Potential lessons learned...

I know it may seem unempathetic to critique a potentially tragic situation, but it seems that this whole situation with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway could have easily been avoided. This commentary by Barbara Simpson elaborates on several thoughts that I had already formulated while listening to the developments of this case. Firstly, her parents should have been aware--and suspicious--that on a trip of over 100 teenagers fresh out of high school, there were only 7 chaperones. That's nearly 18 kids per adult--a near impossible ratio for adequate supervision on an international trip! When I went on band trips in high school, there was one adult per four students. When I went on an art trip to Italy my senior year of college, there were 4 chaperones for 14 kids. They always kept tabs on what we were doing, and it seems that Natalee slipped through the supervisory cracks--both by the adult chaperones and by her friends. We could blame the chaperones, who were likely enjoying their own time on the beautiful island rather than watching the kids, but they were already stretched too far even with well-meaning intentions. Additionally, for such a smart straight-A student, it was less than brilliant for her to take off, in the middle of the night, from a bar, with young local boys and assume nothing would be fishy with that scenario. Hindsight is always 20/20, but perhaps this may be a lesson for parents, teens, and the touring groups particularly with young clientele to learn.