The system has spawned new rules about coming “on time” and about being “good.” Coming on time means arriving before the teacher, so “on time” is a relative issue. It depends on when the teacher arrives. I wonder whether Einstein (who wasn’t such a great student himself) would have been proud of the way that we have implemented his major theory. “Good” children, who arrive “on time,” might shove the teacher aside and dodge into class in order to win the race. That’s acceptable behavior, since everybody knows that coming on time is no more than a game.

Other students accept the fact that they should be in school at 9:00 AM, but negotiate about how many minutes of leeway should be granted in order to be considered "on time."

One misguided school tried to deal with the problem in a unique way. Since students never arrived at 9:00, when class was supposed to begin, they changed the starting time to 9:10. They foolishly assumed that students needed those extra ten minutes to arrive. Of course, many students now come at 9:20.

Is there a solution to these issues? Certainly. It need not be difficult or expensive. However, we will have to re-establish our key attitudes and goals.

Re-establishing our key attitudes and goals. Doesn't that sound like deja vu all over again?