As a Para Ed. working in the public school system in an elementary school for the past five years I am deeply worried about the furture as a nation with the children we are serving every day.
Since God was removed from our public school system and He is not apart of most homes today...parents do not have the Biblical guide lines to bring their children up with Godly attitudes, good morals, good work ethics, accountability, trust worthyness, good manners, and the list goes on and on and on.
Don't get me wrong about what I am going to describe to you...I do enjoy being with children and helping them learn... And it is not to say that there are not 'good' parents in the world today.....BUT
I over see the children from kindergarten to fifth grade at breakfast and the kindergarten and first grade during lunch times. The rest of the day I am with one student one-on-one all day.
I try my best to correct with kindess but firmness when I see...The children during meal time not showing pliteness to teachers and staff, or to fellow students. They eat and talk at the same time with mouths filled with food, some try to touch the food of others (especially if someone brought their lunch and they have candy or sweets), they want to drink their milk right from the carton rather then using a straw, they don't use napkins to wipe their mouth or hands, when they hand you their tray they don't say, "thank you", if they spill something they simply expect you to clean it up and if you ask them to help they don't have the slightest idea about how to do it, they talk so loudly that the lights have to be blinked off and on to get their attention to ask them to talk quietly, the fifth graders make rude faces or comments if asked to lower their voices,...
In class they disrupt the entire class with antics, talking, wondering about the room, picking at other students, plainly telling you that you can not make them do their work, they don't complete home work assignments and return them, ....
Are you getting the idea that kids today are not being brought up at home and taught social skills, manners, politeness, responsibility, respect, how to care about their neighbor, how to dress for school or even the need for taking a bath and washing their hair, washing hands after using the restroom, how to drink from a water fountain without putting their whole mouth over it ( I have even seen a student spit in the water fountain),...
The children I see daily talk about things that you would not believe, they talk about TV shows I don't even watch or movies, they read anything they want to read ( providing they can read) and it is Not just the school who teaches reading...children depend on parents who read to them and listen to them read in order to succed, they carry cell phones, they listen to any and all kinds of music on their MP3 players, they have their own tV's in their rooms and computers, they are dropped off at the local mall to entertain themselves all day,...
And yet parents get upset if the school decides that a child has acted so badly at school that the school takes away a class trip or classroom party to help teach the child that they must behave ...this because we no longer have corpal punishment...let alone parents who would spank their own children at home and make them behave...
WHY ARE PARENTS TODAY NOT BRINGING UP THEIR OWN CHILDREN? Parents act like it is the schools job to teach and raise their children.
Am I the only older person working with children today and seeing our youth growing up and not being able to face the 'real' world as college students, working adults, and future parents.
PS my husband was a principal for 14 years at an elementary school...he actually had a child in his office for correction and was trying to phone the parent when the child walked up behind him and put a pencil to the back of his neck and said, "Bang"! :cry:

Parents are too caught up in the ways, means and demands of this society.

How many parents strive to keep one parent home with the children at all times? Not many, by far.
How many parents both have a time-demanding career, at the expense of their children. Too many, by far.

They pawn them off to others to raise them. And too often, they are not raised as they should be.


The Almighty Dollar!

It is the bane of a Capitalist society, where constant inflation rules the actions and motivations.

My son is twelve, I just read this to him, and he agrees with you.

Other children in his school have said, "you're so gay" because he always says thank you when he gets his food, and because he clears up after himself when he's eaten and brings the tray back to the kitchen. What has our society become when a simple "thankyou" and the act of tidying up after yourself becomes so unusual that people openly insult you because of it?

It comes to -

I am more important than you - or any other.

It becomes, the society of 'self'.

It comes to -
Selfish is better than selfless.

"you're so gay" - because he is, simply, polite.

This world is going to a 'hell in a handbasket' - very quickly.

I am a teacher also. I student taught in public schools where I had a particular student who had two mommies at home. He threw things at me while I was teaching, jumped out of his seat to run around the room, called the other students names, etc. My teacher I was under said that I needed to get him back in his seat and move on as quickly as possible in order to get the lesson done. Sending him to the office just meant he wouldn't learn anything that day (as if he was learning while he was in there!). I was so frustrated at the end of that term!!!!

I ended up teaching in a private school my first year just by chance. When I moved to Texas, I planned on teaching public the second year we were here, but found myself bored staying home the first year, so started subbing in a Christian School. I could NOT believe the difference!!! I've been in Christian schools for six years now.

You can tell which parents discipline their children at home. (There are many Christian families that follow the same children raising standards as the rest of the world). If a child is disciplined at home, it usually only takes one note home from me for bad behavior, and then we have no problems the rest of the year. The others have a note sent home on a weekly if not daily basis, and the parents always have an excuse for them.

I have considered going back to public school in order to make more money, but I do not want my children in public school and I think I would end up hating my job everyday. I would probably choose some other type of work before I went back.

It's not only the parents fault though. These parents are mostly from my generation, and they are doing exactly what they were taught in school. You shouldn't spank--after all they might turn you in for child abuse!, it's ok for children to get angry and voice their feelings, we are just the product of evolution--so does it really matter in the end how we behave--survival of the fittest, right?, I am the most important person (in our efforts to build self-esteem, ofcourse). And the list goes on.

It is a sad fact, and a frightening insight to the future!

I put my daughter in public school in 4th grade and there was a boy younger than her that would bully her every day after school. He hit her with sticks and left bruises, ripped her new backpack, spit on her and the backpack, put bugs in it and so on. I kept calling the school and threatened to call the police and then it finally stopped for a short time. The school put my daughter in his sister's class for the next year so now I home school. It isn't easy to home school and live on one income and buy books and I don't know how I'm going to do it for next year, but I see a difference in my daughter's behavior. She was acting out in school and her teacher told me that she could tell Cheyenne learned manners because when it suited her, she would use them. However, to be like the other kids, she wouldn't use them. She became rude and talked back and just wouldn't listen. It seemed like any punishment didn't work. When I first start to home school, she would throw fits and stuff for attention (She wanted to home school) and I would stop school and put her in her room and continue school when she was done. Of course the day took longer to finish so she quickly learned that throwing fits wasn't beneficail after all.

Now, I am starting to see the benefit of home schooling. She still tries her old stunts from time to time, but we actually get along better now. She leans on me instead of arguing with me as much. We have gotten closer and although we had to take a huge financial drop, I think it has been worth it in the end. It's a lot of work and sometimes I feel like I don't have a life of my own anymore but I know this is only for a season. It is all worth it in the long run.

Believe me, it's not just in elementary school! My high school, which is Christian, isn't too bad, but I also do half of my classes at community college and there is a lot of rudeness, name calling, overt sexuality, no manners and more.

I'm also an au pair for a really nice family. The two youngest children, who aren't in school yet, are quite well behaved. They rarely need reminders to do their little chores or have problems with table manners, and the little girl (4) talks a lot about feelings and how she respects other peoples feelings and won't do things to hurt others, and how she wants the same treatment. They "get" the importance of manners, sharing, etc. However, the older child who is seven has gotten really difficult. She spits, sticks out her tongue, makes "body noises" to offend, swears under her breath, kicks her sister, lies and talks back almost constantly. Whenever she is told to do something she acts very exasperated and refuses to the point of laying on the floor. It's really hard to deal with especially because her parents are home so seldom and don't want to discipline her during the little amount of time they have with her, and the only discipline they want me to use is 2 minute time outs. I'm not for corporal punishment, but there is a lot more someone can do than have a child sit on a chair for two minutes. She doesn't even care, and she will say she doesn't care and doesn't mind the "punishment".

Oh, I thought I would feel better just getting all of this off of my chest. But it is even sadder than I expected to read all of your replies and understand that this truly is a problem that is nation wide.
And yes if a student is polite and helpful I have seen them get called names and made fun of too.
I spent a day in a Christian Montessorie (hope that is correct) school and I loved it. Everyone was nice and polite to each other. They of course prayed over their food before sitting down to lunch, etc.
Home schooling is very expensive but it sounds like it is worth the costly expense and the great effort and time it takes to homeschool your children. I admire you for doing it.
I know teachers who are fourth and fifth year teachers who hate their jobs and say they would never encourage a person to go into teaching in the public schools.
In my case my school is a smaller country school that is part of a consolidated school system with two other elementary buildings, the middle and high school are located on the same property.
Last week on our fild trip with the other three fourth grades (one building has two fourth grades), the bigger elementary school class children were more rude, more loud and mis-behaved worse on the bus than our smaller group from the 'country' school.
And you are right in saying that you can tell the difference between the Christian families who are truly practicing their religion with their children and those who only give mouth service to the Lord.
I feel for you (theteacherspet) with the child who is acting out. It could be the need to have more quality time with their parents or it could even be the symptoms of a behavior disorder....but the child knows the parents are not going to punish them after being away...they are playing you against the parents.
One of the special ed. children we have is now on medication --but the parents do not monitor her taking it and therefore sometime she goes the whole weekend without it..plus it saves them money on medication! She came in last Mon. without having her meds all weekend. She pushed two para's around the room, kicked one in the knee three times (same knee and it is her arthritic knee and she is wearing a brace on it and seeing the doctor), bit this same para twice (thankfully she had on a long sleeve shirt and it kept her from biting through the skin) and it left huge bite marks, and she shoved her into a door and got this para's shoulder out of place. She also spit at them and screamed terrible things and even threatened to get a gun and kill them. The other para has diabeties and was sick and still trying to help but the one who got the worse of it was trying to protect herself and the para who was sick.
We don't have a full time principal now that my husband retired last summer. The district is trying to save money...we need a full time Sp. Ed. director (ours is also part time...serves in another building part of the day like the principal).
This student started acting out on the bus and the driver had to call the school police officer to met her bus and ride it the rest of the way to school.
This is main streaming.......it has gone to far.....I don't know who or how to draw a line as to who should and should not be main streamed in Sp. Ed. but the public school system has it's hands full with the general ed. students let alone all of these with mental health problems of students that threaten and injur para's. We are not a hospital and we are not equipped to handle some of these extreme problems.
I have thought about trying to put together a couple of people to do a short skit and discuss manners. Even giving a 'manner's quiz, etc., to teach the children with. I don't know if the teachers would allow a little time for this or not or if it would help the students. Something has to give. It will probably be the loss of teachers and paras.
Daughter ---please tell your son how proud I am of him for following the Christian upbringing you have taught him with. It will pay off for him but not until much later. But he is planing a seed with the other students.
Thanks for all of your responses. Pat

My oldest was home schooled for her first three years.
She is 11 (almost 12 now).
My youngest are 4 and 6.

My youngest were put into daycare just after Leah and I divorced.


Just tonight, Luana (my oldest) was telling me about how her sisters are getting into trouble at school because of their language (f word and...) and aggressiveness.


For years (~10), Leah and I made sure that one of us was home at all times.
We worked our work schedules to make sure of that.

The two little ones were not home-schooled at all.
And, I fear it shows.

Luana started in a private school shortly before our divorce, and the two little ones started daycare soon after.
And, I fear, it shows.

Now they are all in public, or pre-, schools.

And they are none better off for it.


Luana is an honor role student. She has reading comprehension skills of several grades higher. She is in the band playing clarinet (currently third-chair), and her worst 'swear word' is crap (which Leah tells them is OK to use).
The other two seem to be having more problems, propagated both from schools and mom's own foul language and behaviour.


I have not seen any of them for nearly two years, but I speak with them every week.
Hopefully I will get them out with me this summer.
And hopefully, I can influence them a little into a better direction.
The only trouble is, we live half a continent away, and I have very little contact or influence in their everyday lives.


But the point remains.
Children that have both parents agreeing and disciplining in the right way, raise children that are respectful, disciplined, and productive.

My oldest was home schooled for her first three years.
She is 11 (almost 12 now).
My youngest are 4 and 6.

My youngest were put into daycare just after Leah and I divorced.


Just tonight, Luana (my oldest) was telling me about how her sisters are getting into trouble at school because of their language (f word and...) and aggressiveness.


For years (~10), Leah and I made sure that one of us was home at all times.
We worked our work schedules to make sure of that.

The two little ones were not home-schooled at all.
And, I fear it shows.

Luana started in a private school shortly before our divorce, and the two little ones started daycare soon after.
And, I fear, it shows.

Now they are all in public, or pre-, schools.

And they are none better off for it.

I am deeply sorry for you and your family. After going through a divorce myself I saw how hard it was on our children and they were both older.
But thankfully God re-united us...we still have some problems but I truly felt that God wanted us to finish out our lives together and not apart.
Public Schools do try to correct the usage of bade language. And if I hear a student taking God's name in vain I always ask them not to. I tell them that God is my heavenly Father and I love Him and it hurt me to hear them using His name this way.
Mostly the children I have spoken to about his will say they are sorry and I usually don't hear them doing it again.
But the rudeness and down right mean attitudes towards their peers is disturbing.

Luana is an honor role student. She has reading comprehension skills of several grades higher. She is in the band playing clarinet (currently third-chair), and her worst 'swear word' is crap (which Leah tells them is OK to use).
The other two seem to be having more problems, propagated both from schools and mom's own foul language and behaviour.
Please continue to try to be there for your children in any way you possibly can. They need you and it means more to them then you can imagine. Write to them, email them, tell them anything and everything about yourself and your growing up/your life now but assure them they are deeply loved and missed. I can not image how hard it is for you since you live so far apart. Not to mention not being able to see them daily But you can pray for them Daily and let them know that you pray for them...even send them your written prayers for each of them...:pray:
Be sure they know you do not use bad language and expect them to clean up their language...and how much it hurts God to hear them speaking in un-godly ways.
I have not seen any of them for nearly two years, but I speak with them every week.
Hopefully I will get them out with me this summer.
And hopefully, I can influence them a little into a better direction.
The only trouble is, we live half a continent away, and I have very little contact or influence in their everyday lives.


But the point remains.
Children that have both parents agreeing and disciplining in the right way, raise children that are respectful, disciplined, and productive.
It is a continual work by both parents each and every day...God can help families over come so much if they love and trust in Him...May God bless you and lead you in reaching your children and helping to lift them up to God for His love and direction...for opening their eyes to what he needs them to see and sanctifying their ears to hear only his voice, and filling their hearts to overflow with a deep and abiding love for JESUS and their parents. Amen
Pat

It is a continual work by both parents each and every day...God can help families over come so much if they love and trust in Him...May God bless you and lead you in reaching your children and helping to lift them up to God for His love and direction...for opening their eyes to what he needs them to see and sanctifying their ears to hear only his voice, and filling their hearts to overflow with a deep and abiding love for JESUS and their parents. Amen
Pat
Easier said, than done.

Duane, nothing is impossible for God. I didn't know how I we could make it if I home school, nor did I know how I would be able to get supplies. I have most second hand books and hope and pray that God will provide for next year also. To me, that seemed like it would take a miracle, but it all came together. Although it's a little different situation, God is in control. Teach your children in the ways in which they must go and when they are old, they will not depart from it. (Paraphrased)

Kinda hard to teach your children very much when they don't live with or have physical contact with you.

Duane, nothing is impossible for God. (Paraphrased)

Duane? ;) Dig your heels in and hang onto that! :)

I am a younger teacher (this is my 4th year) and I see the same things. I work at an inner-city elementary school and see much of the same things you mentioned. Students interrupt the class, they yell, they throw things, they bully, they call each other horrible names... and why? Well, they are many times taught that is okay.

I have a child in my class, who we will call "Mary." Mary pushes the other kids and yells at them to get what she wants. One time I asked her why she did these things to other kids. She told me to get what she wants. I asked her if that was the right thing to do. She responded yes. So I followed that up with why is it okay to push others, hit them, and call them names? Her response... "That's what mamma told me to do." And yes, I truly believe that is what she was taught.

A lot of the kids in this school has seen more and been through more than I've ever been through in my life. (And they are just 8 and 9). Are they respectful? No. Are they kind to others (students and adults)? No. But you know, I've learned that with these kids, you can make a big difference.

I know that when I hug some of those kids, that's the only hug they will get all day. When I tell them what a great job they did, that may be the only praise they get all day. When they come to me to talk because someone was sent to jail the night before or stabbed or hit by a car or wrongfully arrested, I may be the only one they feel safe enough and comfortable enough around to let me know how they feel. It is in schools like this that we can make the greatest difference in this children's lives. I asked the Lord to place me in a school where I can make a difference, and He did. And though it is tough, I am so thankful He did. :) :hug:

You know what is really sad? In this country teachers are no longer allowed to hug the children. My son has been having panic attacks, and I had to give written permission for his class teacher to hold his hand and talk him through his breathing excercises, to help him calm down.

You know what is really sad? In this country teachers are no longer allowed to hug the children. My son has been having panic attacks, and I had to give written permission for his class teacher to hold his hand and talk him through his breathing excercises, to help him calm down.
Hi daughter, It is sad but ture. We are not suppose to hug the children but sometime one of the hugs you so quickly that it is just automatic to hug back. I think as long as it is among other people and just a natural response there is not anything said about it.
I am glad your son has a teacher who will take the time to help your son calm down after one of these anxiety attacks. I hope he will overcome them through the healing of Jesus.
You sound like a very good mother and your son sounds like a child we treasure since they are few and far between.
May God's wisdom and strength continue to be in you and your son.
Pat

Parents are too caught up in the ways, means and demands of this society.

How many parents strive to keep one parent home with the children at all times? Not many, by far.
How many parents both have a time-demanding career, at the expense of their children. Too many, by far.

They pawn them off to others to raise them. And too often, they are not raised as they should be.


The Almighty Dollar!

It is the bane of a Capitalist society, where constant inflation rules the actions and motivations.'

Its not that at all. I am a single mom. I work for the army an hour from home. I do depend on childcare and school for my kids. I am very blessed to have an awesome childcare system for my kindergartner. Parents have to work its that simple. With gas prices over 4.00/gal and 4.25/gal for milk parents need to work. I dont know how many times I have had the teacher call asking for help with this project or that one and me as a single mom just cant make the time. By the time I get home at night (530pm) and get dinner around and the place picked up and kids in bath its bedtime (8pm) and then at 515am our day starts all over again. When I get home from work I will admit I want to get my chores done so I will send Matty to his room where there is a TV and DVD player and X Box and toys and everything so I can get some stuff started, then while the dishwasher is running or the washing machine I come upstairs and we do his homework together. Its not an easy life but its how we have to live our life for the moment, so please dont judge unless you have lived one day in these shoes. In Feb I will be a mom again so now I will have even more responsibility.

It's completely different for single parents. Obviously they have to work. And some people have medical expenses or other unavoidable costs that are too much for one person to handle.

There are people, however, that would rather work than spend time with their kids. I have a friend who makes more than my dh ever has, and his wife chose to go to work. Every Saturday they go to the mall to spend her paycheck on junk.

Unfortunately, my daughter and their daughter are friends, but as they get older, their daughter is learning things from the public schools that are not very good. We caught them jumping up and down naked on a trampoline the other day. I don't really like to do it, but unless something changes, we're not going to be able to allow them to see each other any more because she has become a bad influence.

It's completely different for single parents. Obviously they have to work. And some people have medical expenses or other unavoidable costs that are too much for one person to handle.

There are people, however, that would rather work than spend time with their kids. I have a friend who makes more than my dh ever has, and his wife chose to go to work. Every Saturday they go to the mall to spend her paycheck on junk.

Unfortunately, my daughter and their daughter are friends, but as they get older, their daughter is learning things from the public schools that are not very good. We caught them jumping up and down naked on a trampoline the other day. I don't really like to do it, but unless something changes, we're not going to be able to allow them to see each other any more because she has become a bad influence.

:eek: The things kids do! I don't blame you, I'd not want that influence either. Sounds like time to have some frank discussion, with your daughter, and maybe with the other mom.

My children have been going to day care since they were 8 weeks old. They are now 9 and 5 1/2. My husband and I both work full time, but we are working toward being able to have one of us work part time or from home soon. My youngest will be starting kindergarten in a couple of weeks. My oldest is starting 4th grade. He tells me stories of the way kids act at school and at day care. Kids cursing at the teachers, hitting the teachers, acting out in class. I ask them both if they thought their mommy would allow that type of behaviour, and they agree that they do not and would not want to find out. I always get comments from day care, teachers at school, and coaches about how well behaved my children are. At home I know they push their limits, but they both knoow that this is ok at home but in public they are always to show the utmost respect and know there are consequences if they do not. The issue is that most parents do not enforce consequences. Kids from broken homes, the parents many times think of the "poor child and what they have already been through". Adults do not take responsibility for raising their kids anymore and kids learn not to take respponsibility for themselves from their parents.

I don't know what it's like in the US (all out American friends homeschool), but my DH teaches teenagers in London and it's constant fights and knives being confiscated (we have a HUGE teenage knife problem here in London - 22 teens killed this year so far). I remember watching a film called Class of '84 back in 1983 and thought it was farfetched fiction - full body metal detector scanners before kids would be let in the building - well, now I think it was prophetic.

It starts with the parents. My MIL was headmistress of an elementary school for 25 years ... until one day she called a child to her office to reprimand it. Next day the father burst into her office, grabbed her by the throat, shoved her up against the wall and tried to strangle her. The police did nothing, the school governors refused to support her, and she ended up taking early retirement.

I did one year of teaching in France - that was enough. Those kids were feral - prostition, drugs, knives ... I was never allowed to be alone with a class because they feared for my safety. I distinctly remember one 12 year old boy who never looked me in the eye all year because he was too busy staring at my chest. Poor kid didn't have a chance - mother and sisters were prostitutes, and Daddy bonding time was going out stealing stuff so Dad could sell it on.

I did one year of teaching in France - that was enough. Those kids were feral - prostition, drugs, knives ... I was never allowed to be alone with a class because they feared for my safety.

:eek:

But... we're supposed to want to be like the Europeans! They have it all put together with their social programs and everything, don't they??

:rolleyes:

:eek: The things kids do! I don't blame you, I'd not want that influence either. Sounds like time to have some frank discussion, with your daughter, and maybe with the other mom.

Well there's really no point in having a discussion with her parents. They know what their daughter is up to...(as we were leaving that night, her father was preparing a good spanking for her as well), they just have no control.

They kind of look at their daughter and the things she's learning and shake their heads sadly....that's it.

It's a terrible social experiment, but both my wife and I are wondering what our daughters are going to look like 6 years from now in their early teens. They're only 6 (ours) and 7 now, but you can already see pretty big differences in their level of "innocence," and the way they respond to their parents.

We have had good experiences with our children in public school. And I don't see how we can keep God out of public school. He lives inside my daughters; he goes right into the school with them every day.

That's what's missing!! The parents don't know God, most of the time; and some of them that do know HIM, you couldn't tell . . . then, you can't say Jesus in public(at least that's what they're after), you can't pray at school, the Ten Commandments can't be displayed, so ... unless, the church can train up parents to know God and His principles, the children will never learn.

However, praise the Lord, for the few that do know about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that we allow the Holy Spririt to do what He was sent here to do. Let us be bold in teaching our children about God, instead of Harry Potter, computers, games, and on and on. Put gospel music on throughout the house. Put the TV on gospel shows. Go to the movies and watch Christian movies. We cannot continue to be like the world and expect different results. Amen!!!!:pray:

Aloha,
I've been an educator in the public school for the past 20 years. 14 years as a teacher and 6 years as an administrator. I LOVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS! Yes, there are students that have behavior problems but many don't know our Lord Jesus Christ. I love it when Jesus told the Jewish people that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.

"17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.[a]”

As Jesus and his disciples ministered the Holy Spirit anointed them and they proclaimed the freedom of the captives and that the blind will see and the oppressed set free. When they proclaimed it captives were released, the blind did see and the oppressed were set free!!! Mary Magdelene, Paul, you and I, etc. are all examples of this. PRAISE JESUS!! Please understand that the freedom is not only physical it also refers to the spiritual.

Many say that God was taken out of the schools but no, as long as there are christians on campus God is there. We just have to invite Him in. If we are teachers, we invite Him into our classrooms. A simple phrase, "LORD come and be Lord here in this place. I pray that you'll be with each student that comes into this classroom." is sufficient. Praying over all the chairs and doors, etc. also has positive effects. If there are students who are struggling I pray for them by name. I've seen SIGNIFiCANT results over time. As administrators, we invite Him into our schools. The same phrase is used but instead of class we say school. We also cover our staff in prayer. As I pass the door of a teacher, I will say a short silent prayer and move to the next door. For staff struggling I pray for discernment and that He will show me how to support this person and He does show me.

Know this...sometimes the changes in students are immediate. Other times, it'll get worse before it gets better because He starts to surface things. At first I thought, "OH NO! Lord why?" But, then He showed me that when things surface we can target pray and also speak to the students about a particular behavior. It's in His KAIROS timing. God is good ALL THE TIME!!

In Hawaii, the churches from various denominations have come together to walk the campus and pray over schools and it has made an incredible difference. There are schools across America and International schools as well that have followed the lead and they have had significant results.

www.uipinternational.com/index_hawaii.html
http://www.uipinternational.com/

Our Lord God Almighty created the universe and all that is in it. If he can create the universe and all that is in it, then he can change schools. DO YOU KNOW THAT OUR LORD EVEN TRANSFORMED A PRISON?!! This was done in Argentina!! See the website below.

http://www.harvestevan.org/olmos-prison2.html

Is this for real? Yes, my daughter went there on a missions trip and she witnessed this first hand!! NO BARS!! The prisoners praying for them. Incredible story!!

We are called to set the captives free. It's not an easy call. Walking into the schools seems like many like walking into a prison but Jesus is in us and His light beams from us and brings Light to the world. I've seen behaviors change and students eventually coming to the Lord and behaviors change. It's not a fast process but it IS happening. PRAISE GOD!!! "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!"

Joshua 1:6 says, "6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

So for those that are in public schools, remember our promise from our MIGHTY KING and ALMIGHTY GOD!! "BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God IS WITH YOU WHERE EVER YOU GO!!! There is a lot of work to be done but the Lord has His plans and may His glorious will be done throughout our world and within our marketplace ministries--public schools!!

:D

Servantsheart, I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. I was a public school educator for 3 years. I taught middle school the first 2 years and 5th grade last year. The things I experienced there and the behaviors that I saw solidified my desire to home school my own children. My husband had been against it, but hearing how my days were and the things that went on convinced him as well. I've had people say to me that Christian parents should send their kids to the public schools so that they can be "beacons of light" for the other kids. The problem is that kids often want to fit in so badly that even kids from strong Christian families end up being pulled astray by the other kids. I saw many instances of that, but yet NONE of the "beacons of light leading other children to Christ." It all starts at home though. I would call home due to behavior and frequently, there would either be no change or they would change for a day (at which time their parents would let them off punishment and they would go right back to their old behaviors). Consequences at school, such as taking recess, detention, etc. had no effect because no matter how many times you explained the importance of school and why everyone needs to follow the rules, they still felt entitled to do as they pleased. They would sit at recess/in detention glaring at you and then go right back to the bad behaviors as soon as recess was over. Even praise and "catching them being good" had little to no effect on their overall behavior.

When I was in school, the behaviors that I described above (and the lack of effect from consistent discipline and praise) would have applied to maybe 1 or 2 kids in the class. Today, it frequently applies to half or more of the kids in a class. It's a sad and frustrating situation.

I substitute teach for a living (haven't been able to get a full time job yet since I only just graduated) and I know what you guys are talking about! Elementary schools aren't actually that bad and I always enjoy teaching in them (there seems to be more discipline in elem schools, at least the ones I've been in) but the middle/high schools are really lacking in any type of effective discipline. I know when I first started I was amazed to see the extremely disrespectful way students talked to teachers, cussing them out and ignoring them when they were told to do something. And these aren't inner city schools I'm talking about, these are nice suburban schools. I think the problem is a lot of kids aren't taught any type of structure or consistent discipline at home, and they don't really get it in school either. I have to admit that if I had kids I would be tempted to homeschool them if given the chance once they reached middle school.

It's completely different for single parents. Obviously they have to work. And some people have medical expenses or other unavoidable costs that are too much for one person to handle.

There are people, however, that would rather work than spend time with their kids. I have a friend who makes more than my dh ever has, and his wife chose to go to work. Every Saturday they go to the mall to spend her paycheck on junk.

Unfortunately, my daughter and their daughter are friends, but as they get older, their daughter is learning things from the public schools that are not very good. We caught them jumping up and down naked on a trampoline the other day. I don't really like to do it, but unless something changes, we're not going to be able to allow them to see each other any more because she has become a bad influence.

It cna also be that way with families that are married. My mom was a stay at home mom for most of our years in school. My dad farmed. When I was in high school, and farming business started to spiral downward due to market, floods and bad weather adn crops, my mom was forced to get a part time job to help pay back the loans and bills. we live in a small area, its not like one can just quit their job and pick up another one just like that. So we had no choice, luckily, her job was at high school and she was home when we left for school and when we came home from school as she workd 9am to 1 pm and no weekends. Now she is working 2 jobs, and my dad is owrking 2-3 jobs. me nad my brohters are done with high school now but I'm sure this would hav happened even if they were still in school. My dad quit farming this past summer due to it getting worse nad having so many loans to pay back he couldn't afford to have a bad year of farming.

Some families income isn't enough to just go with one, some are forced to have both parents work. Sometimes you can't do anything about it. I'm sure they would love to stay home but in order to put food ont he talbe, keep the house, and all that, they have to do what they have to do to get by. I went to a public school my whole life, and elementary adn middle school I was picked on alot. High school got a little better, my class was still cliquey but not as much harrassment (the girl who did most of it dropped out). We had some bad teachers (middle school) but the rest in elementary and high school i liked. They were nice and cared. It was a small school and they knew everyone. Which had its good things about ita dn its bad things. But they knew ya. But I don't know, I can't fualt all families for having both parents working, there are those who do work because they want to and can live with one income but there are mahy who can't live off of one income. So we can't judge all of them. we don'tknow their situations.

I am a younger teacher (this is my 4th year) and I see the same things. I work at an inner-city elementary school and see much of the same things you mentioned. Students interrupt the class, they yell, they throw things, they bully, they call each other horrible names... and why? Well, they are many times taught that is okay.

I have a child in my class, who we will call "Mary." Mary pushes the other kids and yells at them to get what she wants. One time I asked her why she did these things to other kids. She told me to get what she wants. I asked her if that was the right thing to do. She responded yes. So I followed that up with why is it okay to push others, hit them, and call them names? Her response... "That's what mamma told me to do." And yes, I truly believe that is what she was taught.

A lot of the kids in this school has seen more and been through more than I've ever been through in my life. (And they are just 8 and 9). Are they respectful? No. Are they kind to others (students and adults)? No. But you know, I've learned that with these kids, you can make a big difference.

I know that when I hug some of those kids, that's the only hug they will get all day. When I tell them what a great job they did, that may be the only praise they get all day. When they come to me to talk because someone was sent to jail the night before or stabbed or hit by a car or wrongfully arrested, I may be the only one they feel safe enough and comfortable enough around to let me know how they feel. It is in schools like this that we can make the greatest difference in this children's lives. I asked the Lord to place me in a school where I can make a difference, and He did. And though it is tough, I am so thankful He did. :) :hug:

Trust me, they will remember you rname when they're adults. I was one of those kids, and I remember three teachers who were the best male role models I could ever have. Mr. George Lettner, Mr. Paul Carter, and Dr. Lovelace (For some reason, he's the only one of the three whose first name I never knew) were the /best/ teachers /ever/. Some days, they were the only reason I'd fight through the gang violence and craziness at school /for/. I so loved them! I could always count on them if I needed an ear, or even forty minutes of peace. Mr. Lettner, especially, was good about letting me stay in his classroom over lunch just so I could have some silence. He wasn't supposed to (you know, that whole rule) but he did it anyway, and never a grumble of protest. I even managed to get better math grades because he'd take the time to go over my homework with me.

Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you to keep on keeping on, because you're right: You might be the one thing that gets those kids to keep on keeping on. If you never hear it from them, hear it from me: THANK YOU.

As a Para Ed. working in the public school system in an elementary school for the past five years I am deeply worried about the furture as a nation with the children we are serving every day.
Since God was removed from our public school system and He is not apart of most homes today...parents do not have the Biblical guide lines to bring their children up with Godly attitudes, good morals, good work ethics, accountability, trust worthyness, good manners, and the list goes on and on and on.
Don't get me wrong about what I am going to describe to you...I do enjoy being with children and helping them learn... And it is not to say that there are not 'good' parents in the world today.....BUT
I over see the children from kindergarten to fifth grade at breakfast and the kindergarten and first grade during lunch times. The rest of the day I am with one student one-on-one all day.
I try my best to correct with kindess but firmness when I see...The children during meal time not showing pliteness to teachers and staff, or to fellow students. They eat and talk at the same time with mouths filled with food, some try to touch the food of others (especially if someone brought their lunch and they have candy or sweets), they want to drink their milk right from the carton rather then using a straw, they don't use napkins to wipe their mouth or hands, when they hand you their tray they don't say, "thank you", if they spill something they simply expect you to clean it up and if you ask them to help they don't have the slightest idea about how to do it, they talk so loudly that the lights have to be blinked off and on to get their attention to ask them to talk quietly, the fifth graders make rude faces or comments if asked to lower their voices,...
In class they disrupt the entire class with antics, talking, wondering about the room, picking at other students, plainly telling you that you can not make them do their work, they don't complete home work assignments and return them, ....
Are you getting the idea that kids today are not being brought up at home and taught social skills, manners, politeness, responsibility, respect, how to care about their neighbor, how to dress for school or even the need for taking a bath and washing their hair, washing hands after using the restroom, how to drink from a water fountain without putting their whole mouth over it ( I have even seen a student spit in the water fountain),...
The children I see daily talk about things that you would not believe, they talk about TV shows I don't even watch or movies, they read anything they want to read ( providing they can read) and it is Not just the school who teaches reading...children depend on parents who read to them and listen to them read in order to succed, they carry cell phones, they listen to any and all kinds of music on their MP3 players, they have their own tV's in their rooms and computers, they are dropped off at the local mall to entertain themselves all day,...
And yet parents get upset if the school decides that a child has acted so badly at school that the school takes away a class trip or classroom party to help teach the child that they must behave ...this because we no longer have corpal punishment...let alone parents who would spank their own children at home and make them behave...
WHY ARE PARENTS TODAY NOT BRINGING UP THEIR OWN CHILDREN? Parents act like it is the schools job to teach and raise their children.
Am I the only older person working with children today and seeing our youth growing up and not being able to face the 'real' world as college students, working adults, and future parents.
PS my husband was a principal for 14 years at an elementary school...he actually had a child in his office for correction and was trying to phone the parent when the child walked up behind him and put a pencil to the back of his neck and said, "Bang"! :cry:

Hello,

You do have a problem with a statement. God is not removed from schools. Human beings are not so strong! Many students, teachers and parents are Christians. They love Jesus. When they pray before the test. They read the Bible at home. They try and wear religious necklaces. God has not yet gone.

I am sorry for bad behavior. However, the children of such bad manners is not important. Behavior is not important. First of all, Jesus, they should be loving. Where is their heart? How is everyone? Do they love Christ? They will be saved? Wash them in blood and then teach them to eat gracefully, but do not the last things first.

Parents should be responsible. They teach behavior. But the school, the teacher's job is it too. The phone is OK if you have children, or television. Monitor how they watch it. Question it. Why do they like it? Well, they believe, because they need to look at it because friends do. Tell them no. My children fight. They see the television or film. Natasha sees girls in underwear dance and thinks she has to do it. Ilya, my son, he 10. He likes violence shows. We have not let him look at them. Too bad he likes. They are not ok for him. Do not mind the absurdity. Use the time wisely. Read a good book. Play outside. Be healthy. Worship the Lord. In this case, it is the parents business, but it should be a teacher doing it to when parents can't.