The idea for Wonder grew in R.J. after she and her younger son, then 3, were at an ice cream shop next to a child who had severe craniofacial differences — and her son cried in fear. Wanting to avoid hurting the little girl’s feelings, R.J. rushed to leave, spilling milkshakes and unintentionally creating a scene as she did so. “As I pushed the stroller away, I heard the mom say in as sweet and calm a voice as you can imagine, ‘Okay, guys, I think it’s time to go,’ ” R.J. says. “And that just got to me … what could I be teaching my children so they could understand how to respond better next time? I was disappointed in myself. I started writing Wonder that very night.”..
Nothing is stronger than gentleness.
“My mom gave me unconditional love,” says R.J. “I think that’s the one thing we can really do for our kids. Not to say that we have to be blind to their little quirks and faults, but it helps you in life.” Julia agrees, but adds, “I think some people confuse unconditional love with spoiling. None of my kids would think I have a problem with that distinction. I do love them unconditionally, and I try, when they do something wrong, to say, ‘This doesn’t change the amount of love in this house for you, but you’ve got to do your homework.’ Because I think that also makes a child feel safe.” The lesson is clear: Put kindness first, and the rest will follow…”
Wonder | Behind-the-Scenes Interviews – YouTube
Wonder Behind the Scenes – An Important Message (2018) | Movieclips Extras
Wonder [A Child’s Sense of Wonder]
True Stories
‘Wonder’ is real life for these two families By Jacqueline Howard, CNN Updated 8:39 PM ET, Sun November 19, 2017 cnn.com “…Although Auggie’s face and everyday experiences are imaginary, the lives of the some 600,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with a craniofacial condition in the United States are very much real — and 7-year-old Shane Vysocky and 13-year-old Emily Merrill are among them…
There’s beauty in everybody’
All in all, “Wonder” might shed light on how for children with craniofacial conditions and their families, social and emotional support have become an important part of medical treatment…”
I am Auggie Pullman by CCA Kids – YouTube
WONDER OFFICIAL TRAILER 2 | “AUGGIE” REACTS
Bringing ‘Wonder’ to Cleft and Craniofacial Patients and … – YouTube
Event helps kids with facial deformities feel ‘normal’ – YouTube
The reality of living with facial deformities – YouTube
My philosophy for a happy life | Sam Berns | TEDxMidAtlantic
TEDx Talks
Published on Dec 13, 2013
Never miss a talk! SUBSCRIBE to the TEDx channel: http://bit.ly/1FAg8hB
Just before his passing on January 10, 2014, Sam Berns was a Junior at Foxboro High School in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where he achieved highest honors and was a percussion section leader in the high school marching band. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Sam was diagnosed with Progeria, a rare, rapid aging disease, at the age of 2. He is featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Life According to Sam, which premiered on HBO on October 21, 2013, 2 days before his 17th birthday.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual
How do you define yourself? | Lizzie Velasquez | TEDxAustinWomen
Sal: While watching the movie, I was personally touched and started reflecting my own “personal challenges” growing-up as a kid. I was teased and bullied at times just because of being “different” in various ways. For example, I was “bullied” and teased because I look “oriental” . Peers would start pretending to do “karate” . I would get teased because of my “chubby cheeks” (one of the reasons to start “working out” and still to this day). I had a surgical line on my tummy and would be asked “what’s that?” (still being ask to this day!). I decided to do a blog , so I don’t have to constantly explain my appendicitis surgery that went “wrong” 😦 => Medical: Natural Alternatives to Appendicitis Removal? goodnewshealthandfitness.wordpress.com . I even started to search on ways on how to “hide” (e.g. would apply scar cream) or “get rid of this ” mark. Some people I met online explained to me just “own it” (as I watch the video above) as “scars” look “sexy” or it’s a reminder of how God got me through this “life challenge”.
Suicide Rates In America Are Up. By A Lot. – Newsy – YouTube
Newsy
Published on Apr 22, 2016 “Transcript:
The number of suicides in the U.S. has been steadily rising since 1999, especially among women.
Between 1999 and 2014, the overall suicide rate climbed 24 percent, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s a rate of 13 per 100,000 people.
While rates for males remained higher, suicide among females rose 45 percent.
And among young girls between the ages of 10-14, the rate rose 200 percent to 1.5 per 100,000 people, though the number of suicides within that group still remained comparatively low.
Women ages 45-64 had the second-largest increase: 63 percent to 9.8 per 100,000 people.
The CDC report doesn’t go into what could be behind the change, but it’s worth noting the greatest increases happened between 2006 and 2014 — during and after a major economic recession in the U.S.
Counselors with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline are available 24/7 to help those in crisis. The number is 1-800-273-TALK.”
Ever thought about “suicide”? Why ? What was going on in your life that might’ve gave you that thought. You might be actually “currently” thinking of it right now? I thought of it “a lot” growing-up when I was in my “pre-teen” years. Why? There were many reasons (e.g. bullied, family-life, life overall, etc..). Here are some other similar related stories..
What Leads To Suicide – YouTube
Why Do People Commit Suicide? – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNgLrHGymYc
Seeker
Published on Jun 19, 2013 ”
Global suicide rates are rising. In order to understand what’s going on, and how best to prevent this trend from continuing, Laci examines the underlying factors that lead people to take their own lives.”
The bridge between suicide and life | Kevin Briggs
TED
Published on May 14, 2014 “For many years Sergeant Kevin Briggs had a dark, unusual, at times strangely rewarding job: He patrolled the southern end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a popular site for suicide attempts. In a sobering, deeply personal talk Briggs shares stories from those he’s spoken — and listened — to standing on the edge of life. He gives a powerful piece of advice to those with loved ones who might be contemplating suicide.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.
Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate”
Why we choose suicide | Mark Henick | TEDxToronto
Sal: I’ve talked to some “friends’ out of suicide before , which I’ve learned to just “listen” and be always “open” for God to use me. However, it wasn’t like this all the time. During high school, I had 3 classmates (one was a former close friend of mine) from my class that committed suicide. It was very difficult for me back then and somewhat still to this day as I’ve wrestled with some “thoughts” of regret (see story of forgiveness) .
I witnessed a suicide | Joseph Keogh | TEDxPSUBehrend
Finding Hope?
I found “hope” when I got to college. Suicide thoughts became a non-issue for me as I found a personal relationship with God. My friends would tell me the “good news” and I saw a lot of joy and hope in their life, which drew me to want that same “thing” they had. I would later also get a “bigger” perspective of life by listening to other people’s “more” challenging life issues. I started to realize what I was going through was “less challenging” compared to others. I learned about the blessings I really had along, which I never thought about it until I reflected how much more “grateful” and “thankful” to God more of what I have despite the “challenges” I’ve faced.
Here are some other similar stories
Powerful Testimony | How God Saves from Suicide – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKOIXZKXqC0
Licy Be
Published on Jul 26, 2016 ”
A testimony of salvation and faith. Licy Be (www.licybe.com | @licybe) is now a Christian spoken word and rap artist from Kingdomcity in Perth, Australia. She has gone on to complete her Masters Degree in Applied Psychology and uses her faith and music to reach out to others who are broken and struggling with their mental health, depression and suicide.
Licy Be explains how God connects the dots in our lives and has a plan for us that is beyond our understanding. She also talks about how easy it can be to reach out to someone by faith and save a life.
You never know how your actions might affect the life of another person. God works in incredible ways and He desires to bring us closer to Him.
Suicide affects so many people, in fact 1 million people die by suicide each year. Licy Be is now on a mission in life to reach out to others struggling in order to show them that there can be hope in even the darkest of places.
A major focus of this testimony is to point people towards God, and services that are able to help at your time of need. If you need help right now, Licy Be currently partners with a number of suicide prevention and support organisations including Revolution Red & The Roar Effect (http://theroareffect.org), TheHopeLine (http://www.thehopeline.com), Youthline (http://www.youthline.co.nz), Lifeline WA (www.lifeline.org.au) and many more. It is intended that this testimony can be used as a tool around the world to raise awareness of suicide prevention via social media and other communications channels so anyone is welcome to share or use this video.
“
Can you fill the blank? What does your name mean to you? Have you ever been called “some other name” that you believed?…from a “bully”? teased/make fun of?
I remember being teased back in middle school/junior high and was called many names that I started to believe. For example, my physical features (e.g. “big eyes”, “Yoda”, “big nose”, “shorty”, “terrorist”, “you look like the enemy” (Persian Gulf War at the time), racist remarks , sexuality, etc..) weren’t the same with the people around me-who does anyways? -God has made us all uniquely-beautiful-and different! Can you relate? Feel free to boldly share your story down below or email me too.
Anyways, I started to believe in many of these “lies”..
“…Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget
Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief
My self-esteem just went lower and lower as I grew older. I would at times have “suicidal” thoughts and suffered depression. I went through a season where I even wished I was “white” like most of my peers. With all this, my hatred and anger grew, which I would keep to myself and was anti-social.
I slowly grew out of the lies starting my college years when I had a “spiritual awakening” (see personal testimony). My low self-esteem didn’t disappear overnight, but it slowly faded away as I grew in my faith and my found identity as a “child of Him (Heavenly Father)…
“…And I have believed them for the very last time…..
…Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed,
And I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life
One last thought is we need to be careful what you put above God (e.g idols). I used to struggle with this (e.g. sports, music, celebrities, etc..), which I can share the “negative effects” on another blog topic. This will affect one’s identity, which will give you a false belief.
*NOTE: I’m not trying to be the “angel” (righteous) here, but I’ve had my share of being the “devil”. I’ve teased others too or said things that might’ve “offended” them, which some has boldly reminded me. If I have and I don’t know it, please forgive me and let me know (in person if possible or via email, phone, etc..) too! I want to learn from my mistakes.
There sits today in rulership of this fallen world order one who has grown ancient in evil, cunning in subtlety, and cruel in deceit. He waged the first war of the universe in the distant planet called heaven, and subsequently brought conflict to this little world we call earth as it spins on the outer edges of the milky-way galaxy. He filled all heaven with discord and the earth with death, and both with great sorrow. He deceptively challenged every transparent purpose of the Creator, and even coveted the throne of the Eternal, planning to either assume rule of the universe or if not, then to plunge it into chaos and ruin.
This menacing figure who has hijacked our planet well explains the presence of every conflict that disturbs our world today, every pestilence that afflicts humanity, every sorrow and pain and death that tortures the children of earth. Lucifer, the former covering cherub and one-time honorable prime minister of the angelic intelligences in Heaven, has become Satan, the great adversary of our smitten world. This powerful angel heads a vast army of unseen intelligences, the hosts of darkness who oppose in this world, every beneficent purpose of our Creator the Almighty God of the universe. He especially hates the Holy One who in great condescension assumed our human nature that He might by divine power destroy the works of Satan, conquer evil and lift the terrible sentence of eternal death from our fallen race.
To speak of a throne of evil controlling this world system is no mere figure of speech, it is a grim reality. And the occupant of that throne is no figment of anyone’s imagination. Jesus Christ ascribes to him the title of “prince of this world.” John 14: 30. The famed Christian apostle Paul describes him as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.” Eph. 2: 2. Paul also warns us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood , but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness…” Eph 6:12 John the Revelator describes this foe as “the great dragon,” “that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan who deceives the whole world.” Rev. 12:9.
When the leader of revolt against the Eternal Creator was expelled from heaven, expelled along with him were many other angel intelligences who had yielded to his cunning sophistries and had joined in his unworthy rebellion. This world is today their singular abode. This is because that tremendous event, which rid heaven of the fallen hosts, was followed by the tragic fall of our first parents under Satan’s lies. This historic fall let loose legions of fallen angels to bend all of their efforts and genius over many thousands of years in the work of spoiling, corrupting and ruining the once noble human family, originally created to be the crown of God’s handiwork. A key element of the strategy to ruin humanity has been to lead man to blight and degrade the fair earth that was intended to be our perfect and eternal home.
The apostle Peter warns us “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 Finally, the inspired revelator says ” Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” Rev. 12:12.”
So…what “lies” have you believed? Feel free to share down below your thoughts of any of the content above. Remember, you not alone! Lastly, do you believe them still? Why or why not?
I’ve been practicing the last month or so the lines of Jafar from “Aladdin” (theatrical play performance), which our performance (see “My first theatrical experience (Aladdin the Musical at the Park)”) will be this coming weekend (Friday & Saturday evenings) at a local park. It’s been a challenging character as I’ve had to act “selfishly”, which is something I’ve been trying to do the “opposite” since I became a Christian in my early college years. However, it’s been a fun role as I can relate to this character in various ways when I was younger.
We all can relate somehow to Jafar. Here is some lines that I thought of myself during my “junior high/middle school” years..
“…I was unappreciated by my peers. As their slings and arrows flew. I would ponder. Why me? Why Me?…–broadwayjr.com
Instead of “pondering/dwelling” on how bad you might’ve got it growing up in your “earlier” years. I encourage you to think about others that might’ve got it “worse/more challenging”. This has helped me overcome my frustration of my “past”, which I feel has been a “cake walk” when I compare it with others that have had more difficulties…
I currently work with physically-mentally challenged adults and have been since I graduated from college. This job experience has really changed me to be a “better” person and it has taught me to take my eyes off of “myself” (e.g. own problems). Before I go to bed, I write down a list of “needs” I’ve read/watch/heard as a prayer request and then I jot down a list of what “I’m thankful” for. This nightly routine has also helped me to take my eyes of myself/me too!
What are your needs? Can I pray for you? What are you thankful for? Feel free to share down below to encourage others..
I decided to write a blog on this topic after reading a post a “friend” (former high school classmate) shared on facebook concerning our former high school alma mater..
Just from my “personal experiences” (e.g. job with physically-mentally challenged youth-adults), I personally don’t think the teacher should’ve “touched” that kid that wasn’t supposed to be walking around the hallways…
“A student walks down a Harding High hallway wearing headphones, chanting along to violent rap lyrics. Teacher Erik Brandt taps him on the shoulder. Turn it down, he gestures.
The kid stares at Brandt with chilling intensity. He points at the older man, fingers bent in the shape of a gun, and shoots. Then moves on….”
Just from my personal experiences with the work I do, I’ve learned to “try” to be seen and “verbally” gesture the individual first. Later in the article, the student replied during a
dialogue (very important after any “misunderstanding” that could’ve led to a “physical” serious confrontation) ..
“…The boy and Brandt sat down together face to face. Brandt expressed how he’d felt disrespected. The student explained his own perception of “respect” — he doesn’t like being touched….”
I don’t know the “exact” background of this boy, but people who have been “abused” in the past don’t like this either.
CHALLENGES
10 Major Challenges Facing Public Schools
Updated March 03, 2015 | by Grace Chen publicschoolreview.com “Are our public schools in a state of crisis? Learn about the 10 biggest problems with public schools today, both from the perspective of the administrators and the teachers…
The rank of the 10 probably varies region to region of the state, nation, or world. How would you rank the 10 the author of the blog above gives? Would you add or subtract any?
There are numerous challenges threatening the stability and survival of public schools across the country. ..
Hardship and Family Issues
…One of the biggest problems though is the refusal of parents to collaborate with school administrators and teachers to provide for needs of children. ..
The Biggest Challenges Facing Students Today
*teacher role is to not teach students “what” to think, but “how”!
Violence Against Teachers – An Overlooked Crisis?
By Tim Walker
February 19, 2013 • 11:16AM neatoday.org “According to a recent article published by the American Psychological Association (APA), 80 percent of teachers surveyed were victimized at school at least once in the current school year or prior year. Violence against teachers is a “national crisis,” says Dr. Dorothy Espelage of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who served as chair of the APA task force on Classroom Violence Directed at Teachers. And yet, the issue is generally ignored or at least underreported by the media and given inadequate attention by scholars – a deficiency that has widespread implications for school safety, the teaching profession and student learning….” Teachers experience a growing number of angry, abusive parents
September 14, 2013 kansascity.com “..Whether they work in poor urban districts or affluent suburban ones, experts say, teachers and administrators are increasingly becoming punching bags and targets of verbal abuse by students as well as their parents…” 9th Grade Student Attacks Teacher For Giving Her A Failing Grade from youtube.com
Violence Against Teachers and School Staff April 14th, 2008 7:09 am ET blogs.cdc.gov “..Because of an increase in the prevalence of school-based policies aimed at reducing violence in youth and recent reports suggesting that teachers and other school staff may face daily threats of workplace violence, NIOSH was prompted to examine risk factors and prevention polices and practices for workplace violence for K-12 school staff. Recent data demonstrates that teachers experience 39 crimes per 1,000 teachers (25 thefts and 14 violent crimes) and the true rate may be much higher since most incidents go unreported. As recent media reports have illustrated, this is a troubling problem affecting school personnel in elementary, middle and high schools across the nation…
Violence in Schools Comes From Teachers Too August 20, 2014 By Samantha Cowan takepart.com “Research has shown corporal punishment to be ineffective and even harmful, yet 19 states still allow teachers to spank students…”
Q: As a teacher, have you been “abused”? Feel free to share your story (anonymously or non)…
-Family Structure
Family Challenges: Divorce, Blended Families & Family Violence
Chapter 11 / Lesson 5 study.com “..The following lesson covers some of the more challenging issues a growing number of families are currently facing, including divorce, blending of families, and abuse. A short quiz will follow the lesson to check your understanding…”
Children from immigrant families ‘face significant challenges’ in UK schools theguardian.com “…The phenomenon is illustrated by statistics in the latest Education at a Glance report, which found that 80% of children of immigrant families in the UK were being taught in schools with large numbers of other immigrant or disadvantaged pupils – the highest proportion of any country in the survey and significantly above the OECD average of 68%…”
Education challenges for Syrian refugees Andrea Mitchell Reports 12/22/14 msnbc.com “NBC’s Keir Simmons spent months documenting the lives of Syrian refugees who’ve been displaced by the civil war, and shares more of their stories in his continuing series, “Faces of War.” Duration: 5:29
-Poverty
Combating Poverty: Understanding New Challenges for Families By: Ron Haskins Testimony | June 5, 2012 brookings.edu “…Figure 1 shows poverty trends since the 1960s for the elderly, children, and all people. After some initial progress in the 1960s, and continuing progress for the elderly, the nation has made surprisingly little progress against poverty. The nation’s inability to reduce children’s poverty is especially troublesome. A review of the leading causes of poverty shows why trends in the economy, demography, and education make progress against poverty so difficult to achieve. ..”
By Laura Klein wnyc.org “…Danny failed his state exams, which consigned him to summer school this year. In all likelihood, he has a learning disability, but without parental consent he was never formally evaluated. Our documentation of interventions and testing didn’t lead to him getting the Individualized Education Program that he likely needs.
This is a sad story, but it is a common and untold one; students who should be classified as having a disability and eligible for services that support and assist them often aren’t.
In my school, the most common reason is a lack of parental consent. And so the years go by, and students slip further and further behind, struck down daily by the barriers that have not been adequately evaluated…”
By Javier Espinoza, Education Editor telegraph.co.uk
12:01AM BST 04 Apr 2015
Schools must push for “zero tolerance” policies on teachers being bullied by students, a top schools union has said “.. “Verbal abuse is one of the most devastating things that teachers can face. It can be incredibly abusing: from swearing, to comments on their appearance and it is not being taken seriously by schools.”
She said practical steps need to be taken to tackle this form of abuse. Ms Keates said: “Every school should have a zero tolerance policy on verbal abuse. As soon as pupils abuse teachers verbally, they should be summing the parents to the school and make clear to them it could lead to permanent exclusion.
“There is only a small step from being verbally abused to being physically abused.” ..”
How to prevent & stop bullying in schools – uTip Bully Buster from bully-buster.com Back to School: How to Stop the Cycle of Bullying
Paul Coughlin Contributing Writer, Author, Speaker 2011 30 Aug “…Bystanders should treat cyber bullying the same way they should treat face-to-face bullying. They should stand against it. Imagine if two or three people saw a classmate being bullied on Facebook and they intervened with assertive but non-violent words such as, “That’s wrong. Leave her alone.” Bullies aren’t planning on dealing with multiple people. They are likely to stop what they’re doing…
Support (volunteer or financially donate) your local schools as “many hands makes the work easier”..
Sal: I started as a volunteer in 2004 at the local school (see Morris Literacy Project) where I’m at helping teach GED and ESL students, which has become a part-time job now after going back to school to get a “Teaching Certificate” for ESL.
How Nutrition Affects Learning https://youtu.be/197eUaQQkhQ “…
• Make sure your child eats breakfast before going to school. This will give him energy to start his day and help reduce hunger throughout the day.
• Prepare a healthy lunch for him to take to school if you feel the school menu is not providing good choices for your child to maintain a healthy diet. Check the school menu daily to be sure your child will eat the choices provided. Discuss the menu with your child.
• Send your child to school with healthy snacks like natural fruits, vegetables and nuts he can eat between classes.”… Feeding the Brain for Academic Success: How Nutrition and Hydration Boost Learning healthybrainforlife.com “..Nutrition and hydration are part of a foundation for healthy learning. Helping students make healthier choices is an essential part of their education and well-being. What can educators do to help create an optimal internal environment?..”
July 01, 2014 6:54 PM voanews.com “…That’s why schools across the U.S., such as Lincoln Elementary in Redondo Beach, California, have instituted programs like the “walking school bus,” in which kids carry a large cardboard cutout of a school bus and join other kids along the way.
Parents see it as a way to get the kids exercising in the morning, while kids see it as a way to have fun and talk to their friends on the way to school.
Experts say parents and schools have to find ways to keep kids active, even if they are participating in interactive exercise programs, like the WII Fit jogging program…”
-Immigrant/Refugee Students
A Look at Immigrant Youth: Prospects and Promising Practices, from ncsl.org “..The United States is facing an unprecedented challenge in serving immigrant youth. Today’s immigrants arrive from widely diverse source countries, and are increasingly likely to resettle in nontraditional states and in rural communities, areas that often have the least experience and/or infrastructure to help students learn English and adapt to their new schools and neighborhoods. With immigration levels sustained at well over one million arrivals per year, immigrant students are entering public schools in record numbers. This has tremendous implications for program development, curricula, and funding… ]A Resource Guide for Educating Refugee Children … p12.nysed.gov
The Benefits of Music Education -Riff Academy Homeschool Music Curriculum
-Model Schools (more positive?)
Public education success story for inner-city kids
CBS NewsJanuary 21, 2015, 7:00 AM cbsnews.com “…At the Bronx school, every student’s day begins with breakfast and a town hall meeting where students get to discuss with administrators school announcements and any issues they are having — one of many things that sets Eagle apart from other public schools….
Sheridan, the oldest of six, lives in a violent and crime-ridden neighborhood in the North Bronx. Like 67 percent of black children in America, he has grown up in a single-parent home….
Students must wear uniforms, each boy gets paired with a mentor from the community, school days are longer to avoid idle time on the streets, and the kicker:
“No girls, and it makes a huge difference,” Banks said. “I think to be able to come to a place where they don’t have to worry about competing for girls, or getting dressed up for girls, they can be very focused on their school work. Many of our young men, other schools would shy away from. But we admit all of these young men and we say we will put all of them in there together and will get everybody to the finish line.”…
New Orleans to be home to nation’s first all-charter school district, April 4, 2014 8:00AM ET Updated April 9, 2014 12:28PM ET
by Dexter Mullins america.aljazeera.com ‘…He has been teaching for two years and teaches eighth grade, working with students in a special education program. He opted to work with Teach for America — a program for recent college graduates — and the organization placed him in a charter school. He said his job would have been much more challenging if he had to work in a public school because, he said, he wouldn’t have had the same level of financial and professional support.
“The biggest difference is that the teachers [in charter schools] are more motivated and there are more resources” to get the job done, Brown said.
He acknowledged that it is common for a charter school to be allocated more money than a traditional public school, since charter schools often receive private funding from wealthy foundations or major corporations while public schools rely on funding drawn from the local tax base. He would like to see a better balance between the two systems…”
Fate had dropped Palmer’s son into the TDSB’s award-winning Model Schools for Inner City program, which fills many of the gaps facing students in the city’s most high-needs neighborhoods.
“They have a medical centre on-site once a week, which is amazing when you’re on a strict budget, because sometimes you can’t afford the $10 to take your kids back and forth to the clinic,” said Palmer.
Her son signed up for free basketball, soccer and martial arts offered after school. All kindergarten students received social skills training in workshops offered by a child development agency.
..”
“..Silence isn’t something people usually associate with middle school, but twice a day the halls of Visitacion Valley School in San Francisco fall quiet as the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students meditate for fifteen minutes. ..” Canadian School’s Solution to Daily Prayer: Just Put Non-Christians in a Separate Classroom
May 6, 2012 by Hemant Mehta patheos.com “…They will continue to recite the Lord’s Prayer… and just segregate all non-Christians into a different classroom.
No, really….”
School Prayer Both Sides of the Coin freepages.religions.rootsweb.ancestry.com “…I thinks kids should continue to pray at their desks if they want. If kids want to have a pre-school prayer group, they should be allowed to. There is plenty of time before and after school for them to organize into their own groups unsolicited or unpromoted by the school system. If kids want to hear a crusade and permission slips are given by the parents I feel it should be allowed. But be prepared for religions other than Baptist and Methodist to ask for the same opportunity to reach these kids. …. How to Get Prayer Back in Schools ebony.com
[OPINION] Jamilah Lemieux responds to critics who blame ‘lack of prayer’ for the Connecticut school tragedy
*see school Shootings “…In all seriousness, my personal spiritual beliefs make it hard to reconcile the idea that God is launching an attack on children at school because they don’t take the time to pray as a class. People who pray, worship and serve a higher power as they see fit are often the victims of violence, illness, tragedy and strife. We can’t say that the Sandy Hook killings would never take place at a Baptist or Catholic school….
No, the teacher isn’t going to announce “Prayer time!” after recess, but your child can absolutely take a moment for personal worship during the school day. He or she may also read the Bible (or Qur’an or Torah or any other religious text) during personal free time.
If your child knows how to pray, she doesn’t need the teacher to require her to do so. In fact, many children from religious backgrounds pray throughout the school day. If you so desire that your kids take the time to do so everyday, then that should be a conversation for your household. Perhaps you can send your little ones to school with a small notebook where they keep track of their daily prayer times and/or you can pencil it in on their daily schedule organizers.
The separation between church and state is too often ignored by those who feel that the freedom of others to practice that which they take moral issue with is a violation of their sacred texts. What we must remember is that this a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, etc, etc. And even within the major religions, there is no universal agreement about how God moves or what is required of His followers. For us to peacefully co-exist in this country, we cannot waste time demanding that federal law bends to accommodate our spiritual ones. The Constitution provides you the right to worship as you see fit and protects your ability to do so. Instead of blasting our country for failing to force religion upon its citizens, be grateful that you have the freedom to practice the one of your choosing. You want prayer in schools? Teach your children how to do it.”
Solutions in Special Education-
Smart districts use tech-based approaches to keep special education requirements from draining staff
By:
Lisa Fratt
District Administration, Jun 2005 districtadministration.com “…Technology-based special education management certainly improves special education; however, the next level of software implementation promises to have an even greater impact. “The most exciting part about this is where we are headed,” Dempsey says. The software gives the district the ability to link instruction to special education outcomes. If research indicates a given curriculum is a good approach for high-functioning learning disabled kids, the district can analyze standardized test results to determine how students taught with that curriculum perform compared to kids taught with other methods. As test results are linked with instructional practices the district can connect the dots and use data to deliver staff development and training and make budget decisions based on student outcomes. ..”
Learning Strategies, Teaching Solutions, Taking Learning to the Next Level: Found Here!
Top 10 Resources for Special Education Teachers online.sju.edu “..In addition to advanced training and professional certification, there are plenty of helpful online resources for new and creative teaching tools and techniques. Here are ten of the best resources for special education teachers today:..”
Please feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, feedback, stories, etc.. to help all of us improve our educational system locally, regionally, nationally, and globally!
*Note: This is such a long on-going topic, so information will continue to change…keep coming back for new additional resources!
I watched the anticipating movie “Unbroken” the other day (CHRISTmas) with my parents (my grandfather was captured as a POW as a “Filipino” civilian and survived as a cook) and still absorbing the personal messages from this inspirational movie in this season in my life. I was first introduced to this real-life story (Laura Hillenbrand’s “Unbroken”) by Neil, pastor of Harvest Community Church (Fargo, ND) and host to a weekly morning Bible study-fellowship group I attend in Morris, who gave me to read and share with one of my friends (college student from Japan renter) years ago. Unfortunately, my renter wasn’t interested in reading this book, but was inspired by the story. I got more interested in this story when Neil shared about this book was going to be movie on facebook. I’ve been looking forward to this movie since this Spring and now anxious to share about it with others.
Zamperini’s life story has taught me many life virtues (e.g. perseverance, gratefulness, commitment, and forgiveness) in this point of my life, which I’ll try to share as many of them down below. One of them is perseverance, which the stories…
Unbroken Raft Scenes Louis Zamperini WW2 – YouTube
*After watching the sequel this evening (10.4.18), I reflect on this scene and God did answer Zamperini’s prayer through the Japanese boat that “rescued” Zamperini & his comrades from the raft.
Unbroken (9/10) Movie CLIP – Don’t Look at Me! (2014) HD
… he shared of what he endured during WWII is very inspirational. I’ve read many stories from that war, which has helped me to not complain and be more grateful no matter what challenges I’m facing in my life. The sacrifices many soldiers faced (including my own parents’ country-Philippines-> Filipino Military–Bataan Uncensored Paperback – December, 1991, a must read book!) during that war helped my generation to reap the blessings we have right now. It’s important to never forgot our own history (U.S., Philippines, and any other nation), so we won’t take for granted what we are blessed with.
“If you get me through this I swear I’ll dedicate my whole life to you. Please”-Louis Zamperini (from briandoddonleadership.com)
I made a similar promise to God (Heavenly Father) before giving my life to Him back in the winter of 1996. I went skiing at a ski resort (Andes Tower Hills in Kensington, Minnesota). I went down hill skiing with a bunch of college friends (international students) and wanted to show off, so I just jumped on this chair life not knowing how far and big the hill I would be down hill skiing at. Well, when I got to the top, I realize this was higher than I thought and already forgot how to ski. I haven’t gone down hill skiing for years (should’ve gone on the smaller hill or bunny hill to get some practice). Well, this would be called, “Pride before the fall”. There was no way down but to go with my skis, so I had to fall 4x or so to finally decided to walk (after feeling my knee really swollen or hurt). I went to the ER at the local hospital (Morris, MN) and was at the X-Ray room. The doctor took an X-Ray and left the room by myself. This was when I had my “first” BIG encounter with God. I was more concerned about the financial cost of the medical expense than what happened to me physically. I then just called out to God and told Him-“God, if your real. Heal me and I”ll follow You”. Well, the doctor came back and told me that I didn’t break anything, which would be the beginning of my journey of faith (see testimony) Ever made a promise (e.g. Matthew 5:37-“Let your yes, be “YES”) with God, family, friends, etc…? I challenge and encourage you to “follow-through”!
I read and heard many stories of the atrocities in World War II and many wars before and after. Even though this movie just showed one perspective of one American’s experience. The torture that he and many others out there is very “inhumane”. Unfortunately, we as a county didn’t learn from this and still use this to this day (e.g. Shocking cases in CIA report reveal an American torture program in disarray – Spencer Ackerman in New York Tuesday 9 December 2014 ) This is an embarrassment as a nation to this world as we “preached” against inhumanitarian acts of other nations (e.g. North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, etc..).
In my response to what our nation has done and even myself (I too have “wrong” people in different ways and levels due to sin)…”forgive them for they do not know what they do”. Zamperini’s story can be applied with what’s going on today (e.g. Ferguson-we need to forgive each other for the wrong that’s been done to one another). There are “good” and “bad” cops-same with any group of people. We can’t “judge” or “stereotype” (e.g. NOT all Somolians are “evil” as the movie “Black Hawk Down” might stereotype these people group) any group because of the actions of a “few” of a group of people (e.g. race, nationality, political party, religion, institution, etc..) The real “enemy” is satan and his cronies (demons) that try to deceive and divide the human race to “fight” one another. It’s God’s love that is shared in the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ behind the message of Zamerini’sforgiveness!
Is there someone out there that has hurt (e.g. abuse) you in the past? Just as Zamperini had one-the “Bird”-was a “bully” or “tormentor” while he was Prisoner of War. When Zamperini went home after the war, he was like many veterans that would suffer from PTSD. He would have nightmares, which I too had them at times growing-up for different reasons. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Well, Zamperini started to sleep better after his “encounter” with God at a Billy Graham Crusade and forgave his “enemy” (abuser, bully, etc..). Have you forgave that individual(s) that hurt you in the past? It’s not easy, right? You can’t do it on your own because you need that strength from God alone, which I personally (e.g. my own bully story) got when I gave my life to Him.
Reviews
How True is UNBROKEN the movie?
Interviews
WWII hero and alumnus Louis Zamperini visits USC Annenberg class
USC Annenberg
Published on Mar 3, 2011
Feb. 23, 2011: World War II hero, Olympic runner and USC alumnus Louis Zamperini visited adjunct journalism professor Jeff Fellenzer’s JOUR 380 class to discuss his story of survival, perseverance and forgiveness.
Remembering the “Unbroken” spirit of Louis Zamperini
“Unbroken’s” Louis Zamperini: The Rest of the Story
After ‘Unbroken’ – Louis Zamperini ‘Captured By Grace’
Billy Graham Australia & New Zealand
Published on Jan 22, 2015
After his return from WWII, Louis Zamperini was tormented by the memories of what he had experienced. Post traumatic stress led to depression and alcoholism. About to lose his marriage, Louis went to a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles, in 1948 and gave his life to Christ.
Part 2-Sequel
UNBROKEN 2 Official Trailer (2018) Path to Redemption, Movie HD …
-Addiction
Improving our understanding of alcohol and drug addiction hazelden.org “..What counts is embracing that moment of clarity when we realize that our lives are a mess and that we must change. Or else. And then taking action. Zamperini changed his life, and in the next 60-plus years, his story has inspired millions of people to overcome the adversity of their personal demons.
A few days after he died, another story made headlines, this one in The New York Times. It was about alternatives to the “mainstream” approach to fighting addiction through 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
From new medications to advances in science to innovative therapy, the choices people struggling with substances have are more plentiful than ever today, including pathways that aren’t based on abstinence or faith in a higher power…”
SWITCHFOOT – You Found Me – Unbroken: Path To Redemption (Official Music Video)
Louis Zamperini at ’58 San Francisco Crusade – YouTube
Louie Zamperini: The Power of Forgiveness by Laura HillenbrandFrom – Posted on Dec 29, 2010 guideposts.org
Louie Zamperini’s story of survival and redemption will astound and inspire you.
“..On the second night, Graham asked people to step forward to declare their faith. Louie stood up and stormed toward the exit. But at the aisle, he stopped short.
Suddenly he was in a flashback, adrift on the raft. It hadn’t rained in days, and he was dying of thirst. In anguish, he whispered a prayer:
“If you will save me, I will serve you forever.”
… Over the raft, rain began falling. Standing in Graham’s tent, lost in his flashback, Louie felt the rain on his face.
At that moment Louie began to see his whole ordeal differently. When he’d been trapped in the wreckage of his plane, somehow he’d been freed. When the Japanese bomber had shot the raft full of holes, somehow none of the men had been hit….”
If you have read this book or watched the movie, curious-what was your famous line/quote/scene in the movie? why? what did you learn? How are you applying it in your life to this day?
“Movie theater in Oakdale, Minnesota where I saw the movie “Unbroken” with parents on CHRISTmas Day“
Book
Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken – Audiobook Excerpt
Unbroken A World War II Story of Survival Resilience and Redemption Audiobook 1
4:00 (Chapter 11) “No One Will Survive” (movie scene of Green Hornet crash)
4:38 (Chapter 12) Life Boats-1st prayer since a kid
4:41 (Chapter 13) “water” from sky (drinking)
5:07 (Chapter 14)” if drop of water to drink..I’ll dedicate” (prayed)
5:10-17(Chapter 15) Sharks (bomber shooting movie scene)
*a miracle (4x bomber swept through and missed the 3 guys on the raft)
Unbroken Summary – Chapters 15-17 – supersummary.com http://www.supersummary.com/component/content/article/50-plot-summary-of-unbroken?start=6
Chapter Fifteen: Sharks and Bullets. On the twenty-seventh day of their journey on the water, a Japanese bomber flies over. … Miraculously, it did not explode and a single bullet hit no one. Sharks … Louie managed to patch the bullet holes in the one raft that wasn’t totally damaged. … They were trying to attack Louie.
5:36 “Max” Death: Louis prayer promise
5:50 “Japanese” taking them (close to escaping to an island):given plenty of food (coconut, chocolate, etc..)
“can’t guarantee your survival after going to “massacre island”
5:59 “prison place”
PART IV (KWAJALEIN – EXECUTION ISLAND ) https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/KWAJALEIN-EXECUTION-ISLAND-Unbroken-Louis-Zamperini-Story
Chapter 18
6:14 interrogation (D, E. model of Bomber)
6:17 Kamura (Christian) kind, would give candy to them 🙂
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/B-24s-IN-COMBAT-Unbroken-Louis-Zamperini-Story
August (been gone since May)
6:20-Biological test: Coconut syringe
*see
Aug 24th (interrogation)
decided not to be killed
Aug 26th 1943-Taken to Yokohama (Karamura never seen)
Chapter 15 “200 Silent Men”
6:30-saw friend from USC (Japanese traitor, navy interrogation camp)
Ifuna Camp
6:44-Japanese prisoner guard (Hirosei) had sympathy to POW’s and would “fake” beating.
http://www.thinkingchristian.net/posts/2011/08/unbroken-a-world-war-ii-story-of-survival-resilience-and-redemption/
“…At this point I want to take you on a different kind of flashback. Early in his captivity, Zamperini had received the risky grace of a Japanese prison guard who had greeted him with the discreet question, “You Christian?” Zamperini told him he was. The guard answered, “I Christian too.” This Christ-following Japanese soldier took every opportunity to secretly supply Zamperini and other prisoners with extra food.
Zamperini’s response to the guard’s question intrigues me, for there was nothing in his early history to suggest any church involvement. The way he had discovered he could run when he was a boy was by running from people he had stolen from, and from the law, for he was an inveterate thief. His criminal ways ended when he embarked on his running career in high school, but not because of any new moral insight—he just found a different route to satisfying his desires. So when the guard asked him, “You Christian?,” his yes answer probably had a lot more to do with culture than with spiritual reality….”
General Harris (escaped Corregidor occupation, captured in Indonesia by “natives’, etc..)
7:08 -Zamperini was found out to be an olympic runner (movie scene: forced to race)
7:10-green sauce injection (Mensaus was intended to be killed)
*see Biological https://www.facebook.com/groups/392960060797791/
-Garret (new P.O.W.) shares how he was in the same cell that Zamperini was at (17 others killed in that same island)
7:17 (sin suji-POW camp with American Red Cross regulations)
*fake, but a coal camp
7:21 (Chapter 21)
July 13th-Louis captured (same day mother sent a letter to Air Force commander to search for Louis)
7:32: Fortune teller tells Harris survived
*see https://www.facebook.com/SalPhotoVideography/photos/a.780611395287068.1073741907.443035202378024/930969090251297/?type=3&theater
7:43 “Kill all” (POW’s-5K Koreans) command-afraid Koreans would ally with Americans after Saipan lost (allowing bombers to bomb Japan)
7:51 “Doolittle raid” (escape plan cancelled due to warning of POW’s going to be executed for every escapee)
7:54 “Quack” found maps Harris hided in bed
was beaten for over an hour
Chapter 23 “Monster” (Bird)
7:57 Zamperini moved to a new camp
Chapter 24
8:16 “Bird”
8:33 Kano (compassionate Japanese guard…would tell guards to look away when POW’s were eating from the garden)
radio broadcast was only heard in South Africa (took 3 months to finally get to California due to misunderstanding of name and address)
8:37 (Chapter 25-B24)
8:48 Postman Calls (Louis alive)
B29 flying to taking pics (hope)
9:03 (Chapter 26)
Radio station changed broadcast …propoganda
(kept alive for propoganda -to embarrass America…serviced “American-style”-tempting-meal at a diner..movie scene)
Nov 27th-B29 Bombers came in bunches
9:29 “Bird” leaving (movie scene)…reign of terror over
Chapter #27-“Falling Down”
“KILL ALL” P.O.W.’s in Palawaan, Philippines…gasoline poured on soldiers in grave “massacre”….11 only escaped. 😦
American landing as false
CAMP NAOETSU http://www.northchinamarines.com/id35.html
9:38 “moved to another camp” due to bombing in Tokyo…witness bombed city as they transferred on a rail train to a snowy place
March 2nd 1945
“Bird” waiting for him
9:50
forced to clean pig place after being a “cleanliness” freak (used listerine after kissing girls)
10:06 (Chapter 29-200 punches)
U.S. Bomb raid by lone steel mill
Germany fell
naritsu
Louis leg healed to do coal work
Bird sick (fed bm)
10:24 moved to another camp to be “executed” (final order)
10:29 Louis holding beam in 37 minutes (movie scene)
826 B29’s raid
napalm being dropped
leaflets dropped to warn citizens to leave from the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
10:38 “Hiroshima bomb dropped (10x the light of the sun) “little boy” (tibbits) lead taste from his mouth melting from radiation emitting
Chapter #31
Hiroshima was hit by “chlorea”
one bomb hit the city (atomic-unfamiliar)
Aug. 9th 1945-Nagasaki hit by atomic bomb
“The Bird” left to prepare new camp after Louis had nightmares of him
Louis 22 bm’s
berry berry
teaching English to “bad eye” (How are you?.what the F*&% you care?)
no electricity
10:40 WAR is over
routine of walking to forrest
Aug 20th-white sky
10:52 asked POW’s to fight the “red” that took some island
announcement to bathe in river (movie scene)..engine came by (overcast sky)..torpedo bomber (American). Red code “war is over”
chocolate and cigs dropped off
pants (thought it was a man) fell from another plane (bomb cloud pic-Hiroshima-magazine) and more items dropped
Chapter #32-Cascade of Paint Peaches
10:57
wrote 700 POW’s here on sand to get planes to drop more products
11:07 U.S. Missouri-General MacArthur announced
132K POW’s (off all nations)
25% survived
37% americans died
1% of americans held by Nazi’s die
Cocoa dropped crashed and destroyed “Bird’s” office
Louis cleansed himself
Sept. 4th-date for POW’s to be transferred to Yokohama for evacuation
POW’s discovered a brothel while walking around
Fitzgerald (fingernails pulled, waterboard torture, etc..) asked for a train
Chapter 33 11:17
POW’s getting food and medical help
wasn’t listed in Red Cross list since he wasn’t listed by Japanese
143 lbs (still 17 lbs under his original weight when plane crashed)
Sylvia answered on phone (Mom)
sept. 9th 1945-mother’s day for Louis’ mom
American flag carried through entire wall (passed by American missionary to British POW in Australia??)
Unbroken Laura Hillenbrand (A World War II Story) Part 2
Meeting family and getting greeted
Part IV
Chapter 34 “Shimmering Girl”
convertible still there
3 years of CHRISTmas gifts in house
record playing of his recording (PTSD)
meeting fiance (apple)
30:52 -Chapter 35
Louis Zamperini’s Son Explains How God Healed His Father’s PTSD
Nightmares, story of Airforce airmen that parachuted and captured: put in a zoo cage for display
Louis drinking, public behavior,etc…
Chapter #36 50:00
4K of 5K convicted of war crimes
Kano (close to names of Japanese war criminals) was testified by soldiers (US) to be cleared
was about to write to POW soldiers..died of cancer
1:13:00 -Louis still drunk, fought with Cynthia, forbade Cynthia from going to church, thought God tried to trip him, etc..
*Good News Japan https://www.facebook.com/groups/468929606499068/
*more…http://smu.gs/1Bl61Ih
1:51 “This is your life” (Allen slipped in back, w/ CeCe, moved from New Mexico-plastic business) What he done was finally recognized…became an “open book” as Louis wasn’t mentioned.
1:54
Harris in Korean War (3/4 of his until died)
2:00 deaths of his brother (Pete, Sylvia-mother, etc..)
Bird died in 2003…never met
*peace…https://www.facebook.com/groups/639527079395556/?ref=br_tf
-Reviews
http://www.us-japandialogueonpows.org/UshioUnbroken.htm
but there are also many stories of kind, generous, compassionate Japanese, both military and civilian, who went out of their way to be good to POWs. So my readers’ reactions, whether positive or negative, are directed not toward the Japanese people as a group, but toward the specific individuals in the book.
I think the biggest reason why the book has not inspired ill-feeling against Japan is that Japanese war crimes are not the book’s theme or main subject. This is a story of survival, resilience and persistence, and the extraordinary power of forgiveness, as exemplified by one man, Mr. Zamperini. The emotion my readers express, more than anything else, is a sense of being uplifted and deeply inspired.
— When a book about Japan’s WWII history, especially one dealing with its war crimes, became a bestseller in the US, the first reaction from some Japanese people often is to question the accuracy of the content. Many reviewers in the US praised your thorough research. Can you describe how you went about researching for this book?
*Japan WWII https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.654965537895473&type=1
I was bullied for various reasons growing-up while attending Battle Creek Middle School from 6th to 8th grade.
It wasn’t such a big topic in the media back then, so I never thought of it much. I thought it was just part of life and didn’t see it as a social epidemic as it is covered in the media now. As I hear stories of bullying, I feel like what I went through was really nothing compared to the serious violence and abuse (both mental and physical) victims goes through nowadays.
Here are some “lite” stories of bullying I went through:
When I used to deliver newspapers for the local paper in St. Paul (Pioneer Press Dispatch), I hated going through certain parts of my neighborhood after school. Living by the middle school, kids would be coming out of school in groups and would walk by my route. I would find a particular “safer” route as I did it more, but when I first started, I ran into some really obnoxious peers at the time. For example, one time when I was delivering newspapers (PM edition), some group of kids started yelling “gook” or “chink” at me. They then would do the infamous popular “kung-fu”/”karate” moves at me. Being a “smaller” boy at the time and being one individual, I didn’t have a chance to fight them back. At the time, I reflected on some friends/neighbors (Vietnamese-Another neighbor and I loved watching Bruce Lee movies growing-up!) that offered my dad to have my siblings and I to learn Karate from them. During this and other times of being bullied, I wished my dad took the offer as I would’ve used karate on them! I just continued walking away and ignored them. I look back and wondered if I did know karate, what would’ve I’ve done. I had a lot of anger issues (due to family up-bringing and all the social pressures during that stage of my life) and probably would’ve got myself more in trouble!
Deep Thought:
However, I can’t imagine if I was the opposite-taller and built. They probably would’ve not even said anything like this and would be intimidated or just ignored me. What causes a group of people to team against or oppress an individual the deemed as “weaker” or “lesser”? Doesn’t this occur even amongst adults? (e.g. politically, religiously, economically, racially/ethnically, etc…) Sorry, getting too deep here, but what motivates one(s) want to “pick-on” another/other individual(s)? You hear it’s because a “bully” got “abused” (physically/mentally) by someone older (e.g. parent). Does this give them the reason to do this?
Is this the reason why movie goers are very fascinated with movie characters (e.g. Harry Potter, Marvel Comic Heroes, etc..) with special “powers”. I’ve heard from younger folks that they wished they had “special” powers and they would’ve used it on their “bullies”.
Another story was in the classroom at the school. I remember it vividly as it’s been a scar or was a traumatic experience at the time. I was sitting in a science class (Physics) and the teacher was gone. Several known “bullies” of mine started “gleaking” (lightly spitting) at me. Being a “passive-shy-weakling” at the time, I pretended to ignore them and just took it. What could’ve I done, stand-up and fight the taller-bigger guys than me? I was outnumbered!
Being “Asian”, I was stereotyped as a “bookworm” and I was a studious guy (ey, I got to college on a full-ride scholarship, so it paid off ;)) A friend (taller than me) and I were heading out after school ended. While I was heading to my locker, this “bigger-taller” boy closed my locker and told me to do his homework. I had some “boldness” (learned from watching t.v., like “Saved by the Bell“-I didn’t want to be like Screech-lol!) in me, so I told this guy “no”. He probably wasn’t expecting this, so he actually pushed me against the lockers and demanded that I do this. Fortunately, my “taller” friend stood-up for me and told this “bully” to leave me alone. Unfortunately, this “bully” was bigger than my friend, so this “bully” pushed him too against the lockers. I was very thankful for my friend and was more focused with gratefulness of my friend doing this for me than the “terror” of this bully. We were both shoved to the lockers so loudly that one of my teachers came out of his classroom wondering what all this noise was about. Fortunately, we were both “saved” by this “bully’s” rapture as we both walked out of school “safely” that day.
Due to my “multicultural” looks, I would be teased with various racist remarks. During the Persian Gulf War, a “friend” would tease me that I “looked like the enemy” (Arabic). This would go on even through college and beyond, which I grew to have a very lose self-esteem and was self-conscious about my “physical features” in various places. Due to this remark “way back then”, it effected me when 9-11 happened after my college years. I haven’t shared this with many people, but when 9-11 happened and watching on the news of “Arabs” or “Muslims” that “look-like” the enemy were targeted in America. I got scared and hid for a season. I was afraid to go out of my house during these tense times as I was afraid of getting “attacked” in retaliation of 9-11 (would find out later about the “truth” behind the attacks, which can be another story ;)).
A “Bully” Myself Once
I have to be fair and honest too in this blog post that I wasn’t always “bullied”, but I was also in the “dark” side too-“bully” himself! 😦 I’m not proud of this either, but I look back and probably was a “bully” in some instances because I was “bullied” myself. I felt like I had a position of power in some scenarios and abused them. For instance, I remember fighting this younger-smaller guy in elementary school. I still can’t remember why I did this. I pushed him around and nothing too violent, so I wasn’t too rough on him. 😉 Another instance, this individual in high school was so annoying and I had to “act” tough. I told him that we should fight after school, which he accepted. During class, I then began thinking that this individual will probably bring his “hommies” or “gang” friends and “jump” on me. I then told him “cowardly-humbly” that I decided I don’t want to fight, which he agreed..lol! I also had some instances where I teased people because they “look” poor or whatever, but I regret this because I too was in their shoes and don’t understand why I did this.
My parents immigrated here (St. Paul) from the Philippines in the early 70’s and we didn’t have much like many other immigrants residing in a “new” land. I remember one Christmas, we couldn’t afford a Christmas tree like many other “Americans”. We found a tree branch in our neighborhood while walking in one cold winter day, so we decided to take this tree branch inside and make it our “1st” family Christmas tree. We even decorated it and put ornaments that we just creatively made. My parents couldn’t afford the current trending shoes (e.g. Nike) those days, so I wore “Pro-Wings” from Payless Shoes Store (I’ve bought shoes still from this place as they have some good deals, but honestly-not very quality). Growing-up at that time (still I heard), students in school would just ridicule you with the brand or type of clothing-shoes you wore. I just got teased “left and right” back in elementary school for wearing these “cheap” shoes. Another similar instance was when I was wearing some “old-school” pj’s underneath my jeans with a hole. It was winter time and these “pj’s” were like my thermal underwear to keep me “extra” warm. I guess I would tease someone with this type of dress code. I felt like I was “worthless” at the time and it got worse growing-up through high school.
I actually feared going to high school after watching t.v. shows or movies on how “nerds” or “losers” (like me) were treated. Fortunately, folks in high school were a little more mature and it wasn’t as bad as I expected. I got teased a little (e.g. looks-physical characteristics) once in awhile, but I just had a very low self-esteem (due to factors in and out of school). I had some “suicidal tendencies” due to depression caused by many factors that I can share for another blog, but this is one of the effects people still face due to bullying.
I finally started going up-hill during my college years, which here is my story.
“Power of non-violence (e.g. Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, etc..) instead of retaliating with violence”
3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you…”
In conclusion, I believe social support and communication or dialogue is very important to stop bullying! I really didn’t get this growing-up. I grew up in a very quiet-passive (Asian culture) family, which I never shared this with my dad, mom, and even my siblings (I shared one of my stories with one of my siblings the past year or two and they replied-“How come you never told us?”) . I just kept it inside of me like a volcano that was waiting to interrupt. My personal tip now is parents need to have an honest one to one dialogue with their child/children. This can happen over a meal time at the dinner table (get your kids to put their smart phones away, shut the television, etc..). If you read my story above, building self-esteem is very important to help “victims” of bullying overcome this stage or season in their life. As a former “victim of bullying” and “a bully” too, I want to help those in this category through social networking (e.g. Good News Sociology, Youth, etc…). How can we “work-together” in helping those out there?
” />![The Fall (Genesis 3)http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203&version=NIV3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”What is the ROOT of SIN ? - [Part 1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRYotSp6wwM&feature=share&list=PLfotP9NdGXnbiva_msNjnbradohV6qE_-&index=5Good News Sinhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/189301851255458/http://www.openbible.info/topics/the_serpentPaul and the False Apostles (2 Corinthians 11 )http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011&version=ESVBut I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ......13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds....Good News Futurehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/146174885575513/ Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.](https://salphotobiz.smugmug.com/Animals/Wildlife-around/i-pG4ztqp/0/M/IMG_1664-M.jpg)
![9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=KJVTeachings http://smu.gs/1O6DZuZThe Gospel of Matthew - [4/26] http://youtu.be/RWOpPj9gr_w?t=6m27smore..http://prayer.goodnewseverybody.comPrayer grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/609542502392314/](https://i0.wp.com/salphotobiz.smugmug.com/Other/Inspirational-Bible-Verses/i-hKw85w9/0/S/IMG_3170-S.jpg "9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=KJVTeachings http://smu.gs/1O6DZuZThe Gospel of Matthew - [4/26] http://youtu.be/RWOpPj9gr_w?t=6m27smore..http://prayer.goodnewseverybody.comPrayer grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/609542502392314/")
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