Imagine you were the principal of the school that your child would be attending. Imagine that you were authorized to pick out which teachers to hire.
Who would you pick? Let's look at some of the applicants.
Would you hire someone to teach your children if she had not graduated from high school or college?
Would you want someone to teach your children who used four-letter words pulled directly out of the garbage dump?
Would you pick teachers who might drink, smoke pot, or use other illegal drugs in front of the students?
Would you hire teachers who would yell at the kids and called them filthy names?
Would you hire someone to teach if that person walked into the building with an attitude, mumbled responses to your questions, didn?t look you in the eye, and then made derogatory racial comments about some of the people she saw coming into the waiting room?
How would you feel about hiring teachers who hit, kicked or slapped your children?
Well, guess what folks! Those kids are teaching our children, and we don?t even have to pay them to teach. That's right! Every day, those people are teaching children right here in south Georgia.
What? You think this is a joke? Well, friends, look in the mirror. Or look around you when you go out in public, because every woman or man you see with a child is a teacher.
Our government has restrictions on who can marry, smoke, drive, drink and vote, but there are no restrictions on who may become a parent. Age, background and ability to raise and nurture a child are insignificant.
So, let?s ask a few questions here, and see how you fare.
Have you ever driven five miles over the speed limit? Or more?
If you answer yes, you may be teaching your children that they do not have to follow rules.
Do you ever make negative racial or gender comments or jokes around your children?
If you answer yes, you may be teaching them to be prejudiced in a world already too filled with strife.
Do you cuss, use profanity, or say vulgar words around your children?
If you reply yes, you may be teaching your children behaviors that are anti-social and unacceptable in public.
Do you laze around the house, unemployed, blaming everyone else in the world because you don?t have a job?
If you answer yes, you may be teaching your children to expect others to support them financially, and that they have no control over their future.
Do you drink and smoke around your children?
If you said yes, you may be teaching your children that unhealthy activities are okay.
Do you boast of sexual activities around your children? Or make inappropriate sexual gestures to others?
If you replied yes, you may be teaching your children that their bodies have no value, and that sex is unrelated to love or marriage.
Do you hit your husband, wife or children when they aren?t perfect, according to your standards?
If you do, you may be teaching your children to use violence, to bully, and to disrespect the rights of others.
Do you yell and scream at your children?
If so, you may be teaching your children that they are bad people.
Do you make fun of those who may be less attractive or less intelligent or less prosperous than you?
If so, you may be teaching your children to be intolerant of those who are different.
Do you allow your children to ride in the car without a seatbelt or on their bicycles without helmets?
If you answered yes, you are teaching them that they are invincible and that their safety does not matter.
Do you watch movies that show excessive violence and graphic sexual scenes?
If you answered yes, you may be encouraging them to try out both violence and sex as soon as possible so they will feel ?grown up.?
Now, back to the original question. What type of person do you want teaching your child? Would you hire yourself?
Many of us who have raised children see first-hand that they learned lessons we wish we had not taught them. If this has happened to you, we invite you to share. It may not be easy to admit a failing in public, but it takes courage to turn something around into a positive learning experience.
Quotation of the Week
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." -- James Baldwin
I wish you peace.
Karyl Chastain Beal
ReluctantTraveler
Karyl Chastain Beal, Retired from teaching about 100 years Columbia, Tennessee. Writer - Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul, newspaper and magazine articles and stories. http://grieving-parents.com
Memorial to daughter, Arlyn http://grieving-parents.com
house refresh service Lincolnshire .."Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
In today's busy world, many parents have lost the art... Read More
The Greatest Gifts in Life, which are always created for... Read More
Suppose that you rearrange your life to homeschool your child... Read More
One of the implications of the current trend toward smaller... Read More
In memory of 14 year old Matthew Smith; 11 year... Read More
I am a single mother of a 17 year old... Read More
I have always found the notion of toilet training a... Read More
Having a babysitter take care of your kids is sometimes... Read More
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
I WAS AMAZEDI could hardly believe what I was hearing.... Read More
We all scream for ice cream. Or, we don't, at... Read More
Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell... Read More
What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when... Read More
The distressed adolescent often has feelings of abandonment, emotional detachment,... Read More
Q. How do I overcome the 16-year-old who does things... Read More
With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
licensed cleaning services Lake Forest ..I am a dad. I have been now for over... Read More
Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More
Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your... Read More
Fizzy sherbet in a paper bag with a strawberry lollipop... Read More
School authorities continually claim that they want more parent cooperation... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
Some children practically potty train themselves, while others struggle and... Read More
Kitchens are where everything happens. It's not just where meals... Read More
1. STOP focusing on what you are going to make... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
There are two methods for teaching children to read; whole... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More
Dexedrine is not prescribed very often for the treatment of... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
Finding answers to a child's underachievement is often a difficult... Read More
There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
Parenting |