1 Oh...it was hurling *expletives*...I first read it as hurling *explosives*, and thought a ticket actually seemed pretty light. Gotta get some more coffee.

2 Any bets as to when the first lawsuit is filed?

3 we swore constantly. In fact, my friend was nicknamed "the bastard" because he said bastard so often. Just didn't let the teachers hear us. In one class there was a "cuss jar" and you had to put a nickel in if you got caught. Quite a price hike in 10 years.

4 It is telling that people think of the punitive fiorst, when the research shows that the punitive doesn't work very well. Years ago, back when every teenager discovered the power and usefulness of swearwords, the average teenager knew enough not to use them with those adults in power at the school. it is a simple matter of coding. In those days, when your parents found out that you swore at Mrs. Teacher, you were dealt with at home. That is not true today. One young man liked to brave repercussions by pulling out a handkerchief whenever he went to the board, and fake sneezing into it, something like, "fug-SHOO!" All us mature teenagers would giggle. One day, he happened to actually sneexe as he did this, and the words "fuck you" came out after, clear as a bell. The teacher could not help but laugh. Then he simply pointed to the door, and the young man took hgimself to the principal's office, where he spent the rest of the period. Nothing much was made of it. The teacher involved seemed to remember when he was a lad. A better approach might be to give tickets for foul language, then every month (perhaps), hold a drawing for a $50 prize for everyone in a particular grade who had not gotten a ticket in that time. (The time peroiod and population can be adjusted, of course.) It might even be possible to have local businesses donate gift certificates in the amount, which would make it a no-cost program for the schools. Even the PTA or localk churches could chip in. The trick is to reward the proper behaviour.

5 Police officers? Issuing tickets for swearing? Just one more reason to homeschool. Sorry, but that is just absurd!

6 Shades of Demolition Man! Actually I do not mind swearing as such, but it's depressing when a stream of profanity and vulgarity substitutes for articulate speech. Swearing is a crutch and eventually, if overused, becomes the default mode of communication. I recall a Navy officer's manual (might have been the old Division Officer's Guide) that said an occasional profanity was useful for emphasis or as an attention getter but overuse became monotonous and diluted whatever one wished to communicate. But you add in the typical discretion and maturity of schoolkids, who will giggle uncontrollably for fifteen minutes after somebody says "shit" and here we are.

7 I can't get excited about any of this, I'm afraid: I grew up on the Hair soundtrack. My mother cut us a deal: we could say whatever we liked, as long as we didn't do it in front of our friends. Mom didn't want to take any, um, stuff from their parents.