Blame Someone Else Day

I was reading a post on MaryJane's FarnGirl Sisterhood forum this afternoon. One of the girls was discussing that she heard announced on the radio that it was "Blame Someone Else" Day. She was appalled and suggested that instead she was going to "Praise someone else" today. I felt myself agreeing but thinking in the back of my head "Lighten up" to the outraged sister.

Then I stopped myself. Lighten up? I recalled my week, as a substitute teacher, in the classroom of 8th graders and 1st graders. This whole week has been "blame someone else". Rarely when I had to address any type of disciplinary situation had any student actually taken responsibility for their actions.

Lighten up? Flashback to the last 17 years that I spent, mostly as Vice Principal, 1 year as Principal of the same Elementary School. Let's face it - Vice Principal should just be synonymous with "Warden". How many kids actually took responsibility for their actions? How many parents actually allowed them to take responsibility and face the consequences? Precious few. (And I could go on forever about that and probably will at a later date).

So kudos to the outraged farm girl. And kudos to her speaking out against it. Kudos to taking a self centered narcissistic day and turning it into a day to praise other people.

I can only hope that there are many more people who are involved in the lives of children who feel this same way and don't say, "Lighten up".