The apple doesn't fall far...

Last Thursday night, we had a big International Festival at the school. There are so many different nations represented at our school (it's a veritable UN), and there was a very large turnout. There was a fashion show, to show off all of the different apparel and garb from these native countries. There was also a talent show. And plenty of games both inside and outside the school building.
For the most part, the night was a big success. Lots of people there, and most of them seemed to be enjoying themselves. However, the consensus of teachers the next day was that after a night like that, it's very easy to see why our kids are the way they are. Throughout the fashion show and talent show, there were adults speaking loudly into cell phones, letting their children run wildly into people and objects, and holding conversations that were louder than the children trying to perform up on the stage. There was free food and beverages at the festival, and a few of the mothers apparently saw this as a chance to take as much as they could stuff into their oversized purses.
I was outside for most of the evening, running a game over on the basketball court. Despite the fact that they were orange pylons set up to mark the court, and that there was a large group of kids standing around shooting basketballs, that didn't seem to stop people from walking right through the center of the court with their toddlers and other tiny children in tow. When I asked them to walk around, I received either uncomprehending stares or pained looks as if I had offended their sensibilities.
Mrs. Educator was inside holding a cakewalk. She told me that some lady walked in pushing a stroller containing a screaming baby. This lady pushed the stroller into a corner, left it there, and joined in on the cakewalk! Way to have your priorities set, lady!
I suppose that after a night like that, I can't really blame the kids for behaving poorly -- it's certainly not entirely their fault. I guess I should be happy that I have the kids, and not a class full of parents...