While the Canadiens have been going through this terrible slump, my grandmother, a forever fan, gave me some advice: "Don't give up on your team. Have some faith!" My response at the time? "But we suck." And that was that. I was aggravated with the team, the performance, the coaches, the management, the trade, the losing streaks... In a city like Montreal where one of the only things that unites all of its people is 'Les Canadiens,' hopelessness was setting in. As a matter of fact, it seemed like the disappointment of our hockey team was making headline news on a regular basis. Also, there were language division issues being displayed at the games; where was our winning team when we needed them? They create a unity and positive aura that infects our city and helps it thrive. Even so, with all the disappointment, my grandmother continued to tell me: "Don't abandon your team!"
When I think about the word abandon, it seems so extreme in nature: TO GIVE UP COMPLETELY. And during the months of January and February, when we are all tired of the days being so long and gloomy, the cold weather, the darkness and the discontent that this brings, we need something to perk us up; something to get excited about. We need an extra boost. So do our kids. And they do not just need it during the gloomy months of January and February, but they need it all year-round. Remember this cheerleader idea that I keep writing about? Now is as good a time as ever to start cheerleading for your child, even if your child is older and in high school.
CJAD recently dedicated some time to discuss Kid Kop Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising monies to establish police offices in high schools across Quebec. There were a lot of questions raised: Do we really need these types of measures to be implemented in Quebec? Are we at par with the US on high school violence levels? Does this seem extreme? Will it help? Is it intimidating? IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?
What did I get out of this discussion? People in the education sector are abandoning our youth. Think about it: if you are constantly monitored by measures of intimidation and fear, would you be able to succeed at school? This is what the police in the schools would implement, right? The idea is that students will not be violent, bully other kids and/or participate in other behaviors that are inappropriate if the police are present to scare them out of it. Putting fear into our children must work.. I think NOT! In my experience, youth will either rebel against this type of system, become better at hiding what they are doing, or do it outside of school hours or property.
Let's look at the other side of the issue: the police could serve as role models for our youth. This way, they will be able to build strong relationships with kids and in turn, the kids will internalize the proper moral and ethical values that are required in society. This program does not discuss the police becoming integrated into the school's microcosmic society. Further, it does not talk of police personally developing relationships with the youth. Are police officers even qualified to do so? Again, from my experience, what happens in these types of situations is that open-minded students who follow the rules become engaged and involved, while youth who actually need the program will fall under the radar.
It just seems like we, as a society, are giving up on our kids...COMPLETELY. We are sending them to school, blaming the teachers, bringing in the police and hoping that things will work out. Are we really crossing our fingers and leaving it up to other people and luck? These are OUR children that we are talking about! Instead, don't give up on them. Become their guides. Become their cheerleaders. Become their greatest supporters. Instead of starting a movement to create fear in our schools, why not work with our own children and teach them how to behave: with respect, with compassion, with support, with open arms. Won't these values help make our society better? And why not monitor that your children are actually implementing the values that you have taught them? Make sure that you are involved in your child's life on a daily basis! In a city that does not give up on its hockey team, can't we afford a little bit of time to not giving up on our children? Can't we try to unite our city in this way? Perhaps we can add this issue of unity to the hockey roster for this season. Just a thought...
If you have ideas for a future blog or are looking for academic coaching/support for your child, please feel free to contact me at: robin@brightsidelearning.com
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