Guess why "education is in a sorry state", Mr. Cafferty. Because of parents like this. Teachers can't discipline kids, because too many parents want to be their kids' friends. And they don't want to be burdened with parenting things like reading with them, helping them with their homework, teaching them manners or hygiene or how to eat with other human beings or how to behave in public. It has so little to do with the teachers and so much to do with the parents.