Jealous Teacher ? Ego ?

       What would make a teacher tell a very young student that another person can't be smarter than her, just because she a teacher? Vanity ? Ego? Both I suspect. I have a little guy that I take care of and we have had so many conversations about anything and everything. One chat was about school and getting an education so he asked me about my children, especially my son. I explained how my son had something called principle and one time walked off the soccer field raising his voice to the coach that the couch continually picked his son to start, gave more credits when he knew good and well that many other kids were much better especially two other boys on the team. My son shed his gear/clothes on the field and walked off to a local store, called me, asking me to bring pants and shoes and  a shirt. I was very proud. He stood up for others against someone who has power. Of course he was off the team, but things did change a little after that.
    My son ,now a man always challenged truth in education and life. He has a genius I.Q. and was invited into Mensa. Sure he was arrogant as a teen with people especially in High School. He knew teachers were wrong in much of the information and so he would challenge that. Who wants to be shown up in front of a class of students when they are supposed to have all of the knowledge. But each and every time, he offered to show them he was right, to prove they were wrong. They were as arrogant as he was, telling him to sit down that he wasn't the teacher. My son's response was usually, anyone can can teach when they don't know what they're saying,
    He quit High School on the day he turned eighteen, as a matter of principle. He told me, mom, I will graduate, just not from Spring Grove. It was a matter of, principle, character and ethics. The assistant principle was let go because of his behaviors with female students. This was a man who came after my son saying he was playing hooky, walked through my home as I left the door unlocked looking for what, I don't know, maybe my underwear. I no longer trust to leave my door unlocked. My son was with me that day at a doctor's office. Still I was fined because this is a good old boys club type of town.
   Well skipping to the chase, he had an accident before graduation in  a school he chose, a mall school of all thing which was for kids with behavior issues. I offered to pay to send him out of district. He didn't want it-said it was all about principle. So he has an accident, brain surgery and with a few days wakes up, and is taken for testing. The doctor comes back and asks, do you know your son has a mind like Einstein? Yes I did, The doctor said, well he still has it.
     So my little guy takes some piece of this to school, tells his teacher I said, my son is smarter than she is. She told him _according to him- no he isn't, not possible. Insecure? Why can't he be smarter? Why can't anyone be smarter than teachers? I'm sure this will rub many the wrong way, but think about this. Have you been invited to Mensa at the age of twelve? By the way, he never wanted to join and he never wanted to be in gifted classes, but the last one I wasn't in control of that so he went, but didn't like it. Too many people with higher I.Q.'s are snobs, just like those who don't have that same level of intelligence. Basically we are all just people living in a world and should leave ego's and attitudes at the door. Finally, who really cares? It's what you do in life to make you happy as a person, not your so called class, not positions, but integrity and character. Isn't that the principle of it all?

Just How Important Is She/He ? Don't Wait

       Have you found yourself at any given time sitting alone and watching people ? Interesting huh ? But in that have you ever wished it was you ? If you have someone special in your life do not wait to make it permanent and don't keep them hanging because you're not sure.

      Life is so short. Remember leaving High school and now, what age are you? See how fast time passes. If you are still just dating at four years chances are by next year you have split up. Married and approaching that 17 year mark but it looks rocky;It probably is so do yourself and spouse a favor-put life back into the one you loved when you married him or her.
      At this writing I just received an e mail about a woman who is dying. Now she is ninety -one but in that it was told she never made plans for her final days as she was too busy living life. NOW that we can and should try to remember to do too.

      Please don't waste time with petty differences and yes, that always easy for anyone to say and sometimes we only realize it when we lose, when we have lost, when our loved one is no longer with us.
      Don't wait. Ask, receive and remain together in 2014
     

America Needs To...Answers

    Come to terms that we are not doing better. Like a blender we are a nation of immigrants but that shouldn't mean we allow people amnesty for ten years who came here illegally, so do what's needed and close the borders. But I know if that does happen the business of immigration will be so much less and the DEA will not need as many security guards and drug dogs, all equaling money.
    Farmers in California want the immigrants because of low pay. Here's my answer to that. We had or have civil service when young men and women wanted to go overseas to help in impoverished countries. So why not do that here, but in another way.
   High School and college students in their last years of programs should have to do internships in community services, but get paid the same as the Immigrants were/are being paid. If it starts in high school the purpose it serves is an OMG, if I don't do better this is my life. Maybe start that in the third year of high school.
   DRUGS-Those who are picked up for drug trafficking will serve time in the fields. They will receive credit for time served depending on how well they perform the duties of picking fruits and vegetables. If they don't show, they go to a local jail/reform program and then are taken to the fields.
   Drug Addicts-okay we don't want them puking on the crops, so the first thirty-ninety days in jail or a program and then field time, or work in food banks, or missions, cleaning streets, toilets etc. to show them where their life is going.
   Pimps-First timers. One year in jail.
   Prostitutes- six months in jail and six months working in fields.
This same type of work can work across the criminal board.
  Make the crime work. Kids also need criminal punishment. Lets start with having them work in the school they are in as part of a work/giving back program. They can also receive a certain amount of credit when they do extra well.
     We're not doing better. Too many are still on family generational welfare, food stamps, medical. Yes, I know many need it, but when I see a single young man or woman, without children or responsibilities other than self support leaning on the government, when they could be working two jobs, they too need some field jobs. If they tell a caseworker, but I can't find a job, That caseworker should say, well we have a cleaning job for you...and of course the client answer will be, oh no I can't do that. The caseworker answer should be a one time, no second chances, oh honey I understand and as she watches the smile come across the clients face, simply tell them, case closed.

Local Author,Zack's First day of Kindergarten (Bullies)

      This book was created by a local author from Dover, PA. who made it an easy to read and understand book with helps in the back for parents and teachers. I purchased mine a short time ago and enjoyed reading it. I think it gives the very young bully( who has probably learned from an adult or older sibling) an easy way out to change his or her ways. Showing and teaching children on both sides of the bully offense how to respond, this book works. Thumbs up Christie Cheetham!
    This book is sold on AMAZON, let your local school and book stores know.

Makes sense to Start School MId-Summer

     No people, I'm not saying year long school. What I am saying is the summer months are too long for many kids to be away from school. Not all as many kids can do just fine with all summer off.
     But doesn't it make sense to give kids more time off in winter around the holidays? Instead of ten to twelve days away, let it go from December twentieth to the end of February. Then if you are a person who is lucky enough to be a stay at home parent and if you traditionally celebrate Christmas with younger kids, look how much time they have to play, spend more winter time, outdoors riding a new bike too.
    Since we have less daylight hours in winter and kids are brought in earlier because of the dark, which means less outdoor time, less outdoor exercise. Kids need that outdoor time. Also in summer with school, they have a/c for half  a day, and half of that day is used up in school with plenty of daylight left to play outdoors. Come on parents, let's start something here. :) Hey one more thing, you know how too many people are picking up on SAD, Seasonal affective disorder?  Yeah, I watched Northern Exposure too.
Well more home time, less winter school time would take care of that!

Bullying, Mental Health, Teens & Blame

       A story about Phoebe Prince is well worth listening to, for everyone, not just kids but parents too, and as a matter of fact it would be good to watch it together. A platform to open up a topic, nothing like TV. I've had many kids say, that happened to me too, concerning anything they relate to. From ages eight to sixteen I have heard that same exclamation,"that happened to me too".
       Most of the time teachers have told me about it so I knew, but when I didn't know, as long as I made sure to act surprised which they want, they open up like a stuck zipper. Sometimes, well many times kids think they're ratting, which I know you know.
        A student who was on this TV show, Sharon said, as did her mother she is s best friend to others. Maybe so, but for me that kind of friend doesn't agitate a situation, but remains side by side to the friend. You don't go to the other person and call them filthy names. Is that a nice kid?
       Now on the other side of that we do have to take into consideration all of the peer crap and that s what it is. Why can't we teach our kids, and why can't others enforce the fact that it's okay to be your own person without getting involved in crime, drugs, alcohol, weapons and all things negative? WHY? Oh I know, It isn't cool. Some parents are just as bad as the kid and in many cases the kids get it from their parents.
        Yes this group of kids, and I don't know all the facts, but think if this was my child who is no longer here because they pushed a last button, I want justice, I want these kids to have some kind of punishment. According to reports this child who took her own life already had mental health problems, so that appears to lessen the bullying factor. It shouldn't!
       What about the educators who knew about this. Where does their responsibility lay? Phoebe did report that she was being bullied and harassed. South Hadley High School neglected the new young girl in this school, her reports of bullying, and have recently made a new policy as far as bullying reports and enforcement.
      Mr. Prince wants compassion for some of those kids who taunted his daughter as he states, isn't that what we wanted for our own daughter?
   Maybe we all , or most of us do teach our kids how to behave and show compassion, yet somehow between home and life they take on another persona and that's what we also have to address. Compassion? Walk in another's shoes. New kids in the neighborhood, in school? Walk with them, not on top of them.

My High School Illustrator-You Can Too !

      For  a long time I have been writing and now have quite a few children books finished, but only on paper. So looking up illustrators I find the expense to outweigh trying to publish a book. Since I have worked with kids and kids have worked for me, doing a better job than some adults, it is kids who I have turned to once again.
     Calling the local high school I was directed to the art teacher who in turn contacted me. In order for safety, confidentiality and fairness I agreed to let the teacher give out my e mail. One young lady in particular wrote me asap. Three more followed, yet I felt like I knew already it would be a good match with this first young lady. Yesterday someone else e mailed me, and I'm amazed at how little some know how to address others.
   This last e mail simply tole me to email back, no first name, no, to Whom it may concern, nothing. This was a fifty-fifty business opportunity from an adult to students. One young lady wrote me and I answered her right away, but then didn't hear for a few days. I had the attitude, well if she can't answer...I found out what her schedule was like, so we too will meet. I am meeting with four students as I have many stories, two of which are Christian based, mostly all children's stories, and one is a teen book, and the last is one I have been working on for years, well off and on.
     During the meeting with the first young lady and just some chatting I mentioned how disorganized I became-again. She said, well I can organize too...isn't that kool, and so this just goes to show us adults how willingly teens are to work. Bottom line is call your local high school and ask for the help you need. Kids want to help, want to be paid and work. This serves two purposes and maybe more. If I was able, I would pay her weekly so she could let go of her part time job, stay closer to home, save gas and hours. But I am getting an illustrator and she is getting exposure, as well as possibly learning if this is what she wants as a career or not.
     We are doing this as a fifty-fifty partenrship and I am ever so grateful. This is a young lady with I'm sure many options, but for now, I'm the lucky one whose option she chose.