Training

Of course, 1/20/2009 was a big and momentous day.  But my inauguration action began almost 1 week prior.  This "action" was a conference for young people, where I was one of many staff.  In return for herding children, teaching them, and making sure they didn't sneak into other rooms at night, I got hotel and food for a week, a chance to see the events planned for them, and a pittance of a wage.  

Due to circumstances, I'm going to be circumspect about the name of the conference and the organization involved. This is because the things did not go as planned, to put it mildly, and there are now a large contingent of angry parents who have started a blog to gather evidence for a law suit against said company, where I was an employee for 1 week. 

But before you can welcome youth, you must know what it is you will do with them.  So for three days, I trained... with 800 other staff members.  EIGHT HUNDRED.  That is like the incoming Obama White House staff. We ate bad camp food, hoarded candy bars, and were the recipients of more ice breakers, attention getters and teaching techniques than can be crammed into your head in three days.

And then there were the rules and procedures.  Apparently, the number one rule when working with children is: Do NOT do ANYTHING that might POSSIBLY get you SUED.

So, when inspecting rooms at night to make sure there are no extra occupants, you must stand at the door and take their word for it.  When comforting a child, you can do no more than give the "Oprah Hug" [See movie for a better explanation]

And the best one of all: If a nervous 12 year old comes to you with a stomach ache, head ache, hurt thumb or anything else, you can never ever ever give any advice whatsoever.  Instead, you must present them with their options.

1) Go to a pharmacy/drug store and get whatever you think you need

2) Go to the emergency room

3) Do nothing

So, if a 12 year old thinks that their headache deserves a trip to the ER, then you must take them there. If they think that it can be 'cured' by purchasing Immodium, you must let them do that. Because, if you give advice, you might get SUED.  So, it is obviously better to let the child make a decision for himself. 

HUH?

If this isn't a case for medical malpractice reform, I don't know what is.