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Preventing Violence The story below was sent to me many months ago. I saved it for just the right time and place. Now, as we send our children off to school, we may have a nagging worry about their safety. It is only reasonable that this is so considering the violence of this past school year! Much has been said about what may have been done to avert the school shootings which plagued us last year but in the end we are left feeling somewhat helpless. After all, what can one person do? Plenty! We can teach our children to love their classmates... and show it. Of course, the best lesson is taught by example. Do you love others? Do you show it? Or are you too wrapped up in your own life to reach out to a lonely, hurting soul? Let us teach and practice love, the lesson will be more far reaching than we can ever imagine. We can prevent ourselves and our children from "entertainments" which are steeped in violence or hate. Movies, TV, video games, music and other media which is bent on violence of word or deed should be off limits. Also, teach specifically that violence in any form is never an acceptable solution to a problem...NEVER! We must not forget to watch for signs of distress in our own children. Questions to ask include: Is my child a "loner" or does the child have an active social life? Does my child seek isolation, avoiding time with other family members? How are my child's grades? Does my child try to dress and act in some unusual way... different from most others the same age? How is my child's self image? How does my child handle frustration? Does my child tend to blame others? Be realistic when looking at yourself and your children, and if you see potential problems, deal with them immediately. They won't just go away because you pretend they aren't there. Please have your child read the following and check out the links below. You
Do make a
Difference Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with 2 sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boys name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a coke and to watch some TV. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk. Then Mark went home. They continued to see other around school., had lunch together once or twice. Then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school, where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited
senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill
asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the
day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever
wonder why I was carrying so many things home that
day?" asked Bill. "You see, I You DO make a difference! RELATED LINKS: We need articles, poetry and
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