Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Behavior Problems in Schools

Yesterday my son attended day 1 of a week long basketball camp.  I arrived about an hour early so I could observe the instruction and my son's participation. I pleasantly learned something, and secretly wished I could stay ALL day and watch. But I also noticed a problem. There was this kid...this ONE kid who was out of control. Of course, he had to be in MY son's group, right? He was knocking the ball out of other boys' hands when they were doing shooting drills. He was grabbing the ball away from others when it was not his turn. He was pushing others out of their spots to take the spot he wanted. I watched him for about twenty minutes and came really close to getting up myself and telling him to behave.

The scene is this: A gym full of 60-80 kids ages 8-18. They were broken up into 6 groups. There were only enough basketballs for about one to every two players. So there was some wait and share time, but everyone got a turn. The problem was, he did not know how to patiently wait for his turn. He either made it his turn, or bugged the others he was waiting on. This is a Christian basketball camp. I think if it were not, he would have gotten knocked out by someone on day one...

I asked my son if the boy had gotten in trouble at all during the day. "Ooooh yeah, " he said.

"A lot?" I asked.

"Yes."

On the drive home, I thought about school. I thought about those same boys on the basketball court dealing with a kid like that at school. Because every classroom has a kid, if not kids, like him. I imagined these boys EVERY SINGLE DAY having to deal with a kid like that. He never shuts up. Asks off the wall questions just to throw the teacher off. Pokes the kid next to him. Always playing pranks. Throwing things at kids. Not paying attention. Getting his (or her!) group in trouble. Could you imagine that? Do you remember that kid in your class?

Imagine all the time (YOUR CHILD'S TIME!) that gets lost at school because of this kid. Even worse, imagine your child's frustration. Like that co-worker you try to avoid...at least you have a choice! You are probably going through the steps in your mind right now of the discipline procedure that should be in place for this child. You probably have already had him thrown out of school in your mind.

Now what if it was YOUR child? Hmmmm

I know why I prefer homeschooling my children. But my daughter's reason for WANTING to be homeschooled is completely different from mine. I am 100% sure that her #1 reason would be exactly the above. I wonder how many other children would choose the same if given the choice.

Is your child dealing with a troublemaker at school?

Friday, June 22, 2012

Children Leaving the Church

Did you know that attending Sunday School is actually a risk factor for children leaving the church? And did you know that while most parents think their children leave the church in high school or college, they are actually checked out by middle school and only attend because you make them (or that's where their friends are)?

Would it surprise you to know that this information has been out since 2009, and likely very little to nothing has been changed by your pastor or at your church? Church is like a business: if they told you what they were doing wasn't working, you would stop giving them your money. So instead of addressing it, they continue to sell you a bill of goods. They continue to cash their paychecks, while our kids, our future, are left to fend for themselves, with secular educated Sunday School teachers leading them astray.

In Ken Ham's book Already Gone, you can learn more about this.

If you don't know who Ken Ham is, I feel that your child is even at greater risk of abandoning his Christian beliefs. Ken Ham has put back into our faith the importance of believing the one, true story of creation- instead of believing the evolution taught in schools, and yes, even in Sunday Schools. If you don't understand WHY the importance of teaching creation is so vital to understanding the rest of the Bible, you don't know Ken Ham. It is clearly his passion, and your child's faith (and consequently your grandchildren's faith) are obviously very important to him.

How important is it to you?

Does your child attend public school? (Or even Christian school?)
Does your child attend Sunday School? Do you know what he is learning in there, and what he is being told about the creation story?
Do you know the biblical story of creation? Do you teach it to your child?
Are you weak in apologetics? Is your child?

If your child does not have the correct information (from YOU) about the biblical story of creation, he will believe whatever else he is taught, that goes in direct opposition to what the Bible says is true. How can he believe the rest of the Bible, then?

Get educated. Get the book. Already Gone.