A Staten Island man, one Esteban Palafox, has been charged with second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony, a third-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and, for good measure, endangering the welfare of a child.

* A Staten Island man, one Esteban Palafox, has been charged with second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony, a third-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and, for good measure, endangering the welfare of a child. He faces time in the big house. What heinous crime did Mr. Palafox allegedly commit? He yelled at his son, Esteban Jr., for skipping school and then hit him a few times with a convenient stick of beef jerky, which court papers referred to as a "dangerous weapon." The defendant insisted the punishment fit the crime, adding, touchingly, "I want to live good. I want my child to live good too." No doubt we should be shocked at this reckless display of brutality toward an errant minor, but yet, the ancient Chinese proverb comes to mind: Kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Esteban Jr. will surely think twice before playing truant again and we expect him to enjoy a good life as a result.