Tick Tock on the Clock

The pupils at one local elementary school are getting an early taste of the real world.
According to an e-mail from the principal, the only acceptable excuse for being late is a doctor or dentist appointment. Not acceptable are excuses such as "missing the bus, running late, forgetting your lunch, etc."
And in another school announcement, the rules for a fifth-grade art contest state that "any entries with misspelled words will be disqualified."
Welcome to the working week, kids.
However, we were dismayed to learn that in some schools teachers can no longer use red pen to mark mistakes; apparently it is "too alarming" to the pupils. Green and orange are acceptable alternatives. We are alarmed by red ink, too, but only on financial statements.