Mother Forced Her 14-Year-Old Daughter to Inseminate Herself with Donated Sperm

April 29, 2013

Ordeal: The girl apparently miscarried at 14 but regularly inseminated herself with sperm bought online by her mother and later had a baby at 16 (posed by model)

What a horrendous story! I can’t believe the sentence was so small for such an awful act:

A 14-year-old adopted girl was forced by her mother to inseminate herself with donor sperm to provide her with a baby, it was revealed today.

The ‘domineering’ woman had been stopped from adopting any more children when she forced her virgin daughter to carry out the procedure.

The girl is believed to have miscarried at 14 – but regularly used the sperm bought online by her mother and later gave birth when she was 16.

A formerly-secret court judgement revealed the details which have sparked fears over rules governing the buying of sex cells, reported the Guardian.

The mother, who had already adopted three children as babies from other countries, was sentenced to five years in jail after admitting child cruelty.

The divorced woman had decided against giving birth herself because she had a health condition and was sterilised, reported the Guardian.

However when she failed in her attempts to adopt a fourth child, the mother tried to force her adopted daughter to have a baby for her.

The insemination was planned when the girl was aged just 13 and the daughter ‘became pregnant at her mother’s request’, the judgement said.

When the newborn arrived, midwives were shocked by the ‘pushy and insensitive’ mother who tried to stop her daughter breastfeeding.

She told her daughter: ‘We don’t want any of that attachment thing’ – and even tried to take the baby, before child protection officers were called.

The court heard the local authority was told four times of fears about the mother’s behaviour but found no cause from concern on each occasions.

The siblings were home-schooled and their adoptive father did not know where they lived and had not seen them for a decade, reported the Guardian.

The mother put the girl through a ‘degrading’ and ‘humiliating’ ordeal, making her inseminate herself seven times over two years in her bedroom.

She also was forced to use painful acidic douches and eat a special diet – because her mother said this would make her more likely to have a girl.

 

Click on the link to read My Heart Bleeds for Children Who Are Exploited

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The Pajamas that Reads Bedtime Stories to Kids

April 28, 2013

 

 

I know finding the time to read to your kids can be difficult, but surely this is not an activity you would wish to palm off to a garment?

Now, children can “wear their bedtime stories” with these smart pajamas from a US-based company.

The smart pajamas, made by Idaho-based Smart PJs, have printed dots that work like QR codes and unlock stories on a mobile device, Mashable reported.

“Using a smartphone, parents can scan the dot patterns on their child’s pajamas, unlocking a story with pictures and words on the screen. What’s more, a free companion app can even recite the tales aloud,” it said.

The pajamas cost $25 each and are available for both boys and girls aged 1 to 8.

But Mashable also cautioned users on using smartphones before bed, saying they can affect the body’s sleep cycle.

Smart PJs described itself as “an innovative company with the distinction of creating the ‘Worlds first and only interactive Pajamas!”

“We have children ourselves and understand how important a bedtime story is for kids, and how important a quality pair of pajamas is for parents, so we have combined them both into one EASY and FUN to use product that every kid and parent will LOVE!” it said.

Click on the link to read Why Spelling is Important at Starbucks

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5 Tips to Help Your Children Use Social Networking Safely

April 26, 2013

Written by Dana Udall-Weiner, Ph.D  courtesy of  psychcentral.com:

1. Talk to your teen about their time online.

 Talking to your kids about how they use social media and technology helps them break out of autopilot and become more mindful of their actions and reactions, Udall-Weiner said. “[This] is an important skill when it comes to developing emotional competence.” It’s important for teens to understand how being online affects them (such as their mood).

 She suggested asking your kids these questions: “Which websites do you often visit?  How do you feel emotionally, both during and after using these sites? Have you ever had any uncomfortable experiences online, or seen anything upsetting? Do you believe that there are any downsides to viewing the sites you regularly visit, or to using the Internet in general?”

2. Teach your teen to be media literate.

 A mistake parents often make, according to Udall-Weiner, is that they don’t teach their kids about media literacy. But it’s vital for kids to understand that what they see isn’t what they get online. For instance, “Parents need to actively remind their children that images are not reality—that no one is as thin, perfectly-muscled, unwrinkled, or flawless as that person in the ad.” She suggested visiting Media Smarts for more information.

3. Set time limits on Internet use.

 Teens are still developing their executive functions, which include monitoring behavior, organizing information and setting goals, she said. Plus, spending too much time on sites like Facebook can make teens feel worse. “My clients regularly tell me that they become very upset after looking at Facebook, since everyone looks happier, thinner, or more popular than they feel.” So parents might need to set restrictions on Internet use.

4. Surrender all phones before bedtime.

 “This is a way to ensure that kids aren’t up late texting or surfing the web, rather than getting precious sleep,” Udall-Weiner said. This rule also applies to parents’ phones, “since kids emulate what they see.”

5. Know the research about Internet use.

 Research has suggested that looking at images of thin models — which are splashed all over the Internet — may be associated with various negative consequences. “After seeing these images, people report things like decreased self-esteem, poor body image, depression, guilt, shame, stress, and an urge to engage in eating-disordered behavior, such as restricting food intake,” said Udall-Weiner. She also specializes in body image and eating disorders and founded ED Educate, a website with resources for parents.

Research also has suggested that the Internet makes us feel more disconnected from others, she said. “It’s important for teens to know the research on Internet use.” Talk to your kids about these findings.

 

Click on the link to read Monitoring Children’s Social Networking Activities Proving too Difficult for Parents

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In Case of a School Massacre the Whiteboards Will Make it Out Unharmed

April 24, 2013

Bulletproof Whiteboards Minnesota

Let’s not beat around the bush, bulletproof whiteboards is a stunt rather than a genuine idea. It is designed to give parents a false sense of comfort during difficult times. Whilst there is nothing particularly wrong with that, I would rather see them get a real sense of comfort instead.

Schools investing in these whiteboards would be better served in focusing on ways to make their school inviting and relevant to each and every student. This includes making any existing bullying and cyberbullying a issue of first priority. This also includes making every student feel valued, cared for, important and necessary.

Schools which can earn the respect and trust of its students have a lot less to worry about than schools with reinforced whiteboards:

A Minnesota school district where two students were killed in a 2003 shooting unveiled a new device Tuesday aimed at adding a last-ditch layer of safety for teachers and students: bulletproof whiteboards.

The Rocori School District has acquired nearly 200 of the whiteboards, made of a material touted by its manufacturer as stronger than that in police-issue bulletproof vests. The 18-by-20-inch whiteboards can be used by teachers for instruction and used as a shield in an emergency.

Police Chief Phil Jones demonstrated the whiteboards Tuesday in a school gym by leveling a karate kick at one, whacking it with a police baton and stabbing it with a knife – all with no apparent effect.

Jones didn’t fire his gun at the whiteboard, saying it would have been unsafe and inappropriate at the school. But he said he’d tested it earlier by firing several rounds at it.

“We put this board to the test, and quite frankly, that was the day I became a believer,” Jones said.

 

Click on the link to read My Heart Bleeds for Children Who Are Exploited

Click on the link to read The People Who “Liked” This Should be Struck Off Facebook

Click on the link to read How Giving Your Children a Bath Can Get You on a Sex Offender Registry

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Click on the link to read It is Shameful to Claim that Paedophilia is NOT a Crime

Click on the link to read Dad’s Letter to 13-Year Old Son after Discovering he had been Downloading from Porn Sites

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8 Things You Will Find in a Successful Classroom

April 23, 2013

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Courtesy of educator, speaker and blogger, George Couros:

1.  Voice – Students should have the opportunity to not only learn from others but also share their learning with others as well.  We live in a world where everyone has a voice and if we do not teach our students to use this effectively, they will definitely struggle.  To me, this is so simple yet so essential.

2.  Choice – This is not only about how students learn, but also what they learn about.  How do they further their learning in areas of interests to them?  Throughout the first few years of university I did poorly, yet in my final few years my grades were better than they ever had been.  What was the difference?  I actually cared what I was learning about.  Strengths based learning is extremely important.

3.  Time for Reflection – Classrooms are an extremely busy place and I understand that many feel that they are rushed through the curriculum, but I think that taking the time to connect and reflect on what is being learned gives learners a better opportunity to really understand what they have learned.  I know many classrooms have DEAR time (drop everything and read), so why do we not have time to simply write and reflect?  This is not only for students, but for teachers and administrators as well.

4.   Opportunities for Innovation– Recently I visited Greystone Centennial Middle School during “Innovation Week” and saw students that created a hovercraft (not kidding) using things that they had around the house.  They were able to guide it around the gym and it was able to carry people around.  These kids were in grade 9.

When I asked the students about this opportunity, they had told me that they had saw something similar on YouTube but it was missing a few elements that they wanted to add.  They made it new and better.  I can only imagine what the students will do after they leave school because of this day, not in spite of it.

5.  Critical Thinkers – In the “factory model” of education, students were meant to be compliant and basically do “as they were told.”  This is not something that sticks with a child only, but goes into adulthood as well and it creates “yes” people who tend to lose all originality.  One of my best friends and my first admin partner, told me to never just let him go out on his own with his ideas without questioning them and sharing my thoughts.  His reason?  He wanted the best ideas, not his ideas.  He wanted me to ask questions.  He wanted to be successful.  It was not his ego that was important, but the success of his staff and students.  I have learned to ask the same of all those I work with and although it can turn into spirited conversations, it is was best not only for school but all organizations.  We need to have students that are able to ask questions and challenge what they see, but always in a respectful way.

6.  Problem Solvers/Finders – Ewan McIntosh has a brilliant Ted Talk discusses the notion of “problem-based learning” and how it is not beneficial to give students problems that aren’t real.  Instead, he focuses on the idea that students need to be “problem finders”; being able to find some tough challenges and then being able to solve those problems.  Megan Howard shares a wonderful story of how one of her grade six students was able to see that there was a problem with classmates losing their school uniforms and then being able to use QR codes to be able to identify them.  Let’s start asking kids to really look into finding what the problems are and giving them some purpose in solving something real.

7.  Self-Assessment – I don’t think that I have ever heard a teacher say, “I can’t wait until we get to write report cards!”  That being said, I think we spend too much time focusing on being able to tell others what our students can do and know, and not enough time helping students understand those things themselves.  Portfolios are a great way to share this knowledge and will actually have students develop their own understanding of what they know.  If you can write in a report card that a student can do something in October, yet they can’t do it in January, is that report card still relevant?  I think that we should spend more time working with students to teach them how to assess themselves and not just do it for them.

8. Connected Learning – When I first started teaching, I remember really struggling with science.  It was a subject that I struggled with as a learner and that continued on as a teacher.  I now think that if I was in the classroom, that the best person to teach science wouldn’t be me, but a scientist.  With most people that having a computer also having a Skype account, there are many that are willing to share their expertise in different areas.  This does not only have to be via technology, but we should also be bring in experts from our community to talk to students.  I know many teachers have done this for a long time, but technology opens the doors to people that we could not even imagine being a part of our classroom even ten years ago.  Even Shaquille O’neal has made some time to  Skype with students in one school.

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Teachers Told Not To Correct Student Work With Red Pen

April 22, 2013

A school in Harrow in north west London has angered teachers and MPs by telling staff not to use red ink when marking homework

A ruling to prevent teachers from marking in red pen sounds extreme, but since when is protecting the emotional state of ones students extreme?

Whilst I mark in red, I also realise that splashing red across the page can be harmful to a child’s confidence. After all, the point of corrections is to help the student become aware of a mistake and help them to overcome the skill error, not to reinforce weakness or make them feel inferior.

That is why I believe in marking work in front of the child. If something they have written doesn’t make sense, get them to read it over to you and work with them in correcting the error. If there is a spelling mistake, sound out the word together and assist in respelling the word correctly. This cooperative approach to correcting work demonstrates to the student that the mistakes are easily corrected and have no bearing on the student’s ability. Instead of seeing red and feeling despondent, the student should feel empowered and become more aware with the processes for troubleshooting and self-correcting.

I don’t see the banning of the red correction pen sufficient in itself, but I certainly wouldn’t rubbish it as political correctness gone wrong:

Teachers have been told not to use red link to mark homework to avoid upsetting pupils.

The edict has been condemned as ‘absolutely political correctness gone wild’ which risks leaving students in the dark about where they have gone wrong.

Ministers have been forced to distance themselves from the bizarre policy, insisting no government rules exist on what colour pens teachers use.

The policy would appear to be at odds with the back to basics approach of Education Secretary Michael Gove who has insisted teachers must mark pupils down for poor spelling and grammar.

He has warned that in the past too little has been done to focus on core skills to ensure young people are confident in key writing skills.

Tory MP Bob Blackman revealed his anger after being told a secondary school in his Harrow East constituency had banned teachers from using red ink.

He told MailOnline: ‘A teacher contacted me and said I cannot believe I have been instructed by my head to mark children’s homework in particular colours and not to use certain colours.

‘It is all about not wanting to discourage youngsters if their work is marked wrong.

‘It sounds to me like some petty edict which is nonsense. It is absolutely political correctness gone wild.

‘My take on all this is to say children need to understand the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong.’

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6 Messages For Children After a Tragedy

April 21, 2013

Courtesy of educator and child advocate Pam Allyn:

1. Most of the time, people are trying to do the right thing.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'”

This message from Mr. Rogers is particularly helpful for a child who needs a strategy to counteract the horror of the image he sees on television or right before him. Day after day, friendly people give up seats on a train to someone who needs it more, share a gift with someone or run in the direction of danger to help, as many did in Boston. Tell these stories to a child. Put the spotlight on the helpers.

2. Anger is OK. Sometimes it is very useful.

For a child, anger is a complicated emotion. Children are sometimes told it’s not an appropriate feeling. But they feel it nevertheless, and wonder what to do about it. We can help children to not only manage those feelings, but convert them. Consider heroes like Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi, who have become known over the years for their peaceful, non-violent solutions to world problems. In fact, each of them burned with anger and then turned this anger into real action. Read aloud to your child from great speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr. and by other heroes who spoke out against injustice. Let them see the real human effort involved in converting anger to action.

3. The world is safer than it sometimes seems.

When a tragedy happens, a child’s world is shaken. Nothing feels safe. It is important to help children re-frame their world so as to remind him or her of the daily ways we live so securely. We travel, eat, sleep, talk, make friends, go to work and school all many, many times and all around the world every single day and a million times a year. These are all blessings we can count on. Use this opportunity to give your child a notebook or make a file on the computer for your child to keep a diary of the day’s events, and to savor in the ordinary. Reminders of how ordinary every day generally is are very comforting to a child who wants to count on the steadiness of the world and believe in it again.

4. The world is genuinely beautiful.

The television images are gruesome after a tragedy. It is very challenging to keep those images from children, although we can try. There is an antidote and that is the beauty of the world itself. Collect such images with your child, in photos and in writing. Create photo book collections of trees, flowers and people’s faces. Remind your child these things exist, and some are of nature and some are made by man, but that we can practice each day to find beauty all around us. That takes practice too.

5. Learning how to read helps us make sense of the world.

The child who is overwhelmed by images can feel powerless. This is an opportunity to talk about the power of words. Reading gives us control, giving us ways to find what we need on our own and also makes us happy. Show children examples of this. Learn more about emergency workers and what they do in their jobs. Learn together about ways to solve problems. Find out new information about different parts of the world. Read picture books that comfort, soothe and distract.

6. Our simple and every day acts of kindness will make a difference.

Doing simple acts of kindness can counteract the awful feeling we all get after a tragedy that we don’t know how to help. Keep a notebook together called “Daily Acts of Kindness” and fill it each evening with things that have touched you both, or things you both have done for others. These actions are comforting both for the giver and the receiver.

 

Click on the link to read Advice for Talking With Your Kids About the Boston Marathon Attack

 

Click on the link to read A Teacher’s Guide to Talking to Students About the Newtown School Shooting

Click on the link to read Explaining the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting to Children

Click on the link to read Helping Kids Cope in the Aftermath of Sandy

Click here to read ‘Helping Our Children Make Sense of Natural Disasters’.

 

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When Children Say Too Much

April 19, 2013

It is important to remind your children that there are certain secrets and personal family stories that they shouldn’t be revealing in class. It is very common for students to say things about their mother or father that would cause them much embarrassment.

That is why an assignment calling for students to write one sentence about a family member, and draw a picture of it, was always going to be a bit risky. It is no wonder that one student submitted this:

 

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Advice for Talking With Your Kids About the Boston Marathon Attack

April 18, 2013

martin richard dead boston marathon

Some helpful tips from usatoday.com:

Tips:

  • Turn off the TV and keep newspapers from younger children.
  • Remind them that they’re safe and that you and other adults are taking care that they stay that way.
  • Give kids something positive to do. It could be writing notes or raising money for a children’s charity or the Red Cross. Often the victims of an event are overwhelmed with gifts, so finding a national or regional group that can spread the aid is helpful.
  • Talk about the overwhelmingly positive response of the people near the bombing — regular people who ripped up their own clothes to make bandages and took stranded runners into their homes so they could make phone calls. Discuss what you as a family would do in a situation like that and how you would help.

Click on the link to read A Teacher’s Guide to Talking to Students About the Newtown School Shooting

Click on the link to read Explaining the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting to Children

Click on the link to read Helping Kids Cope in the Aftermath of Sandy

Click here to read ‘Helping Our Children Make Sense of Natural Disasters’.

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The Kids Who Have to Climb Up a Cliff to Get to School (Pictures)

April 16, 2013

Children climb the ladders to get to school in Hunan province, China

After reading this article I wont complain about getting stuck in traffic on the way to school ever again!

These schoolchildren in southern China are so keen to get to school that they make the perilous journey on narrow wooden ladders every day, with no safety precautions.

Their village in the remote Badagong mountains in Sangzhi county is surrounded by sheer drops on every side, making the school run a daily struggle.

The only way out of Zhang Jiawan village, unless the children have time for a four-hour cross country detour, is via a series of rickety-looking ladders leading down to the valley below.

This little girl balances her three bags leaving her only one hand to scale the mountain to get to school

Staff at the school face a difficult commute to work on the enormous wooden ladders

A schoolgirl holds the ladder for others to come up safely behind her

5-year-old Yu Xinxin, who climbs the ladders to school every day, before she sets off on her long morning journey

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