It is a Saturday afternoon, a perfect afternoon to run your errands and do all that time-consuming shopping you have been putting off for the past week. You need 1) to buy groceries, 2) get an outfit for cousin Betty's wedding next week, 3) to help high school grad-to-be Johnny select a college, and 4) sign up 15 year old Tina for drivers education. It sure is going to be a busy Saturday, better get to work!
So, after sitting down for 15 minutes and making a grocery list, you head to the local market and spend another hour and a half picking out the perfect cantaloupe, sirloin, and finding the best deal on bread. Now it's off to the mall where you are determined to find that perfect ensemble of clothing to wear to the big wedding. Two hours and four department stores later, it's in the bag and you're finally on your way. You get home and look at your to-do list: find college for Johnny. "Well," you think to yourself, "that'll take a few days to figure out, I'll just tackle that when I have a few days off from work." Finally, you come to the end of your checklist and let out a sigh of relief, all you have to do is sign up little Tina for driving school. You open up the yellow pages, dial seven digits, and five minutes later Tina's enrolled at Uncle Bill's Driving School and you're half way to your bed for a nap.
So let's recap, shall we? You spent an hour and a half buying food for the next week, 2 hours purchasing clothes you'll wear for a day, you'll need several days to select that college Johnny will attend for four years, and it took you five minutes to select your daughter's driver training that she will not only use for the rest of her life, but that will hopefully save her from one of life's most lethal tasks: driving.
Did you know that the number one cause of death for teens ages 15-19, according to the National Center of Health Statistics, is automobile accidents (they account for nearly 40% of all teen deaths)? It's no secret that teen drivers have a higher rate of serious and deadly accidents than other drivers. Many of these accidents are caused by common mistakes, or an incomplete knowledge of traffic laws. With these poignant statistics, it's a wonder parents don't take choosing a driving school more seriously. The knowledge gained from a good, qualified driving school decreases the chances of being involved in a costly, injurious or possibly deadly collision. When choosing the right driving school for you or your loved ones, there are some obvious and not-so-obvious points to consider.
Price should not be a factor. Driver training is one of the most important investments you'll ever make for your teen. When looking for a driving school, there is usually an inverse relationship between price and quality. Though the most expensive school isn't automatically the best, there is a reason why certain schools charge less than others. Some driving schools cut corners by investing in cheaper, less safe vehicles. Others hire unqualified instructors that they find on the street and can pay minimal wages. Not to mention, most inexpensive schools teach "off the top of their head," and have not taken the time or money required preparing a structured, comprehensive curriculum. If you find a school you like, but the price is a little steeper than you expected, find out if they have a payment plan. Many customer friendly driving schools not only help you by breaking up costs into affordable payments, they also offer promotional discounts to help lower the price.
Verify the driving school is licensed in your state. If your child needed surgery, you surely wouldn't take them to an unlicensed surgeon. Don't make the same mistake when choosing a driving school. Licensed schools truly have to earn their credentials by complying with a number of state laws and regulations. You can check on the status of any licensed driving school and verify what type of courses they are approved for. For example, in California, the DMV provides a free driver school lookup service on their website. If a school is not on their list, keep looking!
Review the driving school's website. You may not always be able to judge a book by its cover, but you can get a pretty good idea of what's inside. The same is true of driving schools and their websites, and you should take the time to see what their site has to offer. Is the site professional? Is it easy to use? How about the content - is it pertinent, helpful, and organized well? Does the site have just minimal information, or does it go above and beyond what you'd expect? Is contact information clearly stated and easy to find? If you answer no to any of these questions, you might want to say no to that school.
Customer service should be a priority. A good test for any service-based company is to see how helpful and professional their customer service is. After all, if they have poor customer service before you are their customer, who knows how they will treat you once they've already got your money. Put a list of questions together and give the driving school a call. Most reputable companies will have well trained phone staff that should be able to answer any question you have regarding getting your permit or license. And they should answer those questions with a positive attitude. If a school representative answers the call on a cell phone, they probably don't have an office or they are in the middle of a driving lesson. This should raise a red flag and you should run, not walk, in the other direction.
What does the school offer in the way of training vehicles? One of the most overlooked aspects of driver training is the vehicle used to train your teen. Shouldn't the primary tool used to train be of primary concern? Many of the best schools train in up-to-date vehicles equipped with extra safety equipment such as side & head curtain airbags and vehicle stability control systems. Another item to consider is the type of vehicle you will train in. If your teen will be driving an SUV as their primary vehicle, it makes sense to have them trained in an SUV. There are schools out there that offer lessons in both SUV's and compact cars, you just have to look around.
Make sure the driving school's instructors are capable. A restaurant's only as good as their chefs and a driving school is only as good as their instructors. A legitimate driving school hires professional, highly trained instructors to teach their students. Some of the leading-edge schools even hire instructors who have strong backgrounds working with teens. Studies show that teens learn more effectively when they are mentored, not dictated to. Furthermore, the best driving schools will thoroughly screen their instructors with background and drug tests. After all, you should be able to trust leaving your child with an instructor without having any reservations. Finally, top driving schools also have a mix of both male and female instructors, allowing you to choose the best fit for you.
Choose a driving school with nothing to hide. Your first instinct about the quality of a driving school is probably your best. A good driving school usually will give you a good feeling from the start. If you ask specific questions, you get specific, no nonsense answers. In addition, a respectable driving school will keep you in tune with what's going on with your child. Some advanced schools in California actually provide written feedback after each lesson regarding the child's progress. One good test of a driving school's reliability is requesting to accompany your child on his or her fist lesson. An upright driving school will accommodate this request.
Verify basic driving school services are intact. Unfortunately, many driving schools are just trying to make a quick buck and don't provide some of the basic services a customer would come to expect. For example, make sure your child is the only student in the car during their lesson, not splitting their time with multiple teen drivers. Also, will the driving school pick you up at your front door? From school? From work? Or do you have to drop your child off for their lesson. Does the driving school have cell phones in their cars in case of emergencies? Do they have a GPS tracking system in their training vehicles in case you need to track down your child? And a good driving school will keep an open line of communication with you between lessons - are you getting feedback from them after each lesson?
Find a driving school with several products to offer. A successful driving school usually offers more than just the basic or minimum driving packages. If they're experienced, they know that not all students learn at the same level and may need different amounts and types of training. Some good questions to ask a prospective school might be, "Do you offer special freeway training?" or "Do you have special courses that help prepare for the DMV drive test?" Also, find out if they have various hourly packages; most respectable schools offer 6, 10, 20, and 30 hour drive packages. Again, inquire about their vehicle line, do they just have cars available for training, or can you train in an SUV if desired?
Make sure you they can accommodate your schedule. If you decide to go with a "mom and pops" driving school, plan on scheduling your lessons around their calendar. If they only have one or two cars, chances are you'll have to go when they are ready to take you. A well-rounded driver school should have a fleet of vehicles (and instructors) so that you can schedule lessons around your life. Furthermore, they should cater to the time of day you would like to schedule your teen. Do they have early morning lessons? How about evening lessons for practicing during the nighttime.
Driving schools should be able to help get your permit. It's very common for driving schools that teach behind the wheel training to also offer some sort of driver education to help get your permit. If the school doesn't offer the education you need to get your permit, they should at least be able to refer you to someone who does. Of the driving schools that do offer driver education, many only offer it in a classroom setting. The more credible schools are heeding the results of a CA DMV study conducted in 2003. The study showed that students who received their education online or via a computer based program outperformed and tested higher than students who sat through the traditional classroom training. As a result, progressive driving schools have made the investment and now offer their education via the Internet. When choosing an online course for your child, double check that the online course has been DMV approved and is not some unsanctioned course created just to take your money.
Is the Driving School involved with the community? Ask them what programs they are affiliated with outside of their own driving school. Do they work with any teen driving organizations like DARE or SADD? Do they go to high schools and talk with kids about driving defensively, drugs and alcohol, etc. Do they champion the high schools in their community, or are they just out to make a profit and don't give back? A successful school knows that the driver training business is a long term venture and that being a positive part of society is an important part of being around for years to come.
As you can see, choosing a suitable driving school requires a little more forethought than opening up the yellow pages and randomly dialing a phone number. While many teens may opt to take the quickest and easiest route they can find, a prudent parent knows that this is not a decision that should be rushed. After all, your 15-year-old "baby" is about to get behind a 3,000-pound machine, a machine that many Department of Motor Vehicles consider a deadly weapon. So before you "load that gun", make sure you do your part by "putting the safety on", that is, get them the best driver training possible.
Minggu, 26 November 2017
Rabu, 08 November 2017
Online Safety Tips - 7 Essential Rules For Individuals & Families
While the internet can certainly be an incredible tool and resource, the unfortunate reality is that it can also be an extremely dangerous and destructive place for children, adults, and families. Not only can we easily find the violence, dangers, scams, temptations, and immorality - but individuals and companies everywhere are actively seeking us out.
What is more disturbing is the reality that individuals, parents, governments, and entire societies everywhere have so slowly become conditioned to and somewhat accepting of this selfish and immoral culture the internet daily preaches. Thus, while the moral values of our culture continue to degenerate, we must resolve today and ensure that our families (and us as individuals) will not fall victim to this ever-destructive force - a force that is masked by the wrongfully assumed 'popularity' of the masses, and the result is often the disintegration of marriages and families. Commitments and responsibilities are discarded, money is lost, information is stolen, time is wasted, guilt is felt, lives are ruined, and families are destroyed - all while a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit.
There are many things we can do online to be safe - things ranging from: not giving out personal or financial information to strangers, not clicking on unknown links, not opening emails from people we don't know, realizing that much of the information we read (or people we meet online) are not totally accurate (or real), to not copyright or plagiarize, etc. However, what I am referring to is much more important and potentially much more dangerous than any of the previously mentioned online safety tips. For our own sakes, and especially for the happiness and well-being of our families, we each need to make a commitment that in our homes we will implement these necessary online rules:
1) Don't Be Alone: The family computer must be in a public place - with the monitor facing out! Most of the trouble, temptation, scams, wasted time, and immorality happens when a child (or adult) is allowed to 'use the computer' on their own in a private place.
2) Parental Involvement: Parents must be more involved with their child's online activity. I am not talking about looking over the shoulder or being with them all the time - everyone of course still needs their privacy, agency, and freedom. However, do you know who your children are emailing, texting, chatting with, or talking to? Do you know what websites, chat rooms, pictures, and emails your child has sent, looked at, and visited? If you are involved and communicate with your children often about their online activity (in a constructive, not intrusive and disciplinary way) - you can guarantee that when that temptation comes, question or curiosity arises, or when they get asked to meet that online 'special' person (who is a complete stranger) - they will feel comfortable coming to you first because you were involved, informed, and cared.
3) Don't Be Ignorant, Don't Assume, Trust Less, Be Involved More: Familiarize yourself with online Teen Lingo. Do you even realize that there literally is an online language of incredibly complex acronyms your children use to talk with their friends? Why do they use such lingo? Of course, to hide and disclose from YOU what it is they are talking about. Educate yourself and do not be ignorant. Trust your children, but love them enough to be involved, active, and discipline if necessary.
4) Dangers of Evening Hours: No computer after 9pm. That is a rule in our house, and it may need to be different in your home. But, why such a rule? Obviously, it is the evening hours that we become idle, lazy, susceptible, bored, curious, etc. Others who are online know this reality as well - and those 'others' include individuals (known or not known), companies, advertisers, pop-up ads, websites, etc.
5) Turn-Away Immediately: Establish the rule and self-discipline that if ever an image (pop-up, advertisement, picture, website, etc) appears that is inappropriate, you will 'Turn-Away Immediately.' No matter how shocking the image, curious you are, weak you feel, alone you may be, or how strong you think you are - just look away immediately.
6) Establish Rules: Establish your own family online rules. Sit down together and establish these rules, and ensure that everyone is aware of and committed to them. Have the rules placed near the computer - and commit to following them always. Use this meeting as a time to educate your children about online safety, tips, traps, etc.
7) Be the example: The six previously mentioned rules are absolutely necessary for your children and family's sake; however, how can we expect our children to follow these rules if we ourselves are not adhering to them. Most often, children not only do what their parents allow them, but they do what they see their parents doing. Be the example in ensuring that the internet is used for positive, constructive, educational, and wholesome activities in your home!
Why are these rules so absolutely important? There are a number or reasons why, including financial safety and protection online, personal safety, etc. However, more important than anything else, this is about ensuring that we as adults and parents, and especially our children, do not become involved with our modern day slavery - that of pornography!
I wish it weren't true, but unfortunately for us all - sex, immorality, and immodesty sells. As a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit from this sleazy material, the realistic and sad result is that - thoughts are corrupted, commitments and responsibilities are discarded, selfishness and temporary gratification become more important than self control, sins and crimes are committed, addictions are developed, families are torn apart, and slowly our society's very foundational values have disintegrated.
Keeping thoughts clean, turning away from temptation, or altogether avoiding pornography is becoming increasingly more difficult considering the fact that - the vast majority of movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, advertisements, and websites are immoral, immodest, sexual, and pornographic in nature. We are daily bombarded... and thus daily fighting a battle. It is a battle to keep our thoughts, actions, habits, and character clean and pure and chaste.
Thus, establishing personal and family online rules is absolutely essential - essential for us personally to ensure that we do not fall victim to this modern slavery, and to ensure that our marriage, children, and families do not fall apart. The moment that pornography is allowed and justified, and these rules are discarded, is the first detrimental step to ensuring that our marriages and families will experience the pain, shame, embarrassment, anger, loss, separation, and failure that pornography's effects inevitable bring. For yours and your family's sake - do not look, do not get involved, and ensure these rules are implemented and exemplified.
What is more disturbing is the reality that individuals, parents, governments, and entire societies everywhere have so slowly become conditioned to and somewhat accepting of this selfish and immoral culture the internet daily preaches. Thus, while the moral values of our culture continue to degenerate, we must resolve today and ensure that our families (and us as individuals) will not fall victim to this ever-destructive force - a force that is masked by the wrongfully assumed 'popularity' of the masses, and the result is often the disintegration of marriages and families. Commitments and responsibilities are discarded, money is lost, information is stolen, time is wasted, guilt is felt, lives are ruined, and families are destroyed - all while a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit.
There are many things we can do online to be safe - things ranging from: not giving out personal or financial information to strangers, not clicking on unknown links, not opening emails from people we don't know, realizing that much of the information we read (or people we meet online) are not totally accurate (or real), to not copyright or plagiarize, etc. However, what I am referring to is much more important and potentially much more dangerous than any of the previously mentioned online safety tips. For our own sakes, and especially for the happiness and well-being of our families, we each need to make a commitment that in our homes we will implement these necessary online rules:
1) Don't Be Alone: The family computer must be in a public place - with the monitor facing out! Most of the trouble, temptation, scams, wasted time, and immorality happens when a child (or adult) is allowed to 'use the computer' on their own in a private place.
2) Parental Involvement: Parents must be more involved with their child's online activity. I am not talking about looking over the shoulder or being with them all the time - everyone of course still needs their privacy, agency, and freedom. However, do you know who your children are emailing, texting, chatting with, or talking to? Do you know what websites, chat rooms, pictures, and emails your child has sent, looked at, and visited? If you are involved and communicate with your children often about their online activity (in a constructive, not intrusive and disciplinary way) - you can guarantee that when that temptation comes, question or curiosity arises, or when they get asked to meet that online 'special' person (who is a complete stranger) - they will feel comfortable coming to you first because you were involved, informed, and cared.
3) Don't Be Ignorant, Don't Assume, Trust Less, Be Involved More: Familiarize yourself with online Teen Lingo. Do you even realize that there literally is an online language of incredibly complex acronyms your children use to talk with their friends? Why do they use such lingo? Of course, to hide and disclose from YOU what it is they are talking about. Educate yourself and do not be ignorant. Trust your children, but love them enough to be involved, active, and discipline if necessary.
4) Dangers of Evening Hours: No computer after 9pm. That is a rule in our house, and it may need to be different in your home. But, why such a rule? Obviously, it is the evening hours that we become idle, lazy, susceptible, bored, curious, etc. Others who are online know this reality as well - and those 'others' include individuals (known or not known), companies, advertisers, pop-up ads, websites, etc.
5) Turn-Away Immediately: Establish the rule and self-discipline that if ever an image (pop-up, advertisement, picture, website, etc) appears that is inappropriate, you will 'Turn-Away Immediately.' No matter how shocking the image, curious you are, weak you feel, alone you may be, or how strong you think you are - just look away immediately.
6) Establish Rules: Establish your own family online rules. Sit down together and establish these rules, and ensure that everyone is aware of and committed to them. Have the rules placed near the computer - and commit to following them always. Use this meeting as a time to educate your children about online safety, tips, traps, etc.
7) Be the example: The six previously mentioned rules are absolutely necessary for your children and family's sake; however, how can we expect our children to follow these rules if we ourselves are not adhering to them. Most often, children not only do what their parents allow them, but they do what they see their parents doing. Be the example in ensuring that the internet is used for positive, constructive, educational, and wholesome activities in your home!
Why are these rules so absolutely important? There are a number or reasons why, including financial safety and protection online, personal safety, etc. However, more important than anything else, this is about ensuring that we as adults and parents, and especially our children, do not become involved with our modern day slavery - that of pornography!
I wish it weren't true, but unfortunately for us all - sex, immorality, and immodesty sells. As a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit from this sleazy material, the realistic and sad result is that - thoughts are corrupted, commitments and responsibilities are discarded, selfishness and temporary gratification become more important than self control, sins and crimes are committed, addictions are developed, families are torn apart, and slowly our society's very foundational values have disintegrated.
Keeping thoughts clean, turning away from temptation, or altogether avoiding pornography is becoming increasingly more difficult considering the fact that - the vast majority of movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, advertisements, and websites are immoral, immodest, sexual, and pornographic in nature. We are daily bombarded... and thus daily fighting a battle. It is a battle to keep our thoughts, actions, habits, and character clean and pure and chaste.
Thus, establishing personal and family online rules is absolutely essential - essential for us personally to ensure that we do not fall victim to this modern slavery, and to ensure that our marriage, children, and families do not fall apart. The moment that pornography is allowed and justified, and these rules are discarded, is the first detrimental step to ensuring that our marriages and families will experience the pain, shame, embarrassment, anger, loss, separation, and failure that pornography's effects inevitable bring. For yours and your family's sake - do not look, do not get involved, and ensure these rules are implemented and exemplified.
Rabu, 25 Oktober 2017
An Overview Of Parental Choices Regarding Education
This article will focus on what type of education is offered at private schools, independent schools, and prep schools. The names 'private school' and 'independent school' are actually one and the same thing, depending on the country you live in. The difference between these and public schools is that they are not funded by the state in any way.
This means that parents are paying for their children's tutoring and not relying on the government to pay. Most private or independent schools offer scholarships or bursaries to children who perform well in certain subjects or sports at public schools. These entitle the successful applicants to receive the remainder of their education, or part of it, for no charge.
This is done to provide those children with an opportunity to excel further in the unique atmosphere of a private school. The scholarships are awarded in various categories, e.g. Sporting, academic, or arts. The reasons for scholarships are twofold; firstly, the individual child is afforded a head-start in education and, secondly, the school giving the scholarship is enrolling a high achiever which is good for their image.
Although many public schools have excellent reputations, there are definitely some benefits associated with an independent school. The most significant of all is the student to pupil ratio. Classes are small, enabling each child to receive more attention from the teacher. Also, the objective of an independent school is to nurture and develop a child's natural talents.
Furthermore, an independent or private school is able to implement more sophisticated learning programs. Teachers at such schools are not paid a standardized salary like their counterparts at a government funded school. Instead, they are paid according to their experience and abilities in the same way that the corporate sector does. This means that the caliber of teachers is of a high quality and, again, the children receive the benefits.
There is also a stronger relationship between teachers and parents at a private school. Parental involvement is considered to be an integral part of their child's learning cycle. Parents who can afford private schools are certainly making a worthwhile investment in their son or daughter's education. As mentioned earlier, this is not to say that public schools do not produce outstanding students who go on to achieve in all areas of life.
A preparatory school is also called a prep school, or a primary school. Again, the terminology and description varies in countries. In the USA, for example, a prep school is an independent, or private, secondary or high school. In contrast, other countries including the UK, a preparatory school is one that prepares pre-adolescent children for high school. The age-group in this case is 8 to 12 year-olds.
When it comes to education, another decision facing parents worldwide is whether to send their children to single-sex schools or those that are co-educational. Lengthy studies done around the world indicate that children who have received education in a single-sex environment learn better and achieve more. A study done in Australia involved 270,000 boys and girls and it was found that both sexes obtained higher results at separate schools.
This means that parents are paying for their children's tutoring and not relying on the government to pay. Most private or independent schools offer scholarships or bursaries to children who perform well in certain subjects or sports at public schools. These entitle the successful applicants to receive the remainder of their education, or part of it, for no charge.
This is done to provide those children with an opportunity to excel further in the unique atmosphere of a private school. The scholarships are awarded in various categories, e.g. Sporting, academic, or arts. The reasons for scholarships are twofold; firstly, the individual child is afforded a head-start in education and, secondly, the school giving the scholarship is enrolling a high achiever which is good for their image.
Although many public schools have excellent reputations, there are definitely some benefits associated with an independent school. The most significant of all is the student to pupil ratio. Classes are small, enabling each child to receive more attention from the teacher. Also, the objective of an independent school is to nurture and develop a child's natural talents.
Furthermore, an independent or private school is able to implement more sophisticated learning programs. Teachers at such schools are not paid a standardized salary like their counterparts at a government funded school. Instead, they are paid according to their experience and abilities in the same way that the corporate sector does. This means that the caliber of teachers is of a high quality and, again, the children receive the benefits.
There is also a stronger relationship between teachers and parents at a private school. Parental involvement is considered to be an integral part of their child's learning cycle. Parents who can afford private schools are certainly making a worthwhile investment in their son or daughter's education. As mentioned earlier, this is not to say that public schools do not produce outstanding students who go on to achieve in all areas of life.
A preparatory school is also called a prep school, or a primary school. Again, the terminology and description varies in countries. In the USA, for example, a prep school is an independent, or private, secondary or high school. In contrast, other countries including the UK, a preparatory school is one that prepares pre-adolescent children for high school. The age-group in this case is 8 to 12 year-olds.
When it comes to education, another decision facing parents worldwide is whether to send their children to single-sex schools or those that are co-educational. Lengthy studies done around the world indicate that children who have received education in a single-sex environment learn better and achieve more. A study done in Australia involved 270,000 boys and girls and it was found that both sexes obtained higher results at separate schools.
Kamis, 12 Oktober 2017
Addiction and Judgment: What Happens to the Family Struggling With Addiction?
When a family member is struggling with addiction the entire family system suffers. Life inside the family system can become a roller coaster of emotions. It is common for parents to blame each other or themselves when their child is suffering from addiction. All family members are affected with the chaos that addiction brings to the family unit. Emotions often range from denial, grief, fear, anger, shame, and a tremendous sense of loss.
People are quick to judge an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol. They are often stereotyped. For example, the homeless man on the street, the drunk at the bar, or a prostitute. People may think that a person addicted to drugs or alcohol is a bad person. This is not true. Addiction is a disease, not caused by being a good or bad human being.
An Individual addicted to drugs and alcohol maybe closer to home than you think
• The young man in a fraternity that died of an oxycotin overdose.
• A 16-year-old girl died from alcohol poisoning after the prom.
• A 15-year-old girl died of a heroin overdose in the suburbs.
• An 18-year-old young man died of an accidental drug overdose in his bed.
For these young people we may hear the following comments: "My kids would never take drugs! Where did he get that? How did his parents not know? Oxy is just a pain killer how could that kill him? He must have been from a bad family. His family did not care enough to pay attention to his mental health. He probably had problems his entire life.
I'm glad my kids weren't friends with someone like him. What a loser. What kind of college is that? I'm glad my kid just drinks and smokes weed! At least my daughter just gets drunk she doesn't do drugs. My daughter said she never drinks. My son has too much going for him to consider taking drugs. If she has a drug problem why doesn't she just quit? That person is weak it only takes will power to quit."
These are some examples of people being judgmental without understanding the disease of drug and alcohol and addiction. The situation I am referring to is what happens to the family of the person struggling with addiction. Before jumping to conclusions and passing judgments on others it might be helpful to educate yourself and look at the other side of this painful situation. Addiction and alcoholism is a family disease and dealing with it effectively involves the whole family getting an understanding of the disease in order to deal with it as a united front. Individuals that are addicted to drugs and alcohol are typically bright smart people that are unfortunately affected by this cunning baffling and powerful disease.
It is important to remember that individuals that suffer with addiction can get help and learn to live in recovery. Living in recovery does not mean that relapses will not occur. Addiction is a life long disease. If a relapses occurs that individual can fight addiction and be in recovery again. I believe it is important never to give up hope. It is also essential for the family of a person struggling with the disease of addiction to go on with their lives.
Individual and family therapy can be a useful coping tool and a helpful resource during this difficult time. Living with addiction in the family can be overwhelming. Practicing self-care is important for survival. Attending Alanon family group is one way to help the family cope with this disease. A common saying in Alanon is that it is important to "Place the oxygen mask on yourself first before you put it on someone else."
People are quick to judge an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol. They are often stereotyped. For example, the homeless man on the street, the drunk at the bar, or a prostitute. People may think that a person addicted to drugs or alcohol is a bad person. This is not true. Addiction is a disease, not caused by being a good or bad human being.
An Individual addicted to drugs and alcohol maybe closer to home than you think
• The young man in a fraternity that died of an oxycotin overdose.
• A 16-year-old girl died from alcohol poisoning after the prom.
• A 15-year-old girl died of a heroin overdose in the suburbs.
• An 18-year-old young man died of an accidental drug overdose in his bed.
For these young people we may hear the following comments: "My kids would never take drugs! Where did he get that? How did his parents not know? Oxy is just a pain killer how could that kill him? He must have been from a bad family. His family did not care enough to pay attention to his mental health. He probably had problems his entire life.
I'm glad my kids weren't friends with someone like him. What a loser. What kind of college is that? I'm glad my kid just drinks and smokes weed! At least my daughter just gets drunk she doesn't do drugs. My daughter said she never drinks. My son has too much going for him to consider taking drugs. If she has a drug problem why doesn't she just quit? That person is weak it only takes will power to quit."
These are some examples of people being judgmental without understanding the disease of drug and alcohol and addiction. The situation I am referring to is what happens to the family of the person struggling with addiction. Before jumping to conclusions and passing judgments on others it might be helpful to educate yourself and look at the other side of this painful situation. Addiction and alcoholism is a family disease and dealing with it effectively involves the whole family getting an understanding of the disease in order to deal with it as a united front. Individuals that are addicted to drugs and alcohol are typically bright smart people that are unfortunately affected by this cunning baffling and powerful disease.
It is important to remember that individuals that suffer with addiction can get help and learn to live in recovery. Living in recovery does not mean that relapses will not occur. Addiction is a life long disease. If a relapses occurs that individual can fight addiction and be in recovery again. I believe it is important never to give up hope. It is also essential for the family of a person struggling with the disease of addiction to go on with their lives.
Individual and family therapy can be a useful coping tool and a helpful resource during this difficult time. Living with addiction in the family can be overwhelming. Practicing self-care is important for survival. Attending Alanon family group is one way to help the family cope with this disease. A common saying in Alanon is that it is important to "Place the oxygen mask on yourself first before you put it on someone else."
Sabtu, 23 September 2017
Teach Kids to Think Rationally - A Good Start Is By Promoting Skepticism and Doubt
The scientific community and most inhabitants of the world's educated societies recently celebrated the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin. It was the 150th anniversary of his epic work, "On The Origin Of The Species." Have you mentioned this fact to your children and explaining the historic significance of Darwin to our understanding of who we are and how we got here? Is it clear to you why wellness devotees and biologists make a big deal of this occasion?
Consider that Darwin's influence on our world today is staggering. It boggles the mind to consider how one man had such far-into-the-future influence. Then again, being among the first (with Linnaeus) to describe the diversity of life as well as the phenomenon of natural selection can have that effect, especially considering that Darwin's work forms the basis of modern biology and evolutionary theory.
I find it odd and rather enjoyable in a schadenfreude sort of way to consider that Darwin is even more of a household word in non-scientific circles than might have been the case if not for creationists. Their demands for a god-driven explanation of evolution made Darwin a celebrity in his time and ever since. So, let's give the 6,000 year-old universe adherents a nod of recognition for calling attention to the great Charles Darwin when we celebrate these two milestones next year.
Was Darwin right about everything? Of course not. But, he sure did nail a few real biggies. One little known Darwinian error might have been his sense of evolution going forward. According to Steve Jones, a professor of genetics at University College in London, Darwin was almost entirely focused on looking back in time; he did little thinking ahead to what the future of the species might entail. One likely reason for this disinterest was his view of life as a stable phenomenon. Evolution was described as an extraordinarily slow process, one requiring tens of millions of years. Given this perspective, no great shifts were expected anytime soon. Yet, according to Professor Jones, A glance forward on the 200th anniversary of his birth shows how wrong he was. (See Darwin's Joyful Journey of Discovery, The Wall Street Journal, May 31-June 1, 2008, p. W12.)
How so, one might ask? Recent events give a clue.
Rising fuel prices, plus global warming and the usual mix of wars, toxic religions and natural disasters are leading some folks to wonder about the prospects for continued stability in the world, as well as to question the prospects for our species. Wellness promoters can go on about risk reduction and disease management, exercise and the like, but it might also be helpful to boost awareness of these larger issues. Maybe we should attempt to think ahead as carefully as Darwin looked back.
Consider the obvious - lots of people around the world are growing hungrier, crazier and angrier than usual. The above- noted rising fuel prices, global warming and wars, toxic religions and natural disasters interact and make things worse. It not only makes sense to try, every now and then, to put things into a wellness perspective - it might be imperative to do so. Let us at least test to see if those who care about thriving can relate to the masses struggling at surviving.
Let's review briefly the situation with regard to hunger, lunacy and anger as interrelated crises.
Let's start with hunger. Always a problem in some regions (e.g., Sub-Sahara Africa, most parts of Asia), hunger problems are spreading due to fuel costs, climate change and many other factors.
A six-year drought in Australia has eliminated rice exports. Coal is the fuel of choice in booming, industrializing China and India; this dirty power blackens the skies, chokes the inhabitants and inhibits agricultural production as consumption demands increase exponentially. Humans meanwhile reproduce like rabbits, but with a much deeper carbon footprint. Price increases for food, oil and other critical commodities have led to rioting in Haiti, Turkey and elsewhere. Will there be rebellions in our own cities?
Next, consider toxic religions. National leaders in Iran and elsewhere are suspected of taking seriously end-of-the- world religious prophesies, and some have or are close to obtaining nuclear weapons. (Iran's Ahmadinejad believes the Hidden Imam is coming to conquer the world for Islam; one can only guess what our own faith-based leader believes about The Rapture.) Leading contenders for president in the US, Senators Obama and McCain, have had to denounce pastors with whom they were associated or had sucked up to in the case of McCain, due to tirades that upset even the faithful.
Toxic religions that unleash terrorist fanatics raise a Darwinian-like question: Can we continue to adapt well to changing environments if we continue to suffer world leaders who truly believe in end-times prophesies, miracles, holy books, divine interventions and a wide variety of preposterous supernatural fables? What can we learn from Darwin and subsequent understandings about evolution that might enable us to transition from no-longer adaptive beliefs? Nearly all religious imprinting is passed along by intensive, continuous brainwashing and reinforcement throughout the formative years - that is, from birth to the late teens. Religious dogmas would be less credible than the adventures of Indiana Jones were it not for this near- universal, ingrained reinforcement, which Darwin expert Richard Dawkins has labeled mental child abuse.
What can wellness enthusiasts contribute to this dialogue? I recommend asking questions. Maybe a few deep thinkers can offer stimulating, thought-provoking replies for consideration. The Center for Inquiry in New York, for example, is sponsoring a review of many such questions. Their queries, all set to be addressed at an upcoming national conference, will probe the evolution of our reliance on religious beliefs and seek a shift toward reliance instead on evidence gained from scientific inquiry. (See Editorial: Retake the Moral High Ground, Free Inquiry, June, 2008.)
Among such questions are the following:
What are the origins of religion?
How to assess religious claims of truth based solely upon sacred writings?
What is modern science telling us about how we come to know ourselves and the world beyond?
What does it mean to lead a good life without God?
How do we develop a secular narrative able to compete with the promises of religion?
Any suggestions?
Let's not overlook income disparities. A rich/poor divide surely existed before Homo Sapiens emerged on the human tree. No doubt it has always been a comfort to be on the privileged side of this divide. However, the extent of the gulf between the haves and have-nots has rarely if ever been as great as it is today. Rural populations in developing nations have not fared well. In China, India, Russia and elsewhere, pockets of poverty contrast sharply with urban prosperity. The increase in oil prices has increased costs and scarcity of nearly everything, disproportionately affecting the poor. The effects include a loss of social cohesion and poorer prospects for future growth.
Paul Kurtz of Free Inquiry suggests that, humanity must reshape its use of natural resources...nations (must) rethink their cultivation and distribution of food...(and) retake on the nation's behalf the moral high ground that the current administration has so shamefully surrendered. So far, that kind of focus has been in short supply.
Let me summarize things. Rising fuel prices, global warming and the mix of wars, toxic religions and natural disasters will be even worse if we make it to 2050, when world population reaches nine billion. Think of it: At that time, half again the number of planetary inhabitants alive today will be seeking food, water and other resources. A lot of them are going to be really, really hungry, crazy and angry.
Everyone remembers or has become familiar with JFK's famous, Ask not... inauguration phrase, but that inspirational line was preceded by another comment that may be more consequential for our current challenge as wellness promoters. I refer to his request to join in the struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.
Consider that Darwin's influence on our world today is staggering. It boggles the mind to consider how one man had such far-into-the-future influence. Then again, being among the first (with Linnaeus) to describe the diversity of life as well as the phenomenon of natural selection can have that effect, especially considering that Darwin's work forms the basis of modern biology and evolutionary theory.
I find it odd and rather enjoyable in a schadenfreude sort of way to consider that Darwin is even more of a household word in non-scientific circles than might have been the case if not for creationists. Their demands for a god-driven explanation of evolution made Darwin a celebrity in his time and ever since. So, let's give the 6,000 year-old universe adherents a nod of recognition for calling attention to the great Charles Darwin when we celebrate these two milestones next year.
Was Darwin right about everything? Of course not. But, he sure did nail a few real biggies. One little known Darwinian error might have been his sense of evolution going forward. According to Steve Jones, a professor of genetics at University College in London, Darwin was almost entirely focused on looking back in time; he did little thinking ahead to what the future of the species might entail. One likely reason for this disinterest was his view of life as a stable phenomenon. Evolution was described as an extraordinarily slow process, one requiring tens of millions of years. Given this perspective, no great shifts were expected anytime soon. Yet, according to Professor Jones, A glance forward on the 200th anniversary of his birth shows how wrong he was. (See Darwin's Joyful Journey of Discovery, The Wall Street Journal, May 31-June 1, 2008, p. W12.)
How so, one might ask? Recent events give a clue.
Rising fuel prices, plus global warming and the usual mix of wars, toxic religions and natural disasters are leading some folks to wonder about the prospects for continued stability in the world, as well as to question the prospects for our species. Wellness promoters can go on about risk reduction and disease management, exercise and the like, but it might also be helpful to boost awareness of these larger issues. Maybe we should attempt to think ahead as carefully as Darwin looked back.
Consider the obvious - lots of people around the world are growing hungrier, crazier and angrier than usual. The above- noted rising fuel prices, global warming and wars, toxic religions and natural disasters interact and make things worse. It not only makes sense to try, every now and then, to put things into a wellness perspective - it might be imperative to do so. Let us at least test to see if those who care about thriving can relate to the masses struggling at surviving.
Let's review briefly the situation with regard to hunger, lunacy and anger as interrelated crises.
Let's start with hunger. Always a problem in some regions (e.g., Sub-Sahara Africa, most parts of Asia), hunger problems are spreading due to fuel costs, climate change and many other factors.
A six-year drought in Australia has eliminated rice exports. Coal is the fuel of choice in booming, industrializing China and India; this dirty power blackens the skies, chokes the inhabitants and inhibits agricultural production as consumption demands increase exponentially. Humans meanwhile reproduce like rabbits, but with a much deeper carbon footprint. Price increases for food, oil and other critical commodities have led to rioting in Haiti, Turkey and elsewhere. Will there be rebellions in our own cities?
Next, consider toxic religions. National leaders in Iran and elsewhere are suspected of taking seriously end-of-the- world religious prophesies, and some have or are close to obtaining nuclear weapons. (Iran's Ahmadinejad believes the Hidden Imam is coming to conquer the world for Islam; one can only guess what our own faith-based leader believes about The Rapture.) Leading contenders for president in the US, Senators Obama and McCain, have had to denounce pastors with whom they were associated or had sucked up to in the case of McCain, due to tirades that upset even the faithful.
Toxic religions that unleash terrorist fanatics raise a Darwinian-like question: Can we continue to adapt well to changing environments if we continue to suffer world leaders who truly believe in end-times prophesies, miracles, holy books, divine interventions and a wide variety of preposterous supernatural fables? What can we learn from Darwin and subsequent understandings about evolution that might enable us to transition from no-longer adaptive beliefs? Nearly all religious imprinting is passed along by intensive, continuous brainwashing and reinforcement throughout the formative years - that is, from birth to the late teens. Religious dogmas would be less credible than the adventures of Indiana Jones were it not for this near- universal, ingrained reinforcement, which Darwin expert Richard Dawkins has labeled mental child abuse.
What can wellness enthusiasts contribute to this dialogue? I recommend asking questions. Maybe a few deep thinkers can offer stimulating, thought-provoking replies for consideration. The Center for Inquiry in New York, for example, is sponsoring a review of many such questions. Their queries, all set to be addressed at an upcoming national conference, will probe the evolution of our reliance on religious beliefs and seek a shift toward reliance instead on evidence gained from scientific inquiry. (See Editorial: Retake the Moral High Ground, Free Inquiry, June, 2008.)
Among such questions are the following:
What are the origins of religion?
How to assess religious claims of truth based solely upon sacred writings?
What is modern science telling us about how we come to know ourselves and the world beyond?
What does it mean to lead a good life without God?
How do we develop a secular narrative able to compete with the promises of religion?
Any suggestions?
Let's not overlook income disparities. A rich/poor divide surely existed before Homo Sapiens emerged on the human tree. No doubt it has always been a comfort to be on the privileged side of this divide. However, the extent of the gulf between the haves and have-nots has rarely if ever been as great as it is today. Rural populations in developing nations have not fared well. In China, India, Russia and elsewhere, pockets of poverty contrast sharply with urban prosperity. The increase in oil prices has increased costs and scarcity of nearly everything, disproportionately affecting the poor. The effects include a loss of social cohesion and poorer prospects for future growth.
Paul Kurtz of Free Inquiry suggests that, humanity must reshape its use of natural resources...nations (must) rethink their cultivation and distribution of food...(and) retake on the nation's behalf the moral high ground that the current administration has so shamefully surrendered. So far, that kind of focus has been in short supply.
Let me summarize things. Rising fuel prices, global warming and the mix of wars, toxic religions and natural disasters will be even worse if we make it to 2050, when world population reaches nine billion. Think of it: At that time, half again the number of planetary inhabitants alive today will be seeking food, water and other resources. A lot of them are going to be really, really hungry, crazy and angry.
Everyone remembers or has become familiar with JFK's famous, Ask not... inauguration phrase, but that inspirational line was preceded by another comment that may be more consequential for our current challenge as wellness promoters. I refer to his request to join in the struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.
Jumat, 15 September 2017
Don't Let Your Child Become A Victim - Do An Education Background Check!
The lack of doing an education background check has let too many situations all over the schools of the United States. Teachers and principals with backgrounds of drug abuse, sexual perversions and other criminal behavior are all over our airwaves.
Kids just like yours go to school one day and their entire life changes because someone did not do their job when the teacher or principal was hired. This type of negligence in our public and private school systems is running rampant.
Schools claim they are screening everyone, but that system gets thrown out the window when there is a desperate need. Or perhaps a search doesn't get done because this teacher was referred by a good friend.
An education background check has to get done no matter who the person is or where they come from. Omitting this from the screening process for anyone that works with children, no matter what their age, is negligent and there isn't any excuse for not doing one.
All teachers and principals, regardless of who knows them or their educational background, need to have a thorough background screening done before they are even considered to be hired. And the type of screening should match the position for which they are being hired.
Anyone working with children or teens should have to pass a drug test as well as a thorough education background check which should include criminal screening. If the person will be handling money at all, then a credit check should be done as well.
Many teachers teach driver's education as an extra job after school. If that's the case, or if they will be driving kids on field trips or wherever, then they also need to have two other tests done. They should be subject to a department of motor vehicles check as well as a blood-alcohol testing.
If the school does not do that rigorous kind of screening, then I would find a reliable company online and run the check myself.
Kids just like yours go to school one day and their entire life changes because someone did not do their job when the teacher or principal was hired. This type of negligence in our public and private school systems is running rampant.
Schools claim they are screening everyone, but that system gets thrown out the window when there is a desperate need. Or perhaps a search doesn't get done because this teacher was referred by a good friend.
An education background check has to get done no matter who the person is or where they come from. Omitting this from the screening process for anyone that works with children, no matter what their age, is negligent and there isn't any excuse for not doing one.
All teachers and principals, regardless of who knows them or their educational background, need to have a thorough background screening done before they are even considered to be hired. And the type of screening should match the position for which they are being hired.
Anyone working with children or teens should have to pass a drug test as well as a thorough education background check which should include criminal screening. If the person will be handling money at all, then a credit check should be done as well.
Many teachers teach driver's education as an extra job after school. If that's the case, or if they will be driving kids on field trips or wherever, then they also need to have two other tests done. They should be subject to a department of motor vehicles check as well as a blood-alcohol testing.
If the school does not do that rigorous kind of screening, then I would find a reliable company online and run the check myself.
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