Former LA gang members , the Homeboys, travel to one of the poorest sections of Alabama to work with impoverished youth. A video of one of their trips is at the above link at the LA Times, as well as photos and an essay.
See also the site for a movie Father G and the Homeboys : www.fathergandthehomeboysmovie.com
and a video for the documentary below about Fr. Greg Boyle and the Homeboy Industries, which was started 20 years ago:
Showing posts with label children and violence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children and violence. Show all posts
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
"I live in a crazy time"
said Anne Frank. And events from yesterday sadly reflect that we still do.
On the day a play about Anne Frank's life was planned at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, an 88 year old man tried to enter the museum . Special police officer Johns opened the door for the man, who opened fire on the officer. According to witnesses, he then shot at other security guards who fired back near the front of the museum. Visitors to the museum fled in the other direction, toward the "Remember the Children" exhibit, trying to find families and friends who came with them. Some visitors dropped and hit the floor. In the words of a witness:
"No one was standing up; no one dared move; we were all very scared. Finally, I ran back towards where my grandparents were to see if they were OK, and there we stayed until further instructions about how to exit the building safely."
They were told by guards to run and headed outside toward the lawn, some weeping. A security guard was killed. The shooter is hospitalized in critical condition.
*
The Southern Poverty Law Center, quoted yesterday as knowing about James von Brunn, the shooter in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum , said he "has an extremely long history with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. He's written extremely incendiary publications, raging about Jews, blacks and the like."
The Center publishes a hate groups map on its site. They report that there were 926 active hate groups across the U.S. in 2008 which they counted. Their statistics do not include individuals, just groups.
*
The play to be performed, entitled Anne and Emmett, "is an imaginary conversation between Jewish girl Anne Frank, who wrote her famous diary about hiding from Nazi occupiers in Amsterdam, and Emmett Till, a black boy lynched in Mississippi in 1955", playwright Janet Langhart Cohen said.
Emmett Till was a 14 year old black boy who was killed in 1955 for flirting with a white woman in Mississippi. He was brutally murdered, his eye gouged out, shot in the head, beaten, and thrown into the Tallahatchie River with a 70 pound cotton gin fan tied to his neck with barbed wire. His body was found three days later in the river and police tried to convince people that the body was not his.
Anne Frank would have turned 80 years old tomorrow. Although we often talk about Anne Frank, the exact number of Jews systematically killed in the Holocaust has never been able to be determined, but is estimated at six millon. By 1945, 2 out of 3 European Jews were killed. Others also died.
As many as one-half million Gypsies, at least 250,000 mentally or physically disabled persons, and more than three million Soviet prisoners-of-war also fell victim to Nazi genocide. Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, Social Democrats, Communists, partisans, trade unionists, Polish intelligentsia and other undesirables were also victims of the hate and aggression carried out by the Nazis.
*
The museum remains closed today in honor of the slain security guard, with the flags at half mast. There is no doubt, according to witnesses, that the 39 year old security guard who was killed, Stephen Tyrone Jones, laid down his life to protect the visitors and fellow security guards. After telling the armed man to drop his weapon, the guards fired their weapons near the front of the museum. Jones, shown at left, worked at the museum for six years.
The President issued a statement:
"This outrageous act reminds us that we must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms. No American institution is more important to this effort than the Holocaust Museum, and no act of violence will diminish our determination to honor those who were lost by building a more peaceful and tolerant world."
The Anti-Defamation League said the shooting "reminds us in the starkest way where the spread of hatred can lead."
Occurring "at the very place that was created to remember and teach about evil in the world," the attack "is an immediate reminder that words of hate matter, that we can never afford to ignore hate because words of hate can easily become acts of hate, no matter the place, no matter the age of the hatemonger."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned "this apparent bias-motivated attack" and said it stands "with the Jewish community and with Americans of all faiths in repudiating the kind of hatred and intolerance that can lead to such disturbing incidents."
On the day a play about Anne Frank's life was planned at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, an 88 year old man tried to enter the museum . Special police officer Johns opened the door for the man, who opened fire on the officer. According to witnesses, he then shot at other security guards who fired back near the front of the museum. Visitors to the museum fled in the other direction, toward the "Remember the Children" exhibit, trying to find families and friends who came with them. Some visitors dropped and hit the floor. In the words of a witness:
"No one was standing up; no one dared move; we were all very scared. Finally, I ran back towards where my grandparents were to see if they were OK, and there we stayed until further instructions about how to exit the building safely."
They were told by guards to run and headed outside toward the lawn, some weeping. A security guard was killed. The shooter is hospitalized in critical condition.
*
The Southern Poverty Law Center, quoted yesterday as knowing about James von Brunn, the shooter in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum , said he "has an extremely long history with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. He's written extremely incendiary publications, raging about Jews, blacks and the like."
The Center publishes a hate groups map on its site. They report that there were 926 active hate groups across the U.S. in 2008 which they counted. Their statistics do not include individuals, just groups.
*
The play to be performed, entitled Anne and Emmett, "is an imaginary conversation between Jewish girl Anne Frank, who wrote her famous diary about hiding from Nazi occupiers in Amsterdam, and Emmett Till, a black boy lynched in Mississippi in 1955", playwright Janet Langhart Cohen said.
Emmett Till was a 14 year old black boy who was killed in 1955 for flirting with a white woman in Mississippi. He was brutally murdered, his eye gouged out, shot in the head, beaten, and thrown into the Tallahatchie River with a 70 pound cotton gin fan tied to his neck with barbed wire. His body was found three days later in the river and police tried to convince people that the body was not his.
Anne Frank would have turned 80 years old tomorrow. Although we often talk about Anne Frank, the exact number of Jews systematically killed in the Holocaust has never been able to be determined, but is estimated at six millon. By 1945, 2 out of 3 European Jews were killed. Others also died.
As many as one-half million Gypsies, at least 250,000 mentally or physically disabled persons, and more than three million Soviet prisoners-of-war also fell victim to Nazi genocide. Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, Social Democrats, Communists, partisans, trade unionists, Polish intelligentsia and other undesirables were also victims of the hate and aggression carried out by the Nazis.
*
The museum remains closed today in honor of the slain security guard, with the flags at half mast. There is no doubt, according to witnesses, that the 39 year old security guard who was killed, Stephen Tyrone Jones, laid down his life to protect the visitors and fellow security guards. After telling the armed man to drop his weapon, the guards fired their weapons near the front of the museum. Jones, shown at left, worked at the museum for six years.
The President issued a statement:
"This outrageous act reminds us that we must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms. No American institution is more important to this effort than the Holocaust Museum, and no act of violence will diminish our determination to honor those who were lost by building a more peaceful and tolerant world."
The Anti-Defamation League said the shooting "reminds us in the starkest way where the spread of hatred can lead."
Occurring "at the very place that was created to remember and teach about evil in the world," the attack "is an immediate reminder that words of hate matter, that we can never afford to ignore hate because words of hate can easily become acts of hate, no matter the place, no matter the age of the hatemonger."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned "this apparent bias-motivated attack" and said it stands "with the Jewish community and with Americans of all faiths in repudiating the kind of hatred and intolerance that can lead to such disturbing incidents."
Friday, May 22, 2009
Report: widespread abuse of Irish children in Catholic institutions
A 9 year report covering decades of abuse in Catholic institutions for children in Ireland, including reform schools and orphanages was released yesterday, reports the Christian Science Monitor. The abuse included beatings, rape and molestation.
The report found that sexual abuse was “endemic” in boys’ institutions, and throughout the system children were “frequently hungry” and “lived with the daily terror of not knowing where the next beating was coming from.” The investigation spanned incidents from the 1930s to the 1990s. Many of the institutions have since closed. The government has vowed to increase unannounced inspections of those still open.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
The Sisters of Mercy, one of the religious orders named in the report, offered an apology on its Web site to the people who "were hurt and damaged while in our care."
The report criticizes Ireland's Department of Education, which had legal responsibility for children in industrial and reformatory schools, for failing to stop the beatings and rapes. It says department officials were aware of abuse in schools, but the department's inspections were inadequate and it failed to exercise its "ample" legal powers, such as removing schools' managers.
This is beyond shameful. The descriptions of the systemic abuse turn one's stomach. Sadly, living in these conditions results in damage and hurt that can never be fully healed for the victims.
The report states that:
"Nevertheless, each instance of sexual abuse was treated in isolation and in secrecy by the authorities and there was no attempt to address the underlying systemic nature of the problem. There were no protocols or guidelines put in place that would have protected children from predatory behaviour. The management did not listen to or believe children when they complained of the activities of some of the men who had responsibility for their care. At best, the abusers were moved, but nothing was done about the harm done to the child. At worst, the child was blamed and seen as corrupted by the sexual activity, and was punished severely.
The Victim's Group has urged the Vatican to take action after the release of the report, including that the Vatican should "publicly rebuke the religious order that fought to keep abusers' names out of a damning report that details thousands of crimes against minors in Ireland."
There has been a call for a National Day of Repentance, according to the Irish Catholic newspaper, including a "a liturgy to be organised ''as an expression of sorrow to God for the clerical abuse of children''.
The report found that sexual abuse was “endemic” in boys’ institutions, and throughout the system children were “frequently hungry” and “lived with the daily terror of not knowing where the next beating was coming from.” The investigation spanned incidents from the 1930s to the 1990s. Many of the institutions have since closed. The government has vowed to increase unannounced inspections of those still open.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
The Sisters of Mercy, one of the religious orders named in the report, offered an apology on its Web site to the people who "were hurt and damaged while in our care."
The report criticizes Ireland's Department of Education, which had legal responsibility for children in industrial and reformatory schools, for failing to stop the beatings and rapes. It says department officials were aware of abuse in schools, but the department's inspections were inadequate and it failed to exercise its "ample" legal powers, such as removing schools' managers.
This is beyond shameful. The descriptions of the systemic abuse turn one's stomach. Sadly, living in these conditions results in damage and hurt that can never be fully healed for the victims.
The report states that:
"Nevertheless, each instance of sexual abuse was treated in isolation and in secrecy by the authorities and there was no attempt to address the underlying systemic nature of the problem. There were no protocols or guidelines put in place that would have protected children from predatory behaviour. The management did not listen to or believe children when they complained of the activities of some of the men who had responsibility for their care. At best, the abusers were moved, but nothing was done about the harm done to the child. At worst, the child was blamed and seen as corrupted by the sexual activity, and was punished severely.
The Victim's Group has urged the Vatican to take action after the release of the report, including that the Vatican should "publicly rebuke the religious order that fought to keep abusers' names out of a damning report that details thousands of crimes against minors in Ireland."
There has been a call for a National Day of Repentance, according to the Irish Catholic newspaper, including a "a liturgy to be organised ''as an expression of sorrow to God for the clerical abuse of children''.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Consumerism: turning social problems into entertainment
At World Youth Day, the Pope spoke about consumerism and how society is shaped.
Pope Benedict XVI also said faith was a defining characteristic of both strong individuals and strong societies.
"Do not be fooled by those who see you as just another consumer in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth," he told the pilgrims.
He said the pilgrims should not be convinced by arguments that a society without religion would be neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone.
"If God is irrelevant to public life, then society will be shaped in a godless image, and debate and policy concerning the public good will be driven more by consequences than by principles grounded in truth," he said. via news.com.au
These words remind me of documentaries I've seen lately about children living with violence in urban areas, such as Camden and the south Bronx. When I lived in Detroit, gun shots rang out every night within blocks. It wasn't the exception, but the rule. And it was a neighborhood with residences, not a business area. I would walk over to the law school about a mile and a half away and the scenery changed. The university was set apart, far enough so no one could hear the gun shots. Just far enough away.
It seems over the years we as a society have found better ways to distance ourselves from social problems. And rampant consumerism fuels it.
Our kids sit and play Grand Theft Auto. Some children are privileged enough to sit at a screen and make a game out of shooting people when others try to sleep shutting out the sound of real gunfire. That is the state of our society.
The Pope's words urge us to start asking questions about all of this as Christians.
Why have we turned social problems into entertainment? What kind of distance from solutions does that cause for the next generation? Does it normalize the existence of violence and poverty in urban areas? Have we considered the concept of stewardship regarding monies we pay toward products that glorify violence rather than putting it toward solutions?
Do we really believe that some of us are better than others?
Pope Benedict XVI also said faith was a defining characteristic of both strong individuals and strong societies.
"Do not be fooled by those who see you as just another consumer in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth," he told the pilgrims.
He said the pilgrims should not be convinced by arguments that a society without religion would be neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone.
"If God is irrelevant to public life, then society will be shaped in a godless image, and debate and policy concerning the public good will be driven more by consequences than by principles grounded in truth," he said. via news.com.au
These words remind me of documentaries I've seen lately about children living with violence in urban areas, such as Camden and the south Bronx. When I lived in Detroit, gun shots rang out every night within blocks. It wasn't the exception, but the rule. And it was a neighborhood with residences, not a business area. I would walk over to the law school about a mile and a half away and the scenery changed. The university was set apart, far enough so no one could hear the gun shots. Just far enough away.
It seems over the years we as a society have found better ways to distance ourselves from social problems. And rampant consumerism fuels it.
Our kids sit and play Grand Theft Auto. Some children are privileged enough to sit at a screen and make a game out of shooting people when others try to sleep shutting out the sound of real gunfire. That is the state of our society.
The Pope's words urge us to start asking questions about all of this as Christians.
Why have we turned social problems into entertainment? What kind of distance from solutions does that cause for the next generation? Does it normalize the existence of violence and poverty in urban areas? Have we considered the concept of stewardship regarding monies we pay toward products that glorify violence rather than putting it toward solutions?
Do we really believe that some of us are better than others?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Across the Universe
I saw this movie last night, which is complete with Beatles music and a strong antiwar message. No review from me on this one. I'm still digesting it emotionally.
This song montage from Let It Be also shows the violence from the riots in the streets of Detroit.
This clip is for mothers who have lost sons and daughters to violence abroad - and on our streets. And for all their other loved ones.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Rescuing Youssif
CNN Public Relations just emailed a News Release on this upcoming CNN special with Youssif, the young boy recovering from burns, his family and Dr. Gupta. I know some of you will be interested in having the following viewing times so am posting part of it:
"Rescuing Youssif, the first television special related to CNN’s ongoing “Impact Your World” initiative, not only documents Youssif’s recovery but reveals how the network’s global audience embraced the story and offered money and support to speed his treatment. Impact Your World – Rescuing Youssif will premiere on Monday, Dec. 24, at 10 p.m., with replays on Tuesday, Dec. 25, at 1a.m. and 4 a.m. All times Eastern.
CNN’s Baghdad correspondent Arwa Damon first brought the story of Youssif’s plight to the world in August, reporting that treatment at a local hospital was second-rate and painful for Youssif. Youssif’s mother, Zaineb, movingly described how the dynamic personality of her son took a disheartening turn. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on Youssif’s medical progress and provides insight into his emotional and physical recovery. "
I continue to send prayers and well wishes for Youssif, his family and all burn survivors and their families.
"Rescuing Youssif, the first television special related to CNN’s ongoing “Impact Your World” initiative, not only documents Youssif’s recovery but reveals how the network’s global audience embraced the story and offered money and support to speed his treatment. Impact Your World – Rescuing Youssif will premiere on Monday, Dec. 24, at 10 p.m., with replays on Tuesday, Dec. 25, at 1a.m. and 4 a.m. All times Eastern.
CNN’s Baghdad correspondent Arwa Damon first brought the story of Youssif’s plight to the world in August, reporting that treatment at a local hospital was second-rate and painful for Youssif. Youssif’s mother, Zaineb, movingly described how the dynamic personality of her son took a disheartening turn. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on Youssif’s medical progress and provides insight into his emotional and physical recovery. "
I continue to send prayers and well wishes for Youssif, his family and all burn survivors and their families.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Young Iraqi war victim arrives in US for surgery
[This is a followup post - click labels below for previous posts ]
Youssif and his family have arrived in the States for a six month to a year stay while he undergoes extensive treatment for burns sustained in Iraq. More than 12, 000 CNN readers contributed money to help the family and the Children's Burn Foundation staff is treating the boy at no cost.
Click above for the updated story.
Youssif and his family have arrived in the States for a six month to a year stay while he undergoes extensive treatment for burns sustained in Iraq. More than 12, 000 CNN readers contributed money to help the family and the Children's Burn Foundation staff is treating the boy at no cost.
Click above for the updated story.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Young Iraqi war victim needs surgery
Five year old Youssif was burned on his face and hands when masked men came up to him, threw gasoline over him and set him afire months ago. He was left with scars on his face and hands, but his family cannot afford the surgery he needs.
Youssif has become angry and withdrawn. Neighborhood children exclude him from play. His mother reports that he has become "spiteful" "sensitive" and jealous of his little sister. Youssif recalls the senseless and violent attack fully.
His scarring causes other problems.
"Even things like eating have become a chore. His face contorts when he tries to shovel rice into his mouth, carefully angling the spoon and then using his fingers to push the little grains through lips he can no longer fully open."
I'm posting this in hopes that someone with an organization that can help will see it- spreading the word always helps. And, if you would, prayers for this family would also help.
UPDATE: The Children's Burn Foundation , a nonprofit organization in the US, has generously offered to fund all the medical costs of Youssif's treatment. His family will need help with other costs, including transportation and lodging since his treatments will extend most likely over a year. Donations can be made at the Children's Burn Foundation's website at www.childburn.org
There are others like Youssif who are suffering from the effects of the war - loss of an education. Some parents are keeping children confined to their homes due to the violence.
If you'd like to help our troops help Iraqi children, please visit Operation Iraqi children.
[visual description: Two soldiers, one male and one female, hold OIC school packets for distribution. Actor Gary Sinise, who is a co-founder of the organization, stands between them.]
Youssif has become angry and withdrawn. Neighborhood children exclude him from play. His mother reports that he has become "spiteful" "sensitive" and jealous of his little sister. Youssif recalls the senseless and violent attack fully.
His scarring causes other problems.
"Even things like eating have become a chore. His face contorts when he tries to shovel rice into his mouth, carefully angling the spoon and then using his fingers to push the little grains through lips he can no longer fully open."
I'm posting this in hopes that someone with an organization that can help will see it- spreading the word always helps. And, if you would, prayers for this family would also help.
UPDATE: The Children's Burn Foundation , a nonprofit organization in the US, has generously offered to fund all the medical costs of Youssif's treatment. His family will need help with other costs, including transportation and lodging since his treatments will extend most likely over a year. Donations can be made at the Children's Burn Foundation's website at www.childburn.org
There are others like Youssif who are suffering from the effects of the war - loss of an education. Some parents are keeping children confined to their homes due to the violence.
If you'd like to help our troops help Iraqi children, please visit Operation Iraqi children.
[visual description: Two soldiers, one male and one female, hold OIC school packets for distribution. Actor Gary Sinise, who is a co-founder of the organization, stands between them.]
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Film Review : Touching Wild Horses
I rented this film from Netflix. It's a 2002 movie starring Jane Seymour, who plays a prickly woman (Fiona) living alone on an island off Nova Scotia studying wild horses. When her brother in law and niece are killed in a car accident and her sister left in a coma, she reluctantly takes in her nephew Mark who is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder -both from the accident and also from abuse. It becomes clear as the movie progresses that Fiona is hiding her own secret from a hidden past.
The movie sensitively portrays the characters' influence on each other and the emotional healing of the young boy as Fiona helps him regain not only his self esteem but provides him with safety and structure. It contains beautiful footage of the wild horses, the acting is superb and, although the screenplay wasn't as good as the acting, it did justice to the characters, providing a realistic portrayal.
For more information about this movie, click above.
[visual description: Young Mark is shown standing next to one of the wild horses, a black foal.]
Monday, May 28, 2007
Operation Iraqi Children
Many of our servicemen and woman have been very touched by the plight of the children in war torn Iraq. This is an organization that helps American soldiers help Iraqi children by reconstructing schools and gathering learning materials.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Worth Watching: The Boys of Baraka
{Visual description: One of the four boys featured in the film is shown sitting in a playground near his inner city home.}
Speaking of community and inclusion (which I talk about a lot on here in relation to people with disabilities), I rented this DVD from Netflix and watched it last night. (This film also airs on PBS - click above for show times and an update on the boys.)
This film features the journey of four inner city kids from Baltimore about to enter seventh grade who are sent to the Baraka school in Kenya to a two year program for intensive educational and therapeutic experience to help them deal with issues holding them back academically.
The filim begins in Baltimore, where each of the boys and their families are introduced. The boys are dealing with parents in jail, on drugs, poverty, poor school systems, racism, violence on the streets and other difficult challenges. They are accepted to the Baraka program and sent to a summer program to get them ready before they are flown to Kenya in September of their seventh grade year of studies.
Upon arrival in Kenya, the students learn that they will be living in a building which only has electricity part of the day. It is a stark contrast to the urban environment they have grown up. Suddenly surrounded by what one boy calls "beautiful" scenery and wild animals that roam freely around the school's environs, one child is shown playing with a hedgehog, fascinated. In this photo, the boys are introduced to an elephant by a local.
These physical changes are only part of the picture - the school has a one to five teacher:student ratio. The boys, used to being lost in large city classes, are suddenly under a microscope. Those with behavioral issues are sent to a time out room or to a mini-survival experience with a counselor. One boy, it is discovered, is reading at a second grade level and yet was never tested for academic problems.
One night the boys are taken to a local church where they participate in a celebration of song and community spirit. Upon their return, the boys tell a teacher how impressed they were by the love they saw between people in Kenya and how they cared about each other even in conditions of poverty worse than they experienced.
The boys are sent home for a three month summer break and their planned return the next September never occurs when the school has to be shut down due to political upheaval and safety concerns in the area. Each boy reacts differently to this news. One boy goes on to excel in eighth grade and gets into Baltmore's best academic high school. Another decides he wants to be a preacher and begins to preach at his church with the support of his family.
Two brothers who went do not fare as well. The older one displays anger, despair and feels betrayed by the discontinuation of the program. He gives up doing his schoolwork in his large city class and fights with his younger brother. Their home life appears to be in worse shape than before. A woman from the Baraka program meets with him and encourages him to go to an automotive program at a vocational high school but he shows no interest.
The film raises the issue of what responsibility communities hold for the people within them and what role neighboring communities can play. As one of the boys asks, why couldn't a school in the surrounding area continue the program to help these boys succeed with them having to go all the way to Kenya? Another boy interviewed in 2006 now points out the need for role models for kids today in inner cities.
Film Factoid: 76% of African American young men never graduate high school.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Chart on Categories of Bullying Behavior
I use this chart when dealing with school systems about bullying of a student with disabilities. Sometimes I am called in cases where this is occurring.
It helps staff recognize behaviors that are bullying in three categories: physical, verbal and social - which otherwise might be dismissed as acceptable. The problem is that when level 1 behaviors escalate to level 2 and 3, the behaviors become more difficult to manage, particularly in groups. For example, in Level 2 it is typical for the bully to blame the targeted student and unfortunately the staff may join in on this not recognizing this as an escalated bullying behavior. I know of cases where students with disabilities have had to transfer schools because bullying had escalated to such a degree.
By recognizing bullying behaviors early, staff can better handle situations and refer students to appropriate resources, whether it be counseling or disciplinary referrals.
As an aside, adults may engage in some of these behaviors toward other people (with or without disabilities). Spreading rumors, engaging in gossip and gestures and nonverbal behaviors are bullying toward another and escalate as you can see on the chart. I have seen this occur as part of a "herd mentality" in which the majority practices exclusion , a level 2 (and sometimes 3) behavior that you can see in the chart.
It helps staff recognize behaviors that are bullying in three categories: physical, verbal and social - which otherwise might be dismissed as acceptable. The problem is that when level 1 behaviors escalate to level 2 and 3, the behaviors become more difficult to manage, particularly in groups. For example, in Level 2 it is typical for the bully to blame the targeted student and unfortunately the staff may join in on this not recognizing this as an escalated bullying behavior. I know of cases where students with disabilities have had to transfer schools because bullying had escalated to such a degree.
By recognizing bullying behaviors early, staff can better handle situations and refer students to appropriate resources, whether it be counseling or disciplinary referrals.
As an aside, adults may engage in some of these behaviors toward other people (with or without disabilities). Spreading rumors, engaging in gossip and gestures and nonverbal behaviors are bullying toward another and escalate as you can see on the chart. I have seen this occur as part of a "herd mentality" in which the majority practices exclusion , a level 2 (and sometimes 3) behavior that you can see in the chart.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Helping students feel safe after tragedy
In this 2001 post 9/11 article, experts talk about how parents and educators can deal with the fears of students on issues such as feeling unsafe, talking about tragedy and violence and limiting exposure to TV coverage. Studies have shown that even those who are not present at a tragedy can experience a form of PTSD, especially children who have difficulty processing repeated images of TV coverage of events.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Child soldiers - with disabilities - used to fight in Iraq
According to this article in Spero, children with "mental handicaps" are being kidnapped or sold to fight US and Iraqi soldiers. Here is one child's story:
"The dreams 13-year-old Barak Muhammad (not his real name) had of leading a normal teenage life were dashed when his father sold him to al-Qaeda militants. Being mentally handicapped, he said he was considered a burden by his family and was told he would be better off sacrificing his life for his country.
“I don’t have a mother and never went to school. I was dreaming of a day that I would go to school like my other brothers, but I was considered different. My father was always telling me that I was a mistake in his life, a boy that was just bringing expenses and problems,” Barak said.
Barak's father sold him to al-Qaeda in Iraq for US $10,000 to support his remaining five children. Now, Barak is in training to fight US and Iraqi troops. "
Via Spero
Statistics show that most children with disabilities in third world countries do not receive an education. The article also links to a source indicating that many children in Iraq, due to the war, are being deprived of an education because of the dangerous conditions.
Click above to read more.
"The dreams 13-year-old Barak Muhammad (not his real name) had of leading a normal teenage life were dashed when his father sold him to al-Qaeda militants. Being mentally handicapped, he said he was considered a burden by his family and was told he would be better off sacrificing his life for his country.
“I don’t have a mother and never went to school. I was dreaming of a day that I would go to school like my other brothers, but I was considered different. My father was always telling me that I was a mistake in his life, a boy that was just bringing expenses and problems,” Barak said.
Barak's father sold him to al-Qaeda in Iraq for US $10,000 to support his remaining five children. Now, Barak is in training to fight US and Iraqi troops. "
Via Spero
Statistics show that most children with disabilities in third world countries do not receive an education. The article also links to a source indicating that many children in Iraq, due to the war, are being deprived of an education because of the dangerous conditions.
Click above to read more.
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