A long, long time ago, teachers were almost revered by parents, who often took poor teachers into their homes, fed them and, on occasion, an apple pie was a token of a parent’s respect and appreciation.

My, have things changed.

Teachers are blamed for poor test scores, for disciplining an unruly child and anything else, because Johnny, an eighth-grader, can’t read, do math or write a complete, coherent sentence at the third-grade level. I wonder why, parents?

When teaching eighth grade, I asked every class member who of them were apathetic? (Had to give the definition, of course.) The response was about 80 percent said that they were apathetic. Where does that attitude come from?

At open houses, teacher-student-parent conferences, or school-sponsored events (other than sports), who are the parents who attend? Answer: The parents of children who are succeeding, because those parents care.

Society has dictated that the “milk and cookies” mom is a thing of the past. She has to work in order to keep the family progressing; maybe trying to save money for an extended education.

With the recent massacres at schools — where were the parents before the atrocious crimes were committed?

Lastly, under the judicial system, there are no deterrents. Defense lawyers for the children and/or adults who go on rampages should be begging to reduce a 200-year term to 100 years in prison. For those states with a death penalty, so be it.

Is anyone safe anymore?

George Ferguson, Sabattus