The 10's kid vs. The 70's kid.
1970's:
Two kids have a fight at lunch. Bobby didn't like Billy swooping in on Mary Anne. They had it out. They sit side by side on a bench outside the football coaches office, because they both play varsity. He mediates. He says, "This ends now, we have state to think about. You both are doing 2 hours of stadiums after practice today. I called your father, Bobby, he's got some words for you when you get home tonight."
2010's:
Blake didn't like Jordan face-timing Taylor, especially because he is still dating McKenzie. They had it out after school by the Starbucks.
As it was right off campus they are detained by that high school's assigned officer. As they were in transit between school and home they are the school's responsibility until they arrive home.
A search of Blake's car parked at the Starbucks revealed an empty piece of drug paraphernalia, a pipe used for Cannabis.
After taking statements from witnesses, the officer explained if they weren't both 17 they may be facing assault charges, and both are facing heavy disciplinary actions from the school. Blake is explained he is being charged with a Class 6 Felony and it is suggested that he retain legal counsel.
In 1994 the school district enacted a zero tolerance policy. Fighting carries a mandatory minimum 9 day suspension. The pipe carries a 31 day minimum suspension.
Blake loses his sports eligibility, his scholarship to play at Fresno State is in question, and all he is told is, "well, you shouldn't have brought it to school".
Take:
Apologists have won. You will now defend the systematic way in which kids are hurried into a system of some kind.
The Juvenile courts thrive on revenue and a need to exist. A sidebar exists for authoritarian indoctrination and risk cataloging.
Children aren't their parent's kids. They are the state's kids granted the right to live with their parents. They are wards to be taught subservience with every pledge of allegiance and reinforced every time the state reaffirms disciplinary dominion. The school, a part time guardian, strain the problem children out and add them to a database before they become of age threats.
The mindset that kids are better off having probation officers to charge the parents 100-200/month, drug test them once a month to daily, and essentially tell ALL of them they don't know how to raise their kids properly. Sometimes the future tax write off is assigned colors to better prepare them for the inevitability of San Quentin and life after.
The system is built.
