1. Introduce Yourself!
2. Coming to terms with a disability...
3. LD & Reading Problems...
4. It's all in the way you play the game...
5. Will Gun Control Save Our Children?
6. Spanking@Home
7. Toys NOT for Tots!
8. Religion and Public Schools
9. Harry Potter!
10. What Good Are Manners?
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1. Introduce Yourself!
CAROLYN GALVAN - Nov 26, 1999 10:53pm EST

My daughter, Marissa Ann, was diagnosed recently with epilepsy. It really took us by surprise. She is only 22 months old. She has been on medication since her last seizure (9-29-99). Since starting this medication, she has been seizure free. Thank GOD. I just worry. I don't know much about epilepsy. I am trying to educate myself along with my husband. GOD blessed me with her and I plan on doing anything and everything necessary to protect her.
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2. Coming to terms with a disability...
JBROWN - Nov 26, 1999 6:48pm EST

ESE VS 504

My son had behavior problems in K through Second grade. He was referred to the Student Success Team, evaluated and found eligible for the ESE program at school. He was/ is labled "emotionally disabled" Sub-sequently he was diagnosed with ADHD. He used to go to the resourse room for one hour a day for some help with reading. (he was missing out on one of his favorite, hands on subjects.) He was then placed on Ritalin and his behavior improved greatly. Toward the end of 3rd grade we had him placed on a "consult basis" with the ESE teacher. He no longer goes to the resource room. He has never recieved below a C on his report card. He was below grade level in reading for some time but since obtaining a tutor, has reached grade level. Our dilemma as parents is whether or not to "staff out" of the ESE or keep him in it. Wouldn't he be just as well off if eligible under the 504 where some accomodations can be made and he won't have that "special Ed" label? I just need to know the benefits of ESE. What can it do for him that a 504 plan can't? What happens in Middle School and High School when one has this label??
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3. LD & Reading Problems...
b7howlett - Nov 25, 1999 10:37am EST

Do you want a diagnosis or do you want your child to read?

I suggest that you read last week's cover story on DYslexia. It will tell you that science has proven that reading problems are easily identified and treated. Phonics programs and whole language both leave too many children in trouble. Very few teachers even know about speech and phonemes, including special ed teachers. The answer is how children process spoken language - phonemic awareness -this is not phonics. There are good tests and excellent programs that have very high success rates. Search the web using "phonemic awareness and reading" and you'll see it is clear how children learn to read - all of them.
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4. It's all in the way you play the game...
Rach4elle - Nov 25, 1999 2:54pm EST

My daughter is in Super Skippers (jump roping) and when she first started she had a coach that didn't mess around. He said jump you jumped, no questions. Now she has a coach that no control over thses kids. they skip practice, they don't work when they are there. So I think that having control is key and not worry about if you are going to be the bad guy.
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5. Will Gun Control Save Our Children?
A.C. Stokes - Nov 26, 1999 1:49am EST

Require all schools to have firearm safety courses. Teach kids respect for human life and above all respect for themselves. No amount of gun laws , new or old, will stop somebody intent on harming somebody if they are really serious. What they use is irrelevant. You have got to stop the reasons behind the anger.
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6. Spanking@Home
Beckychn - Nov 24, 1999 12:37am EST

This is the post I put on a parenting board a couple years ago--

"Four year ago our two daughters were ages twelve and seven (and our son was three). We were liberal parents--and adamantly against spanking--I mean zealously, radically , and outspoken. Our twelve year old was adjudicated a delinquent that year. She was constantly truant, smoking, experimenting with alcohol and drugs, and generally out of control. Her younger sister was showing tendancies of following in her footsteps.

We were spending a fortune in time and money on counselors. probation officers, psychologists, psychiatrists, summer camps, and etc. The situatiion was only getting worse. The strain was getting to the point where our marriage was profoundly affected and in danger. One of the counselors suggested that we take a long family vacation. We followed her advise. We booked a three week vacation in Disney World.

The first week of vacation was an expensive transfer of our situation.

One day in a tourist trap I noticed one of those novelty paddles. It had the logo:"Applied Psychology!!--grab handle and apply firmly to bare bottom as needed-- use liberally" With our experience with psychology I was amused--but intigued. I bought the paddle.

When I returned to our hotel room I told the girls about the paddle. The oldest one laughed in my face. At that moment I made the decision to actually use it. After lengthy protests and a brief struggle the paddle was used according to the instructions. Our youngest thought this was amusing and started teasing her sister. She then got her bare bottom paddled. For the rest of the vacation they each got spanked at least once a day--but there was definite improvement--and the last week we actually began to enjoy ourselves as a family.

The spankings continued --but gradually became less frequent. The results were remarkable. Our daughters are no longer juvenile delinquents. The oldest is a straight A student, cheerleader, active in a youth church group. We no longer worry about her younger sister either. Likewise she is a good student, involved in girls athletics and many school activities

The only proof I have that spankings are an important and valid part of child rearing is my own experience.. But I do know that in our case spanking truly did save our family. If I had to do it over spanking would have been a positive and important component of my child rearing practices from day one.

Despite the "conventional wisdom" that this form of discipline and punishment is wrong I am a firm believer. Most of our friends (I am a second grade teacher and my husband is a lawyer) thought we had lost our marbles when we started our strict parenting. But I don't hear many complaints any more. What I do hear is a lot of complaints about their troubled and obnoxiouis children. "

Becky
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7. Toys NOT for Tots!
M. D. - Nov 27, 1999 6:44pm EST

This "anything goes" attitude permeates school. In my (teacher - 31 years) opinion, the children have lost their innocence. Parents no longer parent and kids consequently have no guidance in growing up. They do it quickly, using TV role models. I think people who create these worthless "toys" are a sad example of adults with money who have small minds.
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8. Religion and Public Schools
Bill Jager - Nov 27, 1999 9:51am EST

Then there would be NO prayers

"who says" "what gave you the idea that if prayer were allowed back in school that it would be christian? there are enough pagans in new orleans that if it came down to it, we could make sure that your children would be learning our ways in the classroom, they would learn that there can be a goddess as well as a god, and that christianity is mostly stolen bits of paganism mixed with a heavy dose of male chauvinism."

Then it would be the Christians that would be demanding that NO prayer be said in public schools. What do you think this is all about? The Christian religion is weak and faltering and it needs government support to stay alive.
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9. Harry Potter!
Jen Borda - Nov 24, 1999 4:37pm EST

It is so sad that parents can take a wonderful books that make kids want to read and turn them into a sinful thing from the devil. I say keep your mouth shut and look around you. Harry Potter is a book about friendships and learning about the past. The magic part was just a little seasoning.
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10. What Good Are Manners?
jodi monique - Nov 27, 1999 3:47pm EST

With the way teachers treat children these days, i dont think any child should be required to call a teacher "ma'am." i think that every individual teacher should earn that title. as a teacher, i think that for us to be called "ma'am or sir", we have to work for it. our level of respect for our jobs and the students has gone down so much till i dont think we should have the right to force respect on a child that we have no respect for.
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