http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070830/D8RBARRG2.html
When does this end? When does the over-protection of our children cross the line into willful neglect to educate our children about the real world? When do we say enough is enough? When did a large majority of our parental populous either lose their mind, lose their will, or lose their voice? Parents I know, myself included, teach our children that some people are different than we are. Some people don’t think like we do…and for the most part, that is not a bad thing.
Take this situation of playing tag, for instance.
“…some children complained they were harassed or chased against their will.”
Harassed? What elementary school child knows what harassment is without some over-inflated school teacher or administrator or self-righteous parent telling them? What “harassment” goes on in an elementary school? Teasing? Isn’t that a part of school and growing up?
Wayne Kirkpatrick wrote the line, “To deal with the scoffers, that’s part of the bargain. They heckle from back rows and they bark at the moon. Their flowers are fading in time’s bitter garden, while yours is only beginning to bloom.”
Is this not what we should be teaching our children…that dealing with less-than-perfect people is part of growing up and being a productive member of society? God forbid that we teach our kids that if they don’t want to be chased, then just sit down and don’t run. Just ignore the chaser and they will find someone else to chase. Elementary kids have the attention span of a gnat, so they will quickly find someone else to get on chasing that is a more willing participant.
Let’s stop teaching our children the disease of victimhood. You can only be a victim if you let yourself be one. A strong person rises above and moves forward. Does that mean bad things don’t happen? No. But it does mean that we have better prepared our children how to “deal with the scoffers” than become a perpetual victim of the world.
