School discipline; TCU-Texas baseball; Well-being survey

School discipline

Our attitude on school discipline is amusing. (See Feb. 21 news story “Texas schools changing approach on suspensions.”)

In 2013, I worked a couple of months as a substitute teacher.

High school students weren’t bad, but the junior high students were brats with a capital “B.”

I attended Roman Catholic schools.

Sister Anthony once broke a pointer in two or three places while striking me for acting up.

Then there was Sister Judith, who once hit me upside the head with a plastic baseball bat for picking on a kid on the playground.

If Texas public school teachers did that, they would be fired, accused of child abuse and sued.

I don’t think Texas students have experienced real disciplinary action.

I retired from teaching and don’t miss it a bit.

People who haven't been in a classroom since they were students are telling the teachers how to run things.

The parents are teaching their children to ignore authority and do as they please. They ignore all authority — police and God’s.

When they end up in jail or shot by a police officer, they get in an uproar.

Punish the parents of these unruly children and I guarantee that discipline will return to the classroom.

Require them to go to the classroom and keep order so the teachers can do their jobs.

If that doesn't work, then give them a stiff fine or jail time.

The following letter is being republished to correct an editing error in its March 2 publication.

TCU-Texas baseball

Gil LeBreton’s Feb. 18 column (“Big reminders mean big expectations for TCU baseball”) rightfully lauds the accomplishments of the TCU baseball program.

The program has made fantastic strides under its coach and is a national power.

I write this as a longtime Fort Worth resident whose oldest child is a TCU alum.

And then I read the line: “The gold standard in college baseball in this state used to be the Texas Longhorns.”

LeBreton’s statement seems to indicate this has changed.

Comparing the last three appearances in the College World Series of Texas and TCU (its only appearances) finds Texas advanced to the championship game in one of these trips — something TCU has yet to do.

As for the other CWS appearances by Texas, I invite LeBreton and others to look up, say, the Wikipedia article on the CWS to see Texas’ accomplishments there.

I don’t think there is any disputing the college baseball “standard” in Texas.

I think LeBreton actually does more harm to a worthy TCU program when he sinks to pathetic arguments.

Like Tom Hanks’ line in the movie Saving Private Ryan — “Earn it.”

Hook ’em!

Well-being survey

I was amazed that the survey done by Gallup-Healthways measuring the “well-being” of communities did not include “concern for others.” (See Tuesday news story “DFW ranks 62nd out of 190 in well-being.”)

Social responsibility and sharing are such key factors in a community’s attitude of well-being.

I’m reminded of a saying by a member of the Peace Corps in the 1960s:

“I looked for my soul and could not find it. I looked for my God, but He eluded me. Then I looked for my brother and found all three.”

I was surprised that the entire concern of compassion was left out of the survey. How sad.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "School discipline; TCU-Texas baseball; Well-being survey."