How I differ from other parents. .

I have a rule in my house - Don't take anything to school that you don't want to lose or have stolen.   It's a basic common sense kind of thing, children, even if they are teenagers, are gonna misplace, share, set down in the wrong place, or break something of value. It's what they do.  If a child of mine takes something they value to school and it gets gone, I don't care.  I tell them, well that's too bad - learn this lesson now.  I mention this today because I over heard a mother fussing about a stolen phone.  Her daughter took a phone to school and it was stolen.  And although she had no proof what so ever, she just KNEW who the culprit was and had already called the police and the district attorney who handles juvenile cases.  She was gonna get that girl. 
Here is my problem with that - Why the hell did her daughter have the phone with her?  Oh yes I'm sure I'm about to get all kinds of comments about how sweet little Susie just HAS TO HAVE her phone in school because of practice, work, "omg becky kissed johnny!"  And all I have to say to that is "waaah" - Parents across America attended school without cell phones, ipods, etc.  How did we communicate with our parents?  We made plans and/or we waited at school if those plans changed. The world hasn't changed so much that children have to have these items at school - they are a want, a luxury, and something to make life more convenient.  It's not a need.

Now I understand being angry that something was stolen. I get that no one has the right to take something that doesn't belong to them.  But I also am a big believer that most crimes are crimes of opportunity and if you don't give them the opportunity the crime won't happen.  There is a reason you don't walk down dark alleys or talk to strangers or take expensive toys to school.  It's also why on black Friday you are reminded to put purses in trunks and be careful in parking lots.  It's just common sense.  Why this woman isn't angry at her daughter is beyond me. Doesn't she have some responsibility? I'm not saying she should be punished (having her phone stolen is good punishment), but I think calling down the powers that be on a girl you have no proof against is a bit crazy.