Steve James wrote:Well, I guess that means that if you had been the teacher, the school would have forced you to turn the kid in. I think differently. I disagree about the war service medal etc, and the whole idea that institutions think. People, school boards, decide what the policies should be. If the people in that region disagree with the decision, it'll be changed. I guess then the family will sue the school for a billion dollars for pain and suffering.
No, I wouldn't have turned the kid in. I would have taken the opportunity to be a teacher and explain why some people might take issue with a student bringing a shell casing to school. I would have respected the significance that the boy attached to the souvenir.
I don't believe that institutions think nor did I imply that. There is, however, institutional thinking, group think, bureaucratic thinking/behavior etc. Rarely, in my experience, are school administrations reflective of the community. Promotions are generally done from within the bureaucracy and school boards are generally rubberstamping the administration's policies, requests, budgets etc. Most bureaucracies take on a life of their own.