At the risk of sounding like I'm suggesting that All Children First is wrong (or even lying), let it be known that I am not suggesting either or making any comment whatsoever on All Children First's statement. I just find it very curious... It's a bit strange that your kid says that it isn't against the rules and someone (whom you presumably don't really know) says that it is. You sure were very quick to jump on it as proof that your kid was lying to you. Just an observation.
If memory serves correctly, ACF is a teacher at my son's school. And yes, in this case - I would probably believe ACF on 4042.com vs my son who just wants to be cool like every other kid in the 6th grade. I also know if I ran the school, they would not be allowed - so it is not a stretch to believe her. Guess I'm not one of those parents who believes everything that comes out of Jr's mouth. Yeah, I could call the school... But, I prefer natural consequences.
Actually Cleo, I was there for the last four years, but I just switched schools this year because I changed my area of teaching. It has been made clear at the two JCS schools I've worked at, including my current school, that they are not allowed. If in doubt, call the front office of whichever school your children attend and ask if they are allowed.
So now we moved from children being lazy to all of society being lazy? Dang, next you will declare God lazy for resting on the 7th day.
Well, I guess it's ok to be lazy on the 7th day, because some parents are letting their kids wear the things to my church on Sundays (so would I go to hell if I tripped them in the hallway on a Sunday? :wink: )(Lord, forgive me, and bless the pygmies!)
Not saying God has gotten lazy but society as a whole has, and it's that marvelous trickle down effect. To where if the parents are then the kids will be and so and so and so. I feel sorry for you because that it appears by your comments here that you are wearing blinders and can't see reality. Craig
Craig, this is the same guy who describes homework as "busy work" and a "waste of time". FTR, these are not allowed at Cleveland Middle with the wheel engaged. I asked my son yesterday, last time I asked was at the beginning o the school year. He hardly wears them anyway, esp on PE days.
Not exactly Cleo. I said I have seen my share of homework that is busy work and a waste of time. If you have a different experience with your children, great. In fact, I think my 2nd graders teacher has the perfect approach to homework compared to what my older child was given. Again, Craig wants to make blanket statements without supporting it. I don't believe kids are lazier today than in my day or in my brother's day.
I'm sorry.. we used to go outside and play... not be allowed to sit inside and play video games on a beautiful afternoon. And I can speak on this, my neighbor has 4 kids who are rarely outside, because they sit inside playing PS2 all afternoon. My neighborhood is full of kids.. and rarely are they seen. Hmmm... wonder why...
Tassy, On my street, there are 6 elementary aged children. Of those, 4 are outside constantly playing, riding bikes, etc. 1 plays outside less than others and one is rarely seen outdoors. While I'm sure video games are part of the reason, I would bet a part of it is also the following: too much homework, kids in afterschool care until 6 pm (which would be dark now), and lots of structured sports and activities on the weekend and during the week. None of these existed when I was a kid, so of course I was outdoors as soon as the 30-45 minutes of homework was finished. The activities today are simply different, not necessarily proving an overall increase in laziness. If in fact society (and kids particularly) we would not see the proliferation of the following: -dance school and programs -church youth programs -the large Clayton, SSS, and WJHS marching bands practicing hundreds of hours to create 15 minutes productions -two a day practices in high school sports -kids working in McDonalds, other local restaurants, and retail establishments -the proliferation of 2nd jobs for many parents -GCAA sports programs busting at the seams -popularization of "movement"video games like DDR, eye toy, and the new Wii -thousands of kids marching, dancing, cheering, etc. in the local parades. -having to choose between youth soccer, football, karate or baseball in the fall -the growth of YMCAs and Recreation depts nationwide with both adult and youth programming -A yoga studio in Smithfield -kids coming through my neighborhood all summer looking for grass cutting jobs -Competing youth baseball leagues -Multiple gyms and fitness centers in Clayton and Smithfield -Two indoor pools in Smithfield -stressed out parents who can't figure out how to coordinate getting their three kids to five different activities within a four hour period (of course, Cleo believes if they had had more math worksheets for homework they could figure this out) Without a very active (the opposite of lazy) society, the above wouldn't exist. The programs couldn't sustain themselves and wouldn't exist. Does this landscape look different than when I was a kid? Absolutely. Is society more lazy? I don't see the evidence, except for the rise in obesity in our country and there are other culprits at work there besides TV and video games. Now for another possible thread discussion we could discuss whether the situation above is positive for society or not? Thanks for the fun!
That sounds more like parents who can't be realistic about what they can accomplish, and are afraid to say "no" lest they hurt Jr's feelings. And... some math worksheets probably would help. It improves that part of the brain that deals with logic. :wink:
A good portion of what you have listed such as the bands and kids working at McD's and sports practice are middle aged teens, who's last thought is about getting a pair of Heely's, are also in the minority just as the high school atheletes are in the minority. As for the multiple gyms in the area, they are just following where the people are moving. And I will bet money that almost half of the people that join a gym or health club fail to continue usage after the first few months or even weeks. As to kids looking to cut grass during the summer, I haven't seen that in several years, and not at all in the last 5 years that I have lived in my neighborhood. Cleo nailed it on the head with the stressed out parents comment. Also it is not always the kids who WANT to take part in these activities. Using a girl in my office as an example. She makes sure that her kids are always signed up for sports, wheither the kids like it or not. As an example her son plays football, so she signs her daughter up for cheerleading, while her daughter currently has no interest in cheerleading. Her son likes basketball, so she signs her daughter up for basketball. The only thing her daughter likes doing sports wise is softball, so she automatically signs her son up for baseball even though he doesn't like baseball. Face it plain and simple the activities and the growth rate of said activities is due to a population explosion in this area, and the numbers of actual children involved in said activities is far less than the number of actual children in this area. There is a pandemic going on in America of children who are overweight, adults who are overweight. And yes there were overweight people (adults and children) when I was growing up, but it was a smaller percentage of the population than it is now days. And why is that? Because society as a whole has become lazier. Craig
I got my son a pair on "the most famous auction website". LOL! Anyways, they were new and cost me at least $25 less than you can find them on the Heelys website. Got them through UPS....all looks great. And for the worst toys thing...anything you give to any child with wheels is a problem waiting to happen! LOL! :lol:
Hmmm, that's an interesting argument. I seem to remember you arguing that the higher incidence of ADHD today than in years past means that ADHD actually doesn't exist, it's just a made up problem (that was clearly the implication, anyway.) Applying that logic to the current argument, the higher incidence of obesity today must mean that obesity doesn't really exist, either. Whew. For a minute there, I was worried that we had an public health problem on our hands. I think I'll celebrate the good news by zoning out in front of the tube with some pretzels and beer. Snuff
I finally relented and ordered them from zappos.com, which offered free shipping. And instead of doing a web order, I called and placed the order. The rep was super friendly and even upgraded my shipping to priority for free.
Actually my arguments concerning the ADHD front were that now days it is so much easier to take a child to the Dr. and have the Dr. say the child has ADHD and recommend medication, than for parents to actually take responsibility for their children and discipline then when they need it. Wheither that means in normal day to day activities or school work, or what ever. Growing up as a child I never wanted to do my school work nor do anything I didn't think was fun, nor does any child. Yet in my day we (children) weren't dragged to the Dr. who then proceeded to tell our parents that we had an attention disorder and spent the rest of our childhood lives drugged up. Yet now days, that is more the norm nowdays. But then again maybe your AADD may have caused you to loose my line of thought in the ADHD thread. Now on a note based on the actual thread at hand. Was shopping yesterday, and saw this little girl (8-9 age range) come bounding out of a store with her mother. She proceeded to start heeling along, right on the sidewalk. She proceeded to veer towards the edge of the sidewalk, appeared to misstep and fell flat on her face in a taffic lane in a busy parking lot. I know this because I watched it happen as I was stopped to let a mother with a stroller cross in front of me. Just imagine what the outcome could have been if I hadn't have been stopped or it would have been someone else not paying attention to what they were doing, but instead were on their cell phone gabbing away about nothing of importance. Craig
Ok, so a friend of mine whose computer has been down for the last 3 weeks is looking for someplace to order them in time for Christmas, any suggestions?
