Water Flow Slows Firefighters 
No Injuries Reported In Regent Street Blaze

Accused Killer Says Victim Provoked Him

Friday, January 24, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Lessons in responsibility meant for father and son &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fourteen. What a tough age. Too young to drink, too young to drive -- but
too old for people to smile when you screw up, and say, ``He's just a kid.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At 14, choices have consequences. Habits get set that can last a
lifetimeHow we hope a couple of Dallas teens learn the habit of taking
responsibility for their actions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scott Miller and Joseph Goryl, both 14, pleaded guilty Wednesday to
criminal mischief charges in the recent mercury spill at Dallas Senior High
School. Orphans Court Judge Gifford Cappellini accepted the pleas and found
the boys delinquent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The judge postponed sentencing until he can hear from Dallas school
district officials, The Times Leader reported. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There is one and only one proper response for a 14-year-old hauled in front
of a judge, for any reason: Abject and total remorse. There may be a time for
questioning authority, but that ain't it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Standing before a judge should scare the bejeezus out of a teenager. It
should wake him up like a slap on the face. It should tell him, "Hey, pal,
this isn't kid stuff any more. And you had best change your ways now or you're
going to be seeing a lot more judges and bailiffs and courtrooms real soon." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The youngster should walk out of that courtroom a changed and humbled
person. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maybe Scott Miller did just that. But judging by the response he gave to a
Times Leader reporter, maybe not. Asked what he thought about the sentencing
delay, young Miller replied, "They want to wait so that the school officials
can come here and say a bunch of bad stuff that I did in the past so that the
judge will be harder on me. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's not fair. The judge should have sentenced me today." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Not the remark we'd expect from a youngster who had learned his lesson. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Miller's father, Robert Miller, set an example by also questioning the
court's fairness. Two other Miller boys besides Scott also are in trouble with
the law, the story reported. Yet Robert Miller says the district is trying to
make "an example" of his boys. And he, too, expressed displeasure with the
sentencing delay. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Such second-guessing seems inappropriate from father and son alike. The
court doesn't operate at the Miller family's convenience. It operates at
society's convenience -- and society summoned the Millers into court for the
purpose of teaching a lesson. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Questioning the court's procedures and nit-picking its motives can be ways
of brushing that lesson aside. That would be a shame in this case. Because
clearly, young Scott Miller has much to learn about good conduct, humility and
personal responsibility. And we'd hate to see him brush off the court's very
serious warnings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So the judge delayed sentencing? "So be it, Your Honor. You know best."
School district officials will offer their input? "I know I screwed up in the
past, but I swear I'll do my best never to do so again." Three sons appear in
a court of law? "To my community, I'd like to say I'm sorry, and I promise my
community my kids will walk the straight-and-narrow from now on." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those are the kinds of words that suggest this person has learned personal
responsibility. And you never can be too young or too old to start. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lessons In Responsibility Meant For Father And Son 
Fourteen. What A Tough Age. Too Young To Drink, Too Young To Drive -- But Too 
Old For People To Smile When You Screw Up, And Say, ``he's Just A Kid.'' 
At 14, Choices Have Consequences. Habits Get Set That Can Last A Lifetime.

Lessons In Responsibility Meant For Father And Son Fourteen. What A Tough Age. Too Young To Drink, Too Young To Drive -- But Too Old For People To Smile When You Screw Up, And Say, ``he's Just A Kid.'' At 14, Choices Have Consequences. Habits Get Set That Can Last A Lifetime.