of my success stories, like the one kid who got busted for dope on school campus. He straightened his act up, graduated high school and is now in college and plans to become an instructor in my school when he’s finished. And I cry inside for my non-success stories. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/44 "2011-10-11T18:40:49Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Get it, folks? _Tar baby?_ It’s funny because **Argent Towers** knows all you liberals are just dying to jump down **CitizenPained** ’s throat for criticizing bad parents and drug addicts and gang members. Yeah, it’s the poor sap’s tragedy: he desperately wants the affirmation of watching other people unfairly called racist, because if that happens, maybe the people calling him racist were similarly unfair. I wonder if the converse applies, and if so, what he thinks of the complete lack of cries of “racism” in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/45 "2011-10-11T19:46:39Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > It’s a webcomic Now there’s an argument for italicization and capitalization if ever I saw one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/46 "2011-10-11T20:03:35Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Now there’s an argument for italicization and capitalization if ever I saw one. 😃 And if this were an online forum on the Internet, we could even use one of them new-fangled link thingies! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/47 "2011-10-11T20:13:53Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I’ve had a mom bring her 14 year old kid in so that I could teach him to “kick ass” so that he could better steal from younger kids, and then demand that I teach him for free because she was on welfare. Having a little trouble picturing this one. “I want you to teach my kid to kick ass so he can steal from younger kids”? That’s literally what she said, or that was just your appraisal? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/48 "2011-10-11T21:34:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Yeah, it’s the poor sap’s tragedy: he desperately wants the affirmation of watching other people unfairly called racist, because if that happens, maybe the people calling him racist were similarly unfair. No…that is not remotely what I was getting at. It was just a joke. (Tar Baby? Remember, the George Allen controversy?) I didn’t actually think **CP** was going to get piled on for “racism” - I only made the joke because she brought the possibility up in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/49 "2011-10-11T22:07:54Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I was a kid in 1981, and people said the same things about us: > > Kids in 1951: I can do anything I want if I work hard enough! > > Kids in 1981: My mamma says I can do anything I want!!! > > “Kids these days are lazy and spoiled” is an ancient meme. It goes back to Socrates time, at least. Not sure I agree with that. In 1981 if I came home with a note from the teacher for screwing up, I’d get punished, no questions asked. Mom and Dad respected the teacher’s authority and opinion. Now Mom and Dad go down to the school, wave the note in the teacher’s face and ask why Little Johnny is being picked on. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/50 "2011-10-11T22:11:09Z")
The word that was George Allen’s undoing was “macaca,” which is much more obscure. The list of people who’ve gotten in trouble for saying “tar baby” includes [Mitt Romney and the late Tony Snow.](http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1221764,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/51 "2011-10-11T22:12:43Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > They would say “Goodness me, sir, that thought never occurred to me! I shall mend my ways forthwith - more, I shall bring all possible pressure to bear on my peers, so that they too will fall into line!”. And they’d do it, too. I say, young feller-me-lad, here’s fun! I’ve a bright and shiny sixpence for the first young rogue who can write me a book report on the jolly scrapes the scamps in _Hogg_ get up to. There’s a fine lark for a young Corinthian, what? ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/52 "2011-10-11T22:40:44Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > Not sure I agree with that. In 1981 if I came home with a note from the teacher for screwing up, I’d get punished, no questions asked. Mom and Dad respected the teacher’s authority and opinion. Now Mom and Dad go down to the school, wave the note in the teacher’s face and ask why Little Johnny is being picked on. In 1986, if I came home with a note for screwing up, Mom and Dad had to discuss it with the teacher before they would accept that I’d done something wrong. In other words, anecdotes aren’t data. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/53 "2011-10-11T22:42:38Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Kids in 1981: I can do anything I want if I work hard enough! > > Kids in 2011: My mamma says I can do anything I want!!! > > Pretty much sums it up. Actually, both of these statements are sad illusions. _That’s_ the real summing up. And kids today, especially poor ones, are waking up to the first lie. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/54 "2011-10-11T23:41:49Z")
> [@Miss\_Violaceous](#): > > Care to explain what this is supposed to mean? I’m no mind-reader, but I can tell you how I interpreted it. There are people who bring their young children into the United States illegally, and that generally results in the kid getting the shit end of the stick. I know a lot of DREAMers, bright kids, beautiful minds, who didn’t know they were undocumented until college scholarship time rolled around. And when their schoolmates found out due to blabbermouth teachers, they regularly beat the shit out of them and otherwise harassed them for being dirty illegals. This is the only home they know and yet they are caught in an existential limbo, not quite real in the eyes of society, not deemed ‘‘American’’ enough to get school financial aid, or serve in the military, or vote. And they are none too pleased with their parents for lying to them for so many years and failing to prepare them for the hardship that lay ahead. So yes, fuck those parents. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/55 "2011-10-11T23:44:56Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > No…that is not remotely what I was getting at. It was just a joke. (Tar Baby? Remember, the George Allen controversy?) I didn’t actually think **CP** was going to get piled on for “racism” - I only made the joke because she brought the possibility up in the first place. Sorry–that was an asshole post on my part. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/56 "2011-10-12T00:09:33Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > I say, young feller-me-lad, here’s fun! I’ve a bright and shiny sixpence for the first young rogue who can write me a book report on the jolly scrapes the scamps in _Hogg_ get up to. There’s a fine lark for a young Corinthian, what? _\_ “No, **Mr. Towers** … we already _read_ that!” “Well you’ll GOD DAMN WELL READ IT AGAIN! Now GET TO IT!” ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/57 "2011-10-12T00:27:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Having a little trouble picturing this one. “I want you to teach my kid to kick ass so he can steal from younger kids”? > > That’s literally what she said, or that was just your appraisal? I asked another mom why she called her son Evander and she said “Cos he’s a fighter and he’ll kick the shit out of anyone to get what he wants.” From observation hitting and stealing (from other parents’ bags as well as kids) was actively encouraged. It was a pre-school playgroup. Her kid was two years old. We didn’t go back. They’re not common, but they’re out there. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/58 "2011-10-12T01:17:09Z")
> [@vinyl turnip](#): > > _\_ “no, **mr. Towers** … We already _read_ that!” > > “well you’ll god damn well read it again! Now get to it!” and i want to see _illustrations_ this time! ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/59 "2011-10-12T01:44:27Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > This is the only home they know and yet they are caught in an existential limbo, not quite real in the eyes of society, not deemed ‘‘American’’ enough to get school financial aid, or serve in the military, or vote. And they are none too pleased with their parents for lying to them for so many years and failing to prepare them for the hardship that lay ahead. > > So yes, fuck those parents. That was how I read that too. It absolutely blows for kids who grow up in the US and then make it out of high school or even college and then have so many barriers to putting their education and hard work to use. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/60 "2011-10-12T02:53:30Z")
As someone who works in juvenile court, I endorse this Pitting. The vast majority of these kids desperately want to be good and do the right thing. They’ve just never been taught how to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253.md?page=4)