Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for September 21, 2015

Can’t say as I blame him in today’s crazy society!I remember being terrorized at the thought I had to go to the principle’s office. Today, it’s the principal who is terrorized!

Last panel: could be code for what he cannot say to Holly’s mother. " I am scare to be caught between you and your daughter."

Middle school has always required a special type of teacher because it’s such a transitional time for kids. And don’t fool yourself into thinking that kids were better back in the “good old days.” That’s BS. I remember back in the early 70s, one of my 8th grade teachers said, "You’re all miserable, badly behaved monsters. But that’s okay. So we’re your parent and your grandparents before you. And that’s what old people will say about your kids. And when you become old and grumpy like me, you’ll say the same thing about “kids these days.”

Maybe that explains why a former Detroit cop said I was braver than him, because I homeschooled my sons? At least with homeschooling, I could discipline them without worrying that the parents would sue me.

I do not blame Phil as middle school kids try anything and Phil does not want to be go between Val and Holly, by reporting what Holly does by leaving school.

That is why I joined the bomb squad.

Uh oh!

Wise choice, Jan. The Holly-Phil connection has many fewer avenues for strip arcs than does general patrol.

but enough of Holly and her friends. The rest of the students are angels

Once I knew how to handle the middle-schoolers (I worked in the cafeteria) I gained their love and respect. i loved those kids.

One of my 8th grade teachers used to say, “Only a mother can love an 8th grader.”

Congrats to Jan on your retirement!Sad to hear that Jan is retiring her daily strip. Glad that she will continue Sundays, though!

Why do they scare him?

I’ll miss the daily strip, but at least I’ll have Sundays. Maybe run the daily strips from the very beginning?? Hope, hope, hope, hope.

Thank you, Jan, for all the daily fun! I will miss your daily strips, but will be even more eager for the Sunday one! Happy semi-retirement!

Jan, I only found your strip a couple of years ago, but I feel that I am losing a life-long friend upon your daily retirement. Thank you for your insights, and I will definitely look forward to Sundays. You gotta love August!