Accountability.

The word should be etched in the forehead of every parent who questioned the alcohol/ drug testing suspensions at the Newbury Park prom. The parents missed a golden "teachable moment."

But, given the reactions of the parents, it doesn't appear to be the first time they've neglected to teach their children the concepts of accountability and character.

Children were caught, tested positive for alcohol and were suspended pursuant to a written contract executed with the school. And what's the primary comment from the parents?

They say the process wasn't fair to their children. Their complaint, if you can believe it, is that the district didn't catch more kids. The parents claim definitive knowledge that their kids weren't the only ones drunk and/ or high at the event.

Are you kidding me?

It's not fair because there were so many other parents who also neglected to teach their kids not to violate the law that the school was unable to catch all of them? And society wonders what's wrong with today's youth?

Start with the parents!

I didn't see a single quote about how disappointed the parents were with the behavior of their children. Not a single parent talked about the consequences they were going to inflict upon their kids for having violated not only the school's contract, but also state law and, hopefully, their family's rules.

But then again, some of the parents admitted to having knowingly served alcohol to some of the kids before they were sent on the school buses.

Am I missing something?

Where are the apologies, not only from the kids but also the parents? They collectively embarrassed not only themselves but also the rest of the student body and the school district.

The children and parents committed illegal acts that necessitated a security company conduct searches and protect the owners of the event site. And all the parents can do is point fingers in every direction other than at themselves and their children. It really is a very simple lesson. It's spelled a-c-c-o-u-n-t-a-b-i-l-i-t-y. Steven Walton Thousand Oaks