Column for May 26, 2005

It is a throw away world. I have a little power supply for my guitar. When they made it, they put the cheapest little wire possible on it. Of course it wears out and the way they make them it is very hard to repair. Really they don't want you to repair it. They want you to buy a new one. Buy, buy, buy, and even though the power supply part is fine, just toss it and buy the new one. Because of a 5 cent wire.

They say that about diapers now too. The throw away diapers seem like a huge waste of material for one little baby pee. But now they say by time you make cloth diaper, electricity and water to wash it and dry it, its easier on the environment just to use the disposable kind. Maybe not easier on the wallet but who wants stinky diapers around anyway.

Speaking of diapers, my youngest little girl is now in high school. She has done great in school, part of the credit I give to Harry Potter, the series of children's books that taught her a love of reading. Recently I got a note from her teacher informing me my little girl was going to get an E. She of course has never got an E before, so I asked the teacher why she went from a B to an E and I am just finding out about it now?

The teacher told me, my sweet little girl just wasn't understanding and keeping up. So I told her, and friends and neighbors feel free to leave a copy of the paper at the school board, principals office and teachers lounge, I better start a new sentence here or the English teachers will hate me too. Teachers need to teach! I know it is a crazy concept, but if you are giving my kid an E, you are telling me, you the teacher, did not show my kid what she needed to know.

I know all the teachers will probably hate me. The people at the library already hate me so get in line. I know teachers have so many kids in each class and they have to prepare for all these tests and grade all the papers and on and on. But that doesn't change the fact they are the teachers and their job, is to find a way to motivate kids and show them what they need to know. Now if my kid is missing class or not doing homework, not paying attention, that becomes my job. Parents have to do their job and teachers have to do theirs.

So in the throw away world my kid's teacher caved. When she saw my parental attitude she simply fond an easy way out. Kind of a don't repair it, just buy a new one mentality. Have your sweet little girl do a one page extra credit paper and I will throw out the E and make it a C. When I was in school I before E not after C had different meaning?

To reach Ben E. Jet call (313) 730-1627 via e mail benejets@aol.com and see the web sites www.bennyandthejets.com and www.reverendguitars.com. Benny and the Jets band can play at your club, event or house party for $250.