Tough teenage topics and inclusion

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Well, there have been lots of tough topics that amanda has been exposed to

either at school or in youth group or confirmation classes. She has been very

fearful about violence, guns, the police, war, etc. Like in Social Studies

they are studying the American Revolution and they were reading a historical

fiction book called the Fighting Ground where a 13 year old boy decides to go

and

fight (I believe in the Civil War). Well, she refused to have any part of

that book. She took a quiz and wrote, " I dont like guns and I dont like

fighting, so I am not answering questions about this book. "

So, my dilemma here is, the curriculum is the curric and they should (and do

modify it) and I feel she should be learning what the others are learning.

But her reactions are very extreme- which include being resistent to teachers,

shutting down, refusal, and crying.

Another example is in confirmation class, the pastor wanted to show parts of

Bowling for Columbine and discuss guns and violence in school. she called me

and asked what amanda's reaction would be and I told her it would not be good.

I also asked if she could do this topic on a day when amanda wouldnt be at

the class. She refused and when I asked if she wanted to go, she said,

NO!

So, I just found out that they are going to be seeing some assembly program

in school about teens and violence and here again I am faced with 's

reaction. So I just dont know if I should be opting her out of these

discussions,

letting her be included in them, or what?

Any thoughts on this really tough topic is appreciated- dont forget we live

in NYC, when responding, take that into consideration.

Thanks,

~ Mom to 13 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 9 NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/28/2004 8:23:36 PM Central Standard Time,

linman42@... writes:

> So I just dont know if I should be opting her out of these discussions,

> letting her be included in them, or what?

>

,

Let me just say first, " Bravo for ! " I don't like guns either! But,

the unfortunate fact is that they are part of our society and if confronted

with a situation, she should know what to do. I think that if they are talking

about what actions to take if someone should bring a gun to school, she should

definitely be included. As for studying the Civil War, couldn't they adapt her

curriculum to more about the reasons for the division, rather than the actual

battles. I know, that I don't remember much about the actual battles, but I

do remember the reasons the war was fought.

I have not reached teenage years, but I know about being defiant. When Zack

gets something in his head, there is no budging it. When you try to reason

with him, he will just say, " No, it's not! " He is 11 going on 21. " I don't

need help. I can do it myself. Leave me alone! " I can't even imagine what

I'll

face in another year and a half when he's a legitimate teenager.

PS: We are already thinking ahead to Confirmation class. He fights going to

CCD as it is. I don't know what he'll be like when it changes from Sundays

to Wednesday nights.

Good luck!

Sue - mom to Zack, 11, DS, 2 ASDs, VSD, Bad Mitral Valve; Matt, 10, 's

Anamoly, Cataracts, Glaucoma, PDD, PFO, hearing loss; , (4/20/96 -

12/31/00), DS, g-tube, TOF; Sami, born 11/16/2002, sensory dysfunction and

possible

autism, the most spoiled princess

DisLabeled Writing - finally updated about 's death and Sami's adoption

's Memorial Page

's Candle Shrine

[Guest guest]

,

These are some hard topics for kids to handle. It makes me so sad that today

all of our kids need to be exposed to guns and violence the way they do. All

the time. In real life.

I would certainly NOT allow ANY of my children to see Bowling for Columbine.

We followed the Columbine story at home and we mourned for the families and

my kids that are old enough to understand discussed the issue. I don't feel

that Maverick would understand the whole situation, and I feel it would cause

more confusion for him to be exposed to it in that setting. (Just as we kept

him out of the sex ed class, he would not understand it and would come away

with information from a much younger perspective than the rest of the class.

Not good. We are dealing with enough puberty issues with him as it is.)

And as for Confirmation, I would have just made the choice to keep him home

if they were showing that. Now, our confirmation class took the kids to see

Cheaper By The Dozen...... much more appropiate....and more realistic to Mav

than most! (BTW, for those that need it, I did order a wonderful Lutheran

cirricullum for confirmation that Mav is using along with his class.)

Maverick has finished the American Reveolution and is now on the Civil War.

We got some books and a video from the library to use here at home. Most are

above his level and what he got out of the video was the cannons shooting and

lots and lots of guys dying. His adaption is to be familiar with: North,

against slavery; South; for slavery; Abraham Lincoln, president and against

slavery; Jefferson; president of the south, and Slave, a person

owned by another person.

I don't really think he gets the whole concept of what a slave is, but he is

able to participate in class with this information. We have it programed into

his talker. I also d/l some stuff from the internet. After he watched the

video, he and his Dad wrote up some sentences about it on some paper with

Lincoln as a letterhead. I also have some Civil War notecards that we are

writing

a fact sentence on each.

We just finished the Standards here and next month are the AIMS. How are the

rest of your schools doing these tests with your kids?

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     As for me and my house,

      we will serve the Lord.

             24:15

[Guest guest]

Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 06:28:44 EST

> From: wildwards@...

>

> Hey, gotta tell ya ... I was in DC last week and at a Metro stop two

policemen got on fully armed with rifles strapped across their chest. > Cheryl

in VA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cheryl,

They may not have been out, but different times and locations you can drive down

the street and see security on the roofs of buildings with their weapons! I am

only a mile or so from the Pentagon, but is in DC, I pray every day!

Rejoice!

Amie

mom to - 25 yrs.