I stumbled across the following quote today, and I liked it, so I'm sharing it with you:
All half-decent parents home-educate their children, in effect, until children learn to educate themselves.
I also read an interesting article about HR 1966, based on some comments by Sebastian which alerted me to its existence.
Here's what I perceive as the dilemma: No one thinks bullying is a good thing--much like hate crimes or other maladies--but in our effort to eradicate them we create much bigger problems. In both of these instances, free speech is eliminated under the guise hope of stopping evil.
And so we take a few more steps toward the world portrayed in V for Vendetta: A world where we give up our liberties for "safety." ...which reminds me of that quote: They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
My guess is that all half-decent people don't partake in hate crimes or cyberbullying, and legislation isn't going to stop the real instances of it happening. And, really, what have the "zero-tolerance" policies of our local schools done to end violence and bullying in the real world, where it is easier to monitor?
May our children learn to be gracious, kind, and loving in a world that is quickly clamping down around them. And may we have the wisdom to know how best to speak in a world that is slowly trying to censor us.
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father
Heather, yes, it is sad when you know that these kids just want attention. It's hard.
May your move go smoothly.
~Luke
I so agree with you! Laws are mostly for people who obey them anyway.
Cameron has been the victim of a bully at church. The kid has actually physically hit my son. We are moving in a week so it won't be an issue anymore, but the whole situation is quite sad. I spoke to the child's mother last December after the kid hit my son the first time. She was horrified and said she'd talk to him. The bullying quieted down for a bit, but he's bullying several kids now. The thing that just makes me so sad is he started bullying when his mother went back to work. I feel so bad for the kid. He's just crying out for attention. Unfortunately for my son, he is bearing the brunt of this other child's anger.
Angi, I'll take that as a compliment <smile>. So, in that sense, I'm glad you're speechless!
You may absolutely say that, Kim! <smile> Thanks for taking the time to do so.
Ken, I think you're right on: Parental/home/mentor involvement is crucial to most educational advancements. Very good point!
~Luke
I love the quote. Irrespective of what schooling path is followed, government, private, or home school, maybe the true educational issue of our day might be whether education takes place at home. I know from when our kids were in government schools, even though several of the teachers were quite good, little education took place unless we were facilitating it at home.
"May our children learn to be gracious, kind, and loving in a world that is quickly clamping down around them. And may we have the wisdom to know how best to speak in a world that is slowly trying to censor us."
Yes, Angi-may I simply say, "AMEN!!"
And may we have the wisdom to know how best to speak in a world that is slowly trying to censor us.Not intending a pun here, but I find my reaction to this comment as stirring deep thoughts within me that I am not able to successfully articulate. In essence, I'm speechless.Perhaps it is the depth of the reality of your comment that resonantes.