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Is it the Parent's Job or Big Brother's?


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The Department of Education (DOE) officials “are threatening school principals with lawsuits if they fail to monitor and curb students’ lunchtime chat and evening Facebook time for expressing ideas and words that are deemed by Washington special-interest groups to be harassment of some students” according to The Daily Caller as part of an anit-bullying initiative.
Does anyone else see something wrong with this?
Now to be very clear, I do NOT think that bullying is in any way appropriate, nor do I think that it should be condoned.  Children and teachers alike have a right to feel safe where they spend the vast majority of their time (and anywhere else for that matter).  No one should ever be bullied regardless of race, income, sexual orientation, religion, the way they dress or whether or not they wear glasses (remember when that was the default reason to pick on someone?).  Children should be able to feel safe.  And I DO feel that it is the school official’s responsibility to monitor what goes on in their schools and issue appropriate consequences.  I just don’t like it that we, you know, the parents are being prevented from doing those same things.
Bullying is out of control.  And not just in schools!  Just take one look at the news and you’ll see how adults bully adults and adults bully kids.  Anyone watched The View lately?  If Joy Bahar isn’t a bully I’ll eat my head.
So the DOE is choosing to focus on bullying in the schools, which is on the rise.  If you believe the news, the reason bullying is increasing is because the children of those religious, rich, conservative and tea party monsters are picking on those poor, low income, gay, lesbian, transgender and minority kids.  More kids are out of the closet, so those religious fanatics are picking on them.  At least that is what the media and Hollywood will tell you as anyone who has watched an episode of Glee can attest.
Bullying happens everywhere and anyone can fall prey.  As a former casualty of bullying I can tell you that there is nothing worse than having a good day be nothing more or less than being ignored.  You know why I was bullied?  Because I was a virtuous young lady and because I was a Mormon.  And what about the kid with the American Flag he put on his bike, he was forced to take it down because the administration feared bullying.  Don’t you dare tell me that only people causing trouble are religious conservatives.
The truth is that bullying is happening for no other reason then parents have lost interest in and control of their children.  Parents have been told for years that they are not allowed to pry into their children’s lives.  DON’T read their email! DON’T look in their rooms!  DON’T screen their phone calls!  DON’T check their text messages! And DON’T check their internet history!
Parent’s aren’t ALLOWED to parent and now people are SURPRISED when they wake up one day and their kids are out of control!?
C.S. Lewis said it better than I can in The Abolition of Man:
And all the time—such is the tragi-comedy of our situation—we continue to clamour for those very qualities we are rendering impossible… In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.
Our children are told by none other then the former Vice President that there are things that older people just don’t know.  And they are being told by those who have worked for the current administration that there is no longer any reason to respect your elders.
And those same people are wondering WHY we have problems with today’s youth?
Florida, while WAY off base on how to solve their problems are at least acknowledging the parent’s responsibility and asking them to step it up.  Though, not on the bullying issue.  SCHOOLS WANT US INVOLVED!
The problem I have with this initiative is the same problem that I have with a lot of things.
If you see that something isn’t working, then go back and start again!  Don’t keep going with the thing that has failed and attempt to fix it by adding to it!
What is the definition of insane?  Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
They take away their recess, they stick them in a desk for ten hours a day and wonder why the kids act out.  So instead of going back and letting them run around and learn about things that actually interest them, the powers that be demand we medicate our kids.  They make laws that say parent don’t need to be informed of pregnancy or abortions, they tell parent’s they aren’t allowed to opt out of controversial classes and that what the schools teach is none of their business and wonder why teenage pregnancy and bullying is on the rise.  They tie our hands and yet still demand the results that come only from parents who are involved in their children’s lives.
Parents have the right and responsibility to be “all up” in their children’s business.  I remember my mom reading my emails when I was a kid.  Did it bug me?  Yes.  Did I have anything to hide?  Absolutely not.  I found out she had been reading them when she told me how proud she was in how I handled a delicate situation.
Just think how much better our children would behave if they knew that their parents were always watching.  I don’t know for sure, but my gut says that most of these kids are perfect little angels for their parent’s at home.  But as soon as their backs are turned, the kids go nuts.  How often have you heard of a parent saying “My child would NEVER do that”.
Parents, be involved in your kids lives!  YES you SHOULD read your kid’s email!  YES you SHOULD know exactly who they are talking to.  YES you SHOULD have that computer right out in the open so that they know you are looking over their shoulder!  Some call it nosey, some call it intrusive.  I call it parenting.

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