Some public schools try to turn children against their parents with scary classroom stories or lessons about child abuse. Public school authorities have increasingly decided that they are children's first line of defense against child abuse. This new attitude falls under what is now known as "protective behavior curriculum."
The assumptions behind this curriculum are that every child needs to be warned about and prepared for possible dangers of verbal, physical, and sexual abuse because allegedly every child is a potential victim, not only of strangers but of his or her own family.
Increasingly, school authorities instruct teachers to ask children questions about their parents' behavior and actions toward them at home. The questions amount to asking kids to spy on their parents and report incidents that make them feel "uncomfortable." Some school authorities use such tales by children to investigate or file charges of child abuse against parents who often did no more than yell at their children or spank them lightly.
In effect, to allegedly protect children, some school authorities now consider all parents as potential abusers, use children to invade parents' privacy, or make kids afraid of their parents. Often, children are disturbed and emotionally traumatized by the insinuations school authorities put into their heads.
The following incident described by Charles J. Sykes, in his book "Dumbing Down Our Kids," illustrates this disturbing anti-parent campaign by many public schools across the country:
"I first became aware of the protective behaviors curriculum when a mother called me to tell me of an experience she had with her daughter. Her child, an elementary schoolgirl, had come home in tears. When she saw that her mother was home and waiting for her, she rushed to her in relief. AI wasn't sure you'd be here, she told her mother. Her mother reassured her that she would always be there for her. In school that day, her daughter told her, her class had discussed "bad" touching including spanking.
"In the course of the discussion, children had been encouraged to share with the teachers and classmates whether they had ever been touched in that way and the girl had said that her mother had spanked her. The children were also told that people who engaged in bad touching would be taken away and put in jail. For the rest of the school day the girl was terrified that her mother who had spanked her would now be taken away and locked up for her bad touching."
Parents, it might be wise to periodically ask your children if their teachers ask them personal questions about your family or how you discipline your children. Turning children into spies against their parents or making them afraid of their parents is not what parents pay school taxes for.
Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst, and author of "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children." Contact Information: Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Email: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Phone: 718-447-7348. Article Copyrighted ? 2005 by Joel Turtel. NOTE: You may post this Article on another website only if you set up a hyperlink to Joel Turtel's email address and website URL, http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com
personalized cleaning services Des Plaines ..The choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store... Read More
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More
The successful preschool idea behind many successful preschool learning centers... Read More
Children think money grows on trees. Maybe not literally, but... Read More
1. Boundaries are necessary for control and safety.All children need... Read More
To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important... Read More
Often I will hear parents say, "I just ignore Jr.... Read More
When kids try new things, sometimes it's a 'fit' and... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
I am in pain. I've been in pain all day.... Read More
The word no is probably the most overused word in... Read More
One of the most difficult struggles in life for a... Read More
In this form of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder... Read More
Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the... Read More
If you visit search engines you can find several resources... Read More
Volunteering together is a fantastic way to spend time as... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
Back to school preparations are in full-swing. Soon, the first... Read More
Bath time can be fun or it can be a... Read More
Parents want their children to succeed in school. However, sometimes... Read More
We are all so very happy to see that the... Read More
Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Arlington Heights ..Your child's first year of school should be a fun... Read More
Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
What exactly makes safety glasses different from regular glasses? There... Read More
Not all parents subscribe to the notion of "tough love,"... Read More
You've just received a call from your child's teacher. As... Read More
When planning a child birthday party, just a little bit... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
Anyone can splurge on a formal dinner or a pricey... Read More
Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However,... Read More
An address given by Rev. David B. Smith... Read More
It was the homework that did it. Each night became... Read More
Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More
"There is nothing new under the sun," states Ecclesiastes 1:9.... Read More
Most of the ADHD kids that are seen in a... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
If you are currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling your child,... Read More
Pool safety should be on the minds of every parent... Read More
What is child sexual abuse? Any sexual activity that is... Read More
Here's a scene: A parent "might suddenly grab a happliy... Read More
I am writing this from the beautiful mountains of Western... Read More
Until about the age of six, children do not generally... Read More
"How many times do I have to tell you to... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
Parenting |