Today, they see only recklessness bordering on nihilism, forgetting that is what their parents thought of long hair, protest songs and bong parties. Adulthood itself has deteriorated. The real problem is that adults are not observing boundaries. That is certainly the message from a survey of 3,000 Main Line youths, released last week by the Search Institute. Twenty-seven percent of the seniors got behind the wheel while drunk .
Kids always have wanton impulses.
Today they have a greater sense that they can get away with it. The sense of entitlement once shared by a few is held by many. No wonder school officials run aground trying to enforce the rules parents say they want, but only if it applies to someone else's child. Joe O'Brien has learned that lesson. Now the superintendent of the Springfield, Delaware County, School District, he once broke up an underage drinking party only to be accused of trespassing by the absent parent.