Bullying in Schools

Submitted by carolewilliams on June 16, 2006 - 22:42.

Having spoken to another parent about bullying in school today got me thinking. Why is it that parents can see all sorts of ways to get children interacting at school in a less theratening ways? I am not suggesting that parents have all the answers however, nor do schools it seems.  Having read that is is law for schools to have anti bullying policies in place today and given the press and media coverage about the subject, government documents and not to mention the information on the web.  How is it that 15% of children are still suffering long term bullying of some type or other.  I found that a search of my locals schools on line did not flush out to many links to anti bullying policies.  This was a big surprise because most young people communicate online and I would have thought that it woudl make sense to put a pupil friendly anti bullying policy on the web for them to read and know what theor school will do for them if it happens.

In the UK we have gang culture which I think is a place where young people are seeking the belonging and teamwork that they are so desperately needing today.  I can't help feeling that we can do so much more.  And why is it that people are so unwilling to make stand for justice and to speak out for what is right or more importantly what is wrong?

We don't have any answers maybe but I know a man who does.  For those parents worries about bullying for their children, you may find the following links helpful.

www.kidscape.com

read more | 1 comment | schools | parents | Family | bullying

ADHD and mind altering drugs continued

Submitted by carolewilliams on May 3, 2006 - 11:39.

I received this in my in box today which is quite condemning, just wondering if anybody has any comments in the continuing debate for parents managing ADHD. Remembering that the UK always follows the USA.  There must be another way!

Watch - Broadband
Watch - Dial-up

An extensive article published in USA Today  revealed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recorded 45 child deaths attributed to new anti-psychotic drugs, yet experts say the death toll could easily be as high as 450,  as only 1 to 10% of adverse reactions are ever reported to the FDA. Equally alarming is that the number of anti-psychotic drugs prescribed for 2 to 18-year-olds grew from under 500,000 in 1995, to approximately 2.5 million in 2002  —  a 400% increase, while sales of anti-psychotic drugs have soared 1,500%, from $500 million in 1991 to more than $8 billion in 2003.  

add new comment | ADHD

Springtime for Families

Submitted by carolewilliams on May 3, 2006 - 11:19.

Well, it's that beautiful time of year again, Springtime.  New buds popping up all over the place, new life in the fields, baby lambs skipping and hopping everywhere. 

Today, I want to encourage families everywhere to breathe in the Spring air and have a new lease of life in the family. 

Mum if you haven't relaxed with your children lately, take time off even if it's sitting in your own back garden and play with them talk with them, laugh with them.  Play a silly game that will encourage you all to laugh. Dad's have a game of football with them, challenge them at playstation, read a story together or better still invent one.  Build them a playhouse in the garden out of scrap material and a giant packing box, so what if it rains, who cares? You won't shrink!  Children, plague your parents to play WITH you, they need it too!  Life is too serious today, no wonder we have high levels of stress.  Just taking time to play with your children, really play with them can be as de-stressing for you as it is fun and exciting for them.

 I challenge you all to go out and do something together that you haven't done before.  Only one rule! It musn't be organised entertainment like the cinema or a fairgound or Circus or Alton Towers!  You have to be creative in keeping your money in your pocket and entertaining the children yourself.

In this age of technology and entertainment, it is all too easy to lose touch with your children as we 'pay' for them to be entertained by someone else.  Some of the funniest and most memorable times I have had with my son have been making cardboard swords that eventually get smashed to pieces and we laugh as we battle with two stumps of cardboard giggling hysterically as another piece drops off.

1 attachment | read more | add new comment | Mum | laugh | fun | Family | Dad | children | challenge

So What is a ‘Good ‘ school?

Submitted by carolewilliams on April 18, 2006 - 18:39.

 

 

I was re-connecting with my passion about reforming the education system whilst on my Easter break and wondering about Mr Blair's plans to reform schools.  He talks about ‘good' schools a lot and  says "controversial school reforms are needed in England because the system is "not working well enough" for many children".  I found myself wondering what he meant by that and continued to read the report.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4687964.stm.ry

 

I was not surprised to read that nowhere in the report does it mention researching and connecting with the people who use the schools..... the pupils.  It seems to me that when trying to reform our eighteenth century school system we focus on what the government feel is right, what school governers think is right and what the teachers and head teachers views are but we rarely see reports or headlines stating "pupils suggested that.... Or year 10 was consulted and we found that....

 

It seems to me that it is time, not to have yet another ‘reform' as all the previous ones don't seem to have worked but to have a complete overhaul.  Let's clear the clutter, jazz up the environment and give our children something to want to go to school for. Having been in a few schools recently, apart form the brand new modern ones, they can often still look like places that resemble state prisons with dark, gloomy corridors, poor lighting, totally aesthetically displeasing, no art or great posters on the walls, wonky slatted blinds, wound ounce too often and I have wondered ....who would want to start and end their day here? Not me!  What about inspirational posters and quotes smothering the walls or wonderful vibrant colours on the floors.

read more | add new comment | teachers | school | reform | learning | government

God incidence - It's good to talk!

Submitted by carolewilliams on April 16, 2006 - 20:09.

So, celebrating this Easter tide I was musing over the amount of God incidences in my life over this last short period.  I guess many people would call them coincidences.  However, I know through very personal experience that God is working in my life all year, not just at Easter.  I was reflecting on my way to the airport to meet a friend at 4.30 a.m. I know, consider it an ungodly hour if you like!  I was thinking about business and having one of those time out reflective, holiday thinking periods with nothing better to do than watch the amazing moonset at that time in the morning. I think that was what got me thinking about all the God incidences that had occurred relating to my business this year.  Just looking at what a wonderful world he created.

So, I arrived at the airport and wandered in about 6.45 ah, great! I thought, just time for a nice cup of coffee, before my friends flight landed.   I had been praying about my business on the way up in the car, that God would show me a new direction.  Anyway, So there I was in the coffee queue smiling and happy, feeling on top of the world.  There was a lady standing next to me, she seemed very 'present' and she said, "oh, it's been quite a morning".  there began a conversation in the queue which was to last for the next hour.  She introduced herself by name, asked if she could join me and we had the most delightful hour, she walked me to the barrier while we continued to talk and she stood with me until my friend came through off the plane. She was charming, animated, interesting, lively, had some great stories, a joke and what's more had a small degree of crossover into my own business.  Her name is Claire and she was older than me and I think I would probably have a run for my money to keep up with just how much she does in her life and I have a seven year old to run after.

1 attachment | read more | 1 comment | praying | networking | God | friend | Easter | airport

Peter Pan's Lost Boys

Submitted by carolewilliams on March 30, 2006 - 20:30.

The Family Coach and boys.  When I think about boys today I often think of the film Peter Pan. In today's life our boys need a Peter Pan to fight for them and a Wendy to bring them home...safely.

Hmmm!  So, today I was researching some more stuff about boys.  I have read in depth about raising boys and I am a real advocate of men being the leading partner in a loving rather than dominating relationship.  As I single parent I regularly feel the weight of having to do everything and I get really mad about women who rubbish their husbands and partners when the partner seems to be geuinely good, honest, loyal and faithful and trying his level best in todays world of 'the modern man'.

I also beleive young boys need the encouragement of another male, preferably their Dad and one of THE most worrying trends in our neighbourhood is that of underage teenage pregnancy.  I came across yet another 17 year old girl yesterday full of the joys of pregnancy with a Mother who has vowed to stand by her (what else can she do?).  The Father of the unknowing unborn baby, an equally young and naive man and what hope?  Forgive them for they know not what they do!  Another innocent child about to be born out of wedlock and possibly, long term without a Father around.

Now, if that baby is born a girl, well some hope but girls do still need , their Dads love and care and encouragement and if it's a boy, well start at the beginning again.  Boys definately need the encouragement of another male preferably their Dad.  When will young women realise this?  If the Dad is not present then they need strong male relationships for their boys in the form of Uncles,  friends, neighbours, church community, not oodles of other young single Mums in similar situations to hang out with.

read more | add new comment | underage pregnancy | Peter Pan | modern man | manhood | identitity | fathers for justice | Boys | boyhood

Inspiration of the Sea

Submitted by carolewilliams on March 23, 2006 - 21:17.

So, here I am dreaming about being back by the sea.  Its such an inspirational place for me which s why I called the business Ocean People Development.  Most, the sea inspired all my great ideas.

 

Today has been a good day, I went to see my Pastor yesterday and we were talking about my business.  He suggested that I should contact our local radio about the Surviving the Teen Years course.

 

So, today whilst I was musing, I picked up the phone.  “Hello, can I speak to Rachel Sloane please”.  “Oh! You won’t find her here today – she only presents at the weekends so, she won’t be ere, let me see who’s dealing with her stuff”.  I take the opportunity to say a quick prayer, as I do often throughout the day, simple stuff – “dear Lord, let this call be fruitful”. A surprised same voice says, “oh, I can’t believe it – we actually have found Rachel Sloane in the building” Ah! I love instant answers to prayer, it doesn’t always happen like that!  He was certain that she wouldn’t be there!  She took some details about some work that I have been doing and said that they would get back to me either later today or tomorrow and that I can have a slot on a Sunday morning. Hallelujah!

read more | add new comment | sea | love | inspiration

Seven Ways to Talk to your Teenager and then Love Them

Submitted by carolewilliams on March 23, 2006 - 18:13.

The more I work with teenagers, the more I love them, the more I hear about parents with their teenagers the more my heart goes out to them.  It becomes clearer and clearer, the reasons why we must take a coaching approach to talking to our teens.

One of the main problems for teenagers is that they feel that no one listens to them. One of the main problems for parents of teens is that they feel that their teens don't listen to them. 

Communication is key in the parent teen relationship.  Teenagers want their parents to value them even though they are sometimes not able to show it during the teen years.

The one thing that I have learned about teenagers especially what we would describe as 'the naughty ones' is that no matter how bad it gets for them, no matter how much trouble they are in - MUM is still the word.  

 On parent as coach we teach the eight ways of:

Love; Respect; Listening; Understanding; Appreciation; Support; Resonsibility; Independence.

We know that these work with teenagers we have tested them again and again.  One of the most inspiring parts of being in self employment is knowing that you have an idea that is a winner.  After that it becomes a matter of promoting it correctly and getting it to those who need it most, in our case parents of teenagers.

add new comment

Thou shalt not commit, commitment!

Submitted by carolewilliams on March 20, 2006 - 22:26.

So, we have just finished our first Surviving the Teen Years teleclass for parents.  Gladly, it was a resounding success and the next one begins on 12th April.  The parents were very complimentary and one of them commented that it had been 'life changing' for her and her teenager. So, all the hard work in planning and design has paid off - we know that it works!

So, my thoughts turn to another piece of work about how you inspire teenagers who feel that they have missed out on their upbringing.  The really intersting thing is that teenagers whose parents have not really bothered with them or worse, left them totally while they were children can absolutely tell you what has been missing from their parents. It's incredible how often people want to hide behind their life experience as a reason for not moving on.  So, we focus on how to get these young people beyond that at an early age.  But when all you know as a teenager is how to smoke cannabis and drink in order to escape the boredom of no work and a small town, what options are there?

 Belief and respect are big words for these young people.  They want respect, yet often don't know how to give it because when they did it has been abused  They have little real belief about their job prospects, but more importantly, these young people really need a great understanding of committment.  Committment is something that not many people have given them and so they are often unsure as to how to give commitment and the reasons why they should.  Couple that with the usual teenage growth, incorporating rebellion, the search for identity, changed body clocks and you have a recipe for a r!eally interesting and challenging development course.  Hmmmm!  More to follow

read more | 3 comments

THE F WORD! - BLOG HITS CHANNEL 4 T.V.

Submitted by carolewilliams on February 18, 2006 - 21:43.

The Unltd blog has reached researchers for Channel 4 t.v. They had found my bog in a search about eating round the dinner table as a family.  Imagine my surprise when an email dropped into my in box from a researcher.  Here is an excerpt from the email.  Can any of you out there help.

QUOTE

"I am currently looking for groups of people to unite around the dinner table and in my search I found your blog!

The idea is to get various groups to re-unite around the dinner table. Maybe a family currently eat separately watching the TV, or a group of friends meet often but rarely have dinner together. Gordon would visit and help them cook a meal.

The reason that I have contacted you is because we are looking for all sorts of different types of people from all walks of life and I thought perhaps people who visit your blog may be interested in becoming involved. "

So, there you have it!  If you are interested please CLICK the ATTACHMENT BELOW and check out the document and then contact me and I can give you details straight away.  They are looking specifically for families who currently do not sit down for dinner together but would like to.  If that's you, email me or pick up the phone. They absolutely do not want people who just want an audience with a master chef!  So, what are you waiting for - Yummy!

1 attachment | add new comment | eating | Channel 4