I've just run out of things to tell my 16 year old grandson, who isn't exactly happy with the school experience during his teen years. He's not a bad boy, but he is going through some anger issues, a bit of rebellion against authority. He seems to be at a place where he can't understand what good school is doing for him. We tell him all the benefits of having a high school diploma and point out that he can't even get a menial job without that diploma. Then, enter stage left, Sarah Palin, vice presidential nominee, whose teenage daughter is prematurely pregnant and quitting school to be married and home-tutored, and whose teenage “soon to be” son-in-law, is quitting school to marry her daughter and go to work as an electrician in the oil fields. My grandson sees electrician, oil fields, quit school, and really is blinded to the downside of this arrangement. It all adds up to dollar signs, independence and many other benefits becoming a big part of his routine, while parents, teachers, rules, bells, and structured days would all be removed from his life, especially since he doesn't have the added blessing of a teenage pregnancy.

Thank you, Sarah Palin! How can something so wrong look so right?

Sandy Swartwood

Auburn