A friend of mine pointed me to this story in the Greenville News about two middle school kids, a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old, who were caught “gambling” – by flipping coins – in class.
Flipping coins has become popular with kids, Gambrell said. Rules vary, but it can be as simple as calling heads or tails and the winner gets the coin.
If convicted of gambling in the city, the fine is $295.50 and/or a jail term of 30 days
In a state with legalized gambling in the form of the lottery, my first reaction to the article went something like this: “So what is done if the kids are caught fighting in school? Are they beheaded immediately, or are they hung until nearly dead first?”
But it occurred to me that there may be another issue at work here.
A teacher told the 12-year-old and 15-year-old to stop playing, but the students continued and challenged the teacher, the police report said.
… after which the kids were arrested for “gambling”. Do the teachers really have so little authority in the classroom today that the only way to get rid of two disruptive kids in the middle of class is to have them arrested? That’s something to think about.