I am a teacher to our 4th-6th grade girls on Wed. nights at church. Last night we were discussing inner beauty vs outer beauty and the lies satan would have them believe about themselves. I was astonished to hear that 4th, 5th, and 6th grade girls are already cutting themselves! Thanks a lot Demi Lovato! :evil: There was a group of real sweet, very pretty girls who came to me and the other teacher and confided that there is a bully that is threatening to beat them up. They said she told them she brings a pocket knife to school. This is a brand new school in a "good county" and in an upscale neighborhood. What the heck??? Thanking the Lord He has shown me a better way ~ homeschooling! :angel:
I totally agree. It is not my "thing" to teach other people's kids, but this class is my dd's age group and I see where some of them are headed. They get dropped off by unsaved, worldly parents, many of which are single families. We teach them truth about modesty, boys, witchcraft/new age, salvation, Godly beauty, etc. My prayer is that we can really "reach" them before satan gets his claws in them too deep. What confuses me is when we were younger only "nerds" got picked on. Now it doesn't matter how nice you dress or how pretty you are, you are still a target. Not that it is ok with ANYONE, just surprising!
They are often targeted by media and Hollywood, not by fellow students and thus become their own worst enemy. I remember as a high school girl learning about eating disorders like anorexia and bulemia. I was amazed to think that the largest percentage of anorexic girls were from wealthy families. Self-hatred knows no socio-economic boundaries. Now cutting themselves? If only they understood what they are worth.
What is "cutting themselves"? Sorry for a stupid question. But bulling must stop! Just the other day I told my DH that would be nice if bulling was considered as a crime and be "treated" accordingly, in this case bullies' parents and teachers and the entire society maybe will pay more attention to this really huge problem. Am I wrong?
"Cutting" is exactly that. They will take a razor, and cut their arms, legs, usually places that they can try to hide from the world. It is a red flag if a teen is wearing long sleeves in hot summer weather, etc. It is very sad. I agree with whoever said that Hollywood is getting to our girls. Younger and younger, girls are trying to act like the models/actresses they see on TV. As for our little girl, we won't even let her have Barbies.
Some girls (and a few guys, but mostly girls) literally cut themselves with knives or razor blades. About cutting Oprah talks cutting
nowsaday some parents and school staffs are if not worse, they're as bad as bullies, the students. if only these adults not be bullies themselve and truly guide kids to do the right thing and etc.... will able to minimize or keep under control the media influences. it's indeed heart aching reality. good health and happiness!
I went to a very good all girls Catholic school in the early 90's, and even back then there were girls that would scratch pictures into their legs etc and then rub pen ink into it, to make a 'tattoo'. There was also a girl who would take other girls on little 'excursions' to shops and teach them to steal before choir practice. It happens everywhere and everyone can be subjected to this bad, adolescent behavour more so when there is peer pressure involved - ie. school. I am so glad we homeschool our kids!! :lol:
Most girls do it to deal with emotional pain. Apparently, physical pain that they can control is easier than emotional pain that is out of their control. Usually, cutting goes hand in hand with eating disorders. Girls who have troubled lives at home usually engage in either or both of these activities to give themselves a sense of power or control. It is very sad.
Some do it for attention and to "fit in" with that kind of crowd. It is not always a troubled home life....there are those rebellious teens who try to get back at the parents for being parents or to be part of the "in" crowd. Either way though....it is really sad because it is a lie from the world on how to deal with stuff in there lives.
My MIL is a 6th grade teacher, and I helped her sub a summer school class last year. It was aweful. 80% of the class thought they were prison inmates, and they acted like it. Pants around their ankles (even some girls sadly, which I hadn't seen until then), cussing, threatening, so on. The girls dressed rediculously, so much for 0 tolerance. The few good kids that were in the class were terrified to talk because of ridicule from the other students like "shut your mouth fatty" and "nobody cares about you". They mock special needs children, laugh at them behind their backs and when you speak up about it, like I did, sadly it gets worse. I saw an 6th grader boy, dressed in black, muscled, thought he was king of the classroom, mock a boy in a wheelchair, then laughed at him when he turned around. I called him over and I ask him if he thought it was appropriate and how it made the other boy feel, and he told me to shut up and to leave him the f*** alone" wow.Teachers can make it worse, I agree. Hate to say it but my MIL bullies them back. Sometimes starts tings too. I've heard, "Hey you over there, why don't you talk? Is yur mouth glued shut?" She's loud, and has no mental filter on what she says. I felt terrible for all the kids, ALL of them.
The ages you are working with are the most important age to work with I admire your work! Cuttinhg is litterally cutting them selves or scratching themselves till they bleed. As a local youth leader explained recently some kids today do it as a fad type thing, they do not cut enough to really cause damage, the ones we have to pray for are those who really cut bad because they think they deserve it. I know that one popular singer may have mentioned it but she is no way the first. This has been going on for decades. My mom was a cutter years before it was called that. It is sad when someone does not realise that God cares enough about them to make them worth not hurting themselves. The result of society making it obvious to our jr/middle school aged (6-8th) is what makes it a fad. Throughout history though we can find things people have done as a fad that were not good for them. The thing is they came forward and said something so now you can help them!
Well I was actually just having a conversation with my mother on the phone about kids being raised by parents who were ill prepared to fit those shoes. Sadly there are too many little 'wolf' packs in my neighborhood. Kids whose parents don't even care at their tender age of 3 where they are. They assume they will be fine because they are with other siblings who are older. But those siblings will leave the younger kids to fend for themselves and it so disheartening. I live on a corner lot and a bunch of these kids want to play. Sadly some of their antics/language has come to light which makes me want to close the gate on them forever. But being a loving mother it breaks my heart that there isn't anyone capable of guiding them down the right path in their lives. I also know that their language is screaming abuse. But there is nothing I can do or say to change that situation. So my mother said let them play but sit on top of them and make our yard rules known, say something inappropriate you're out of here. Sigh I don't like being a warden. As to the cutting issue. I had a friend in highschool who cut herself, my sister was anorexic, I was starving myself to be thinner even though I was average, and when I look back on it I am sad. Sad that society and peers robbed me of the ability to enjoy myself for who I was regardless of the outer beauty. I think back to being the tallest girl in the class and being made fun it. I wished I was shorter and tiny little the other girls. There wasn't anything wrong with me but as far back as grade one I struggled with those thoughts. Now as an adult I think how silly it was. I wouldn't wish that on my DD I tell her everyday she is wonderful. I hope that it will give her better self esteem then I ever had. I tell my son everyday as well. And I tell them both that no matter what anyone says to them they know deep inside they are these things. To wear it as armour through life. That their family and more importantly God will always love them and He made them the way they are for a reason. And more then that I talk with them and tell them to really think of the consequences to their actions before they do anything. And no they aren't perfect but I hope they will have better self esteem with the tools they are given now. And I know that homeschooling helps.
