I know this seems silly because we haven't even celebrated his 1st birthday yet, but being a high school teacher I am constantly hearing about things that go on. If you have kids, trust me...there is a LOT going on that you would never dream of. I went to high school in the mid-late 90s. Yes, people were having sex. Yes, people were drinking and using drugs...but the feeling I get is that it's way more rampant now. I don't think you would believe the things that I could tell you that I hear from students and I would never post them on here because if I did I could get fired...but if I found out that my son was doing those things I would #1 be very sad and #2 I would probably send him to one of those boot camps.
I think as a society we need to make a lot of changes. First of all, kids need their parents. Teens don't need all this freedom...they need family time. You might be a single parent and if so, I have tons of respect for you. My mother-in-law raised 3 boys alone and I have no idea how she survived...but guess what. She wasn't out dating all these men and leaving her boys to do whatever. She was working to put food on the table and doing the best she could. I have a student who is having serious issues right now and a lot of it is exaccerbated (SAT word!) by the fact that his/her mom has had several failed marriaged and is constantly off galavanting with some guy.
Second of all, we have got to take this trash off the TV and radio. Have you listened to the lyrics of these songs??? I remember in high school the worst song I'd ever heard was "Put it in your mouth" and now that's basically EVERY song on the radio! Then we turn on the TV and everything is so sexual. I can't lie...I enjoy watching "The Bachelor" but geez...going to the fantasy suite about 2 weeks after you met someone? Most sit-coms are centered around everyone jumping in and out of bed with each other. It just gets worse and worse. Rather than taking the time to talk to our kids and LISTEN to our kids, we'd rather let the TV or computer entertain them.
Third, kids need to have strict supervision when using the internet. It's SO EASY for them to access porn...and once they see it they easily get addicted. Then you have Facebook, Myspace and AIM where kids can write whatever and put pictures of whatever.
I also don't think kids need phones with unlimited texting...unless they have a plan where the parents can see all of their texts.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, we (parents, teachers, society) need to be stressing SELF-RESPECT. If kids had respect for themselves, they wouldn't be doing the things they're doing. Again, we don't talk and listen...we just assume that they're going to have sex so we get them birth control. Abstinence doesn't have to be about just avoiding pregnancy and STDS...it should be a way to strengthen and improve your character. It's about not giving yourself away to anyone and everyone who wants it. And it's about developing meaningful relationships with other people that don't have to be all about sex.
A few years ago, I had a guest speaker come talk to my 9th grade health classes. She talked about sex and abstinence in a way that every young person should hear. Unfortunately, she moved to Arizona, so I can't bring her in any more. Sometimes I want to quit my job and speak like she did...but I doubt I could afford to.
Please parents, talk to your kids...don't let them learn everything from other kids. And they need YOU.
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