Parents are as much to blame

I've read the articles for the last two weeks and heard all the newscasts about the subject. You see, I have a boy in the fourth grade at Lupin Hill Elementary in Calabasas. My older boys have also gone to Lupin Hill. This is a great school, ranked among the highest in the state with excellent teachers and staff, and a much better atmosphere than when I went to elementary school in the Valley.

It seems that what is missing here is reasonable thinking and common sense, and because of this, there's no guarantee some other inexcusable acts could not happen again.

First you have the child who, without corporal punishment, could do just about anything he wants in school without consequence or embarrassment of going to the vice principal for a paddle. Then, there's the parent. Not a good job. And where's social services on this issue? I mean, this kid got this idea from somewhere.

Just because you get 500 channels of TV doesn't mean he should be able to watch anything he wants. Being a parent means we must teach our children a set of values, right and wrong, good and bad. Instead, we make excuses for the poor job we actually have done because we're too busy with our own hobbies.

And when the first media van showed up at my house, the response I would have given is, sorry, I'm too busy whoopin' my kid for getting into trouble at school. I'm not blaming it on someone else.

Then there are the attorneys and, come on, not enough supervision? Here's a good idea. Let's get more supervision. How about video cameras in every bathroom stall, and then we can worry about who's watching that.

Yes, reason has taken a back seat in Agoura, and two weeks later no one's sorry, everyone has an excuse, and the perpetrators are going to sue the school for damages.

I think tar and feathers seem more appropriate. Pete Staley Agoura Hills