Can you imagine undercover officers spending an entire year posing as high school students, and all they uncover is kids selling pot?

What a waste of time and our taxpayer money, as recounted in this story today. The officers spent nine months in classrooms at three Palm Beach County high schools and busted 30 kids over the past few days, most for selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.

If I were the Palm Beach County School District, I would not have held a news conference yesterday to brag about this because it is an embarrassment. The officers spent an entire year doing nothing else, and could not find any cocaine, meth labs or Ecstasy sales? With the school district threatening to cut the school police department, I suggest the chief find other ways to prove the department's worth.

I was browsing through my Facebook news feed, and this image caught my eye. My friend who posted the item had commented, "definitely taking the pledge". I had to click the link.

The video that followed started out on a high note with a proud mother glancing back at her smiling son, but I was waiting for the other shoe to drop...

Is that powerful, or what? I must admit that I am not very good about ignoring my phone when I drive. Maybe it is part of the job I do with social media and SunSentinel.com. Maybe it is the fact that more of my friends talk via Facebook than over the phone. Whatever the reason, I am definitely making a point to take this pledge and be a safer driver.

Check out the full website for The Last Word, and take the pledge yourself.

My 12-year-old asked me if it was legal to kill Osama bin Laden.

This question left me stunned for a few moments. She clearly knew killing anyone is wrong. And of course, it is. But in this case, I said, the victim was the brain behind the killing of 3,000 people in New York and went into hiding to flee justice, so he deserved it. I felt very uncomfortable saying this, because as Americans, we still believe in the court system as the ultimate arbiter of guilt or innocence.

In the same way, the celebrations over bin Laden's death also rub me the wrong way. They are filled with gloating 20-somethings who fail to see how complicated the world is. Should our culture celebrate death? Isn't that what we criticize the terrorists for doing? I have never before seen mainstream Americans rejoice this way over a death, even if it was of a despised enemy.

You can wrap yourself in the flag all you want, but bin Laden's demise is a time for solemnity, not partying.

Photo by Josh Pesavento/Flickr

With the news of Osama bin Laden's bloody demise seemingly everywhere, what have you said to your kids about how he died or how you feel about his death?

One of our schools' reporters talked with a Pembroke Pines principal about his decision to talk about bin Laden's death with his sons and students. This is what he said about the gory details:

"We don't get into all that," said Principal Carlton Campbell. "We focus on purpose and political ramifications. They can only handle so much."

My kids are so used to being driven everywhere that any walking they have to do is a hardship.

A walking tour of the University of Florida last weekend spurred lots of whining and complaints. And if we go to Publix and I don't park in the closest spot to the store, I hear groans and sighs. They may actually have to take a few extra steps!

I have been wondering how I got in this situation, and what I can do to get them out of it. Living in car-dependent South Florida has not helped. Most of my kids' friends live in neighborhoods a few miles away; I wouldn't expect them to walk there.

But I love to walk, and often intentionally pick a faraway parking spot to get some extra exercise. At the moment, I plan to keep emphasizing how exercise is a good thing and hope that rubs off on them, even if they won't acknowledge it.

It’s that time of year when many of us are starting to plan our summer vacations. Families with children need to make special preparations to be sure everyone has a stress free fun filled time. Here are a few tips for a successful journey.

1. If your child has a favorite comfort toy (stuffed animal, blanket etc.) pack it. Even if it takes up precious room when packing the entire family will get a better night’s sleep if your little one feels more secure in a new environment.

2. Let your kids take their own mini suitcase or backpack with essentials (toys, games, books) that will occupy them when you have down time.

3. If you’re flying or traveling by train be considerate of other passengers. Most people aren’t able to bock out the sound of video games being played the way you are so bring headphones so your child can play quietly.

4. Expect your child to behave appropriately when using public transportation. When possible try to schedule flights during a baby or toddlers nap time. Your fellow passengers will silently thank you.

5. Check out public parks and playgrounds in the area you are traveling to before you go. Allow for plenty of down time for the kids where they can play and explore.

Maggie Cary, a national board certified teacher has been an educator for more than 17 years. She is certified in secondary education and holds a master’s degree in early childhood education.

Over the years she has mentored countless teachers and advised hundreds of parents. Cary has taught children from preschool through high school. She also offers classroom advice on website Classroom Talk.

Panic in our household: No turkey subs for lunch this week!

I love bread and so do my kids. It's an unfortunate and unhealthy trait I have passed along to them. So when Passover comes each year, they freak out over what they will eat for lunch at school, since we do not eat bread for the eight days of the holiday.

I set out to look for some creative ideas. This site offered a healthful approach which I know my kids will reject, including egg salad wrapped in lettuce leaves and cheese chunks and fruit on skewers.

I usually make them a salad with a hard-boiled egg and a container of grapes. Today I added in a handful of chocolate chips for dessert. I usually avoid giving them matzo because they eat it for breakfast, and how much of it can you eat? In a few days, I expect the complaints to start rolling in about how bored they are with my offerings.