More on MySpace...
All of the local schools have had to handle the MySpace issue. One school has banned any reference to the school under penalty of suspension; another, explusion. All the schools have hosted parent meetings regarding their teens' use of MySpace, Facebook, and other such hosting sites, as well as some local parties hosted by a event company (one of those companies that handles the arrangements for reunions, receptions, conventions, and pajama parties for 1500 drunken teenagers). Hopefully most of the parents have realized that it is truly their jobs to monitor their children's behavior on and off the Internet. The parents who haven't realized this, never will. Those are the children that I worry about the most, because their parents don't worry enough. The girls are both more worldly-wise than I ever was at that age, and more naive than I ever could have been. And their parents are more naive than the kids, assuming that their children can be allowed all the freedoms in the world in the hopes that they will make the right choices. I think parents need to stop letting their children make all the decisions. Parents don't let their kids make the easy decisions, like eating their vegetables or not, but they allow their children to make the hard decisions, like to drink or not to drink. How have the priorities gotten so screwed up?
2 comments:
Mmmm. Pajama parties for 1500 drunken teenagers. I feel old and dirty. I'll go back to poker...I at least don't feel like such a degenerate, talking poker as opposed to...pajama parties for 1500 drunken teenagers. Stop it!!! Bad thoughts!! Need cold shower.
Good post... Thought I'd add my own two cents.
***One school has banned any reference to the school under penalty of suspension; another, explusion.
I can see where this would get into "free speech" issues. My biggest problem with the liberal view is that freedom of speech is often done so at the expense of others. Freedoms should not be exercied at the expense of our children's safety.
***All the schools have hosted parent meetings regarding their teens' use of MySpace, Facebook, and other such hosting sites, as well as some local parties hosted by a event company (one of those companies that handles the arrangements for reunions, receptions, conventions, and pajama parties for 1500 drunken teenagers).
Where in the hell were these parents in the first place?? I would say that it is a sign of HIGHLY ineffective parenting if you child has been participating in these types of activities and you have no idea. Again, parental ignorance comes at the expense of the child.
***The parents who haven't realized this, never will. Those are the children that I worry about the most, because their parents don't worry enough.
This is one of the reasons I left teaching. Because we have them most of the day, we are blamed when things go wrong. Parents, wake up! Although you may only have them a few hours at night and on the weekends, interact with your kids! Be a better role model while you're at it.
***Parents don't let their kids make the easy decisions, like eating their vegetables or not, but they allow their children to make the hard decisions, like to drink or not to drink. How have the priorities gotten so screwed up?
Even then, eating your vegetables shouldn't be an option. You eat them because they are good for you; you exercise the right to choose which one, peas or broccoli. (Bad analogy.)
One word of advice I've always given my students (middle school):
If you choose to participate in an "adult" activity, be prepared to have an adult-sized consequence. There are too many people out there (kids and adults included) that fail to see that every action will have a consequence, positive or negative. We have become a society of convenience:
If a student gets a bad grade, a parent will be there to argue it.
Someone gets busted for a DUI, the punishment is usually too lenient.
A girl gets pregnant, an abortion is just around the corner.
People overspend on their credit, apply for bankruptcy.
Blah, blah, blah...
I don't need to go on. But notice with all of the situations mentioned, the real problem is never addressed, merely swept under the rug. The person responsible for the outcome is allowed to make the same mistake again and again.
Parenting is a bitch. Finding that balance between an authoritarian and permissive style is delicate indeed.
Thanks for bringing this to attention!
Peace,
Mon :-)
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