re: #325 CapeCoddah A mom just spent the weekend in jail because her son reported to a teacher that she forced him to kill his pet hampster with a hammer due to a bad report card. It turns out that his report may be suspect and he has had behavioral isssues in the past.

I also have a friend who in a moment of anger slapped his 16 y/o son accross the face (open handed) and ended up reported to the state through the school, put on probation and unable to discipline the son (who was a terror - badmouthed his mother in public and routinely punched holes in the walls around the home). The kid ended up ruling the roost until they could get him to move out at the age of 19 and his brothers and sisters were intimidated by him. Meanwhile the Dad spent most of his time with his tail between his legs afraid to discipline any of the children.

Contrast this with my wife who had molestation, real bruises and a broken jaw from her stepdad and was told she’d have to prove it to her school counselor by stripping naked in front of him (1980’s).

I do not have a high opinion of school counsellors and other pseudo legal authorities.