Would You Hire This Teacher?

Imagine you were the principal of the school that your child would be attending. Imagine that you were authorized to pick out which teachers to hire.

Who would you pick? Let's look at some of the applicants.

Would you hire someone to teach your children if she had not graduated from high school or college?

Would you want someone to teach your children who used four-letter words pulled directly out of the garbage dump?

Would you pick teachers who might drink, smoke pot, or use other illegal drugs in front of the students?

Would you hire teachers who would yell at the kids and called them filthy names?

Would you hire someone to teach if that person walked into the building with an attitude, mumbled responses to your questions, didn?t look you in the eye, and then made derogatory racial comments about some of the people she saw coming into the waiting room?

How would you feel about hiring teachers who hit, kicked or slapped your children?

Well, guess what folks! Those kids are teaching our children, and we don?t even have to pay them to teach. That's right! Every day, those people are teaching children right here in south Georgia.

What? You think this is a joke? Well, friends, look in the mirror. Or look around you when you go out in public, because every woman or man you see with a child is a teacher.

Our government has restrictions on who can marry, smoke, drive, drink and vote, but there are no restrictions on who may become a parent. Age, background and ability to raise and nurture a child are insignificant.

So, let?s ask a few questions here, and see how you fare.

Have you ever driven five miles over the speed limit? Or more?

If you answer yes, you may be teaching your children that they do not have to follow rules.

Do you ever make negative racial or gender comments or jokes around your children?

If you answer yes, you may be teaching them to be prejudiced in a world already too filled with strife.

Do you cuss, use profanity, or say vulgar words around your children?

If you reply yes, you may be teaching your children behaviors that are anti-social and unacceptable in public.

Do you laze around the house, unemployed, blaming everyone else in the world because you don?t have a job?

If you answer yes, you may be teaching your children to expect others to support them financially, and that they have no control over their future.

Do you drink and smoke around your children?

If you said yes, you may be teaching your children that unhealthy activities are okay.

Do you boast of sexual activities around your children? Or make inappropriate sexual gestures to others?

If you replied yes, you may be teaching your children that their bodies have no value, and that sex is unrelated to love or marriage.

Do you hit your husband, wife or children when they aren?t perfect, according to your standards?

If you do, you may be teaching your children to use violence, to bully, and to disrespect the rights of others.

Do you yell and scream at your children?

If so, you may be teaching your children that they are bad people.

Do you make fun of those who may be less attractive or less intelligent or less prosperous than you?

If so, you may be teaching your children to be intolerant of those who are different.

Do you allow your children to ride in the car without a seatbelt or on their bicycles without helmets?

If you answered yes, you are teaching them that they are invincible and that their safety does not matter.

Do you watch movies that show excessive violence and graphic sexual scenes?

If you answered yes, you may be encouraging them to try out both violence and sex as soon as possible so they will feel ?grown up.?

Now, back to the original question. What type of person do you want teaching your child? Would you hire yourself?

Many of us who have raised children see first-hand that they learned lessons we wish we had not taught them. If this has happened to you, we invite you to share. It may not be easy to admit a failing in public, but it takes courage to turn something around into a positive learning experience.

Quotation of the Week

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." -- James Baldwin

I wish you peace.

Karyl Chastain Beal
ReluctantTraveler

Karyl Chastain Beal, Retired from teaching about 100 years Columbia, Tennessee. Writer - Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul, newspaper and magazine articles and stories. http://grieving-parents.com

Memorial to daughter, Arlyn http://virtual-memoria ls.com/servlet/ViewMemorials?memid=7461&pageno=1

In The News:


Media Mogul Tommy Mottola Finds New Star in EEBEE
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
We're confident that co-parenting this business with Tommy Mottola will bring us to the next level of success." "We are delighted to partner with EVERY BABY ...

WAVY-TV

Beach schools to hold parenting forum
WAVY-TV, VA - 3 hours ago
Parent Connection welcomes the first in a series of guest columnists who will offer insight, research, and commentary on all facets of parenting. ...

Learning Parenting 101: Better Late Than Never
Hartford Courant, United States - Dec 1, 2008
Welcome to Parenting 101, a two-part introduction to the fundamentals of effective child-rearing. Upon passing this course, which will conclude with next ...

TheTimes

Make holidays brighter for children of incarcerated parents, she says
TheTimes, OR - 52 minutes ago
By Kristen Forbes A Parenting Inside Out class graduate poses with her son. She and her two children will be gift recipients at the Center for Family ...

Mothers welcomed to unique parenting support group
Curry County Reporter, OR - 4 hours ago
Gold Beach MOPS meetings are being held on the second Tuesday of every month from 7- 9 pm at the Hound Dog house, located at First Baptist Church of Gold ...

Even In Hard Economic Times, Noted Parenting Expert Urges Couples ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Dec 2, 2008
"Couples who decide to delay marriage and child-bearing, don't fully comprehend the ramifications of their actions," according to parenting expert and ...

ENERGYPARENTING(R) is the Antidote to the ADHD/Ritalin Epidemic
MarketWatch - Dec 2, 2008
It is a new way to parent that upends existing parenting models by transforming challenging children without the need for medication. ...

Obama victory encourages parenting advice
Great Dad, California - 16 hours ago
And yet he's still an excellent parent who finds time for his daughters," he told the news provider. In a speech in Chicago this past Father's Day, ...

The Learning Community Provides Free Parenting Resources Via ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 16 hours ago
The Learning Community, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping parents with free parenting resources, announces the launch of its newly redesigned ...

The Canadian Press

Culinary bad boy Anthony Bourdain dishes on parenting and food
The Canadian Press, MIAMI BEACH - Dec 2, 2008
MIAMI BEACH — After spending years introducing television viewers to unusual eats from around the globe, culinary bad boy Anthony Bourdain is focused on a ...
parenting - Google News

The Giving Jar

Giving with a happy heart. If you teach a child... Read More

The Family Guy - Parenting From a Single Dads Perspective

It was a hot summer day in august and The... Read More

The POWER of Reading

Reading to your child at a young age is one... Read More

Secret Of Your Genuis Child

Here is a top secret to make your child genius... Read More

Advising Teens? Getting Your Point Across

Giving advice to a teenager is very easy; getting a... Read More

Income that PAYS Your Child Support WITHOUT Increasing Your Child Support

Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More

Uniforms

Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 31,... Read More

Playing Safe

Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More

Single Parenting: How The Challenge Of Single Parenting Affects Your Decision To Divorce

Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More

Top 5 Characteristics of Good Leadership to Instill in Our Home School Children

I am sure that this list can be jogged and... Read More

Parenting Secrets Revealed

So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More

Top Five Ways To Stay In Touch With Your Child

Once your little boy/girl goes off to school, you may... Read More

The Best Gifts Ever: Life Experiences Every Child Should Have

This past holiday season Canadians spent over $45 billion-with parents... Read More

25 Things That Matter When Relating To Our Children (Leaving A Legacy Of Love To Those We Love)

In my opinion, these things matter...1. Enjoying childlike delights before... Read More

Should Your Child Watch TV News? Surprising Opinions of Top Anchors

KIDS AND THE NEWSMore than ever, children witness innumerable, sometimes... Read More

What Should I Know About Strattera for ADHD?

Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More

Because Every Child Is A Born Genuis

Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More

Why A Father Is Not A Dad

It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More

The Great Baby Name Debate

Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More

5 Simple Steps Guaranteed To Allow You To Spend More Time With Your Children This Summer

Look around: Your kids are counting sleeps until the last... Read More

Mothers Day Tribute

As Mother's Day approaches I would like to give a... Read More

Getting Through to Your Teenager

Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that... Read More

Parent Involvement: Finding Your Way in Middle School and High School

In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More

Tips for Keeping Packed Lunches Fun and Interesting

? Let the child choose his or her own lunch... Read More

Managing Sibling Rivalry

It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More