Punctuality

Heard an disturbing conversation yesterday on the bus home.
it went something like this:

Mum A: Hi, you're bringing ur child to school? its still so early?

Mum B: oh yes, i'm afraid that he will be late, you know how Bus service *** is so unpredictable.

Mum A: that's true, i once waited for half an hour for the bus. i was sending my daughter to school. Because of the bus, she was late, she got there as they started to sing the National Anthem. so usually if i'm running late, i'll take bus 153 instead, its true that you have to walk a short distance, but it is still better compared to being late.

Mum B: 153? No thanks, we do not like to walk. anyway we usually just set off from home earlier. So its usually no problem.

Mum A: but wat if ur son is late for school? u know how they always try to catch those late comers? especially those prefects, they will take down the names of the latecomers even when they have a legitimate reason for being late. those prefects are so naughty especially the girls. my son was also a prefect when he was in the school, and he always closed one eye when it came to latecomers. i mean wat's the big deal about being a prefect.

*at this point in the conversation, my mind just boggled, i try to shut out the conversation, and felt like going up to the two mums and slapping them.

wat is the world coming to? where moms teaches their children through their actions that authorities are to be ignored or challenged even when you have broken a norm? and that a mom can be proud that her son, being given the power to enforce punctuality, neglects his duty?