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 in response to susie's son...   What used to make this country great - at least to me. Was that everyone had a voice, that no matter our differences we could all come together to discuss the issues that effected all of us.

It seems that that has been taken away. Believe it or not. I was literally blind to race for a very long time. I traveled in my very young days, I met people of all different cultures - but to me it was the person I met, not their race that I saw.

I was a young mother with a few children when I moved into some projects in the south. It's the one place I'd not lived before, I felt that Virginia was a good place. But I needed to move into the city from the country due to my vision. There were obstacles to living out in the country - like transportation and such. So moving into an apartment based on income seemed a good choice. I didn't even know what "the projects" meant at the time.

Well, I made friends quickly with a young mother with a couple kids who was going to school. I loaned her my laptop to work on and print out her school work. (back then the laptop I had weighed about 10-15 lbs and had a detachable printer on the back. It was about the size of a briefcase and nearly as thick. )

It was weeks later when I was talking to an old pal who'd moved to Texas. When she asked how I was getting on I told her. I mentioned that I'd made a few friends too. She asked me a question I didn't really understand. "What are they?" I said that one was a nurse, another a teacher and one was in my apartment building. She was a young mother and student at a local college. My pal laughed and said. "No, what are they?"
I had no idea what he was talking about. Then he said,"What does your neighbor look like?" I said she's a young female with dark hair, slim build and she's very pretty I think."
He sounded a little annoyed with me and said,"What race is she?"
I was shocked at his tone and then told him flatly. "I don't know. What does it matter anyway?" I was getting a bit mad. He just growled, "Oh forget it. You're blind anyway." I told him that he was acting like a jerk and hung up on him.

But afterward what he said had effected me. I didn't really know what race my neighbor was. I didn't really notice. But he'd broke that veil that day. I took out pictures from my kids birthdays in our old neighborhoods. I suddenly noticed how many different cultures where there together. I actually cried. Because he'd taken from me something that I wanted back. But now that I could "see" I hated it.

Today in the way people are so divided - I really dislike how it's our differences that are spotlighted while what makes us strong, united and better is not. I was so proud of the many thousands that came out for the unions. So glad that many put aside race, religion and all those other differences and stood up for a group being bullied.

Thanks for sharing your self on here as well...it's our shared experience that makes us better people.

 in response to Mimzy...   The huge post way fine, that's what this site is all about, sharing opinions, and I found your post very insightful. I do understand the passion when speaking about a topic close to our heart, and I am the same way concerning prayer and God.
The lack of prayer/lack of God in the classrooms has been an issue for me, and I do understand that there are many different types of religions and beliefs. I have been at both sides of the coin and have attended public & private school. I chose to remain in the private school because I felt there was a lot lacking through public education, but that was my choice and it did not come easy. My mother and I both worked to enable me to have what I felt I needed, which began with the morals, values and Christian upbringing that started at a very young age. I know all of our circumstances are different. Our needs, goals, and desires are achieved differently, and I am speaking in regards to my life, not anyone else.
We do all need to be active, and that's starts with being informed, and making sure we vote. Regardless of the problems that we all face I do feel blessed to live in this country.
Thanks for sharing.

 in response to susie's son...   We agree on many points. But one we do not. For those that wish to send their children to a church oriented school, then they should have a way to do so. Some such schools offer scholarships for those with less income. But I do not agree with this in a public school that is funded by the govt. By law and the Constitution, it can not fund religious schools.

The First Amendment to the country's Constitution prevents the Federal government from making any "law respecting an establishment of religion", and guarantees the free exercise of religion. The Supreme Court has interpreted this as preventing the government from having any authority in religion.

Besides, this country is not populated by one religious group. There are many denominations just in the Christian religion. There are nondenominational groups, there are Buddhists, Taoists, Jewish, Shaman, Hindu, Judaism, Islam, Agnostics, Wiccans, Druids, several other Pagan groups, as well as Atheists and others. So having only one religion allowed in the public school system would be bullish.

Frankly prayer, the act of calling upon divine or other worldly powers, has most likely been in schools from the beginning. It is still there. As long as there are tests & completions - there will be prayer of some type. i.e. "Please let me pass this test."

Personally, I believe more in the way our great leaders were educated. Besides their native tongue, they could speak, read and write in Latin, Greek and French. A classical education was the standard of the day -they studied the likes of Vergil, Horace, Justinian, Nepos, Caesar, Tacitus, Lucretius, Eutropius, Phaedrus, Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plato. They were taught music, to play an instrument of some kind, even if it was just their own voice. They were educated by tutors, their own parents, some would attend classes at church, some had apprenticeships with masters in a trade or skill. They were well rounded, intelligent, engaged with their world, as well as their govt and neighbors.

They studied great philosophers, learned the lessons of history and about tried and failed experiments in Government. They learned governments throughout history, no matter how benevolent, have always evolved over time to consume more power and enslave their own people. That is why they created for us a central government with three branches, each with an ability to check the power the others - while being held in check by the limited powers delegated to it by the States and the people through the constitution.

They gave us a constitutional republic with limited powers, whose one and only reason for existence is to protect the rights of the people. It was the people who granted power to the government, it was the individual who was sovereign, whose rights were a birthright, not graciously granted to them by the government. Our country is a grand experiment in liberty based on the principle of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That these rights are natural rights and not granted to us at the whim of an omnipotent group of corrupt politicians.

But we as individuals, as a people have allowed our servants to become our masters. We have allowed them to define what rights we are allowed to have. In the name of security, we have given up our freedoms. Some have twisted the interpretation of our Constitution till it now has little or no meaning. In fact, it has been ignored at times of convenience in the government administration.

When the highest office can power grab, doing things not allowed to that office and get away with it. When those against certain classes, lifestyles, races or ideals can be put into offices for the sole purpose of castrating the rights of those groups. Then others in office, bribed with gifts pass laws allowing corporate entities the same rights as a citizen - in essence giving them the powers of sovereign citizenship as in the constitution. We are now looking at a new master that has arisen as the Corporations, now equal to the people, who are now puppet mastering a portion of our Govt.

It isn't the lack of prayer, the lack of God in the classroom. Our Founders warned of the corruption from money and power that would lead to corrupt officials. It is our lack of action, our laziness & lack of education. We have been blinded by the misinformation, paralized by our slothfulness at seeking the truth. The fault is ours for not standing against this theft of our rights, our voice and allowing these, our elected public servants to dictate to US what we can and can't do.

It hasn't happened in 5yrs, or 20 yrs...it's been happening for a very long time. The slow draining away of our rights to organize, our right to know the truth, to have our welfare protected. That word has been demonized: welfare. It was meant to protect those that were old, disabled, poor and the young. It was set up so that the govt would care for those that had no one to care for them.
But even that has been twisted and corrupted over time. Today our safety nets, put into place to protect, are being attacked, threatened. They've already been looted and the funds not repayed.

I believe that more parents need to be more involved. But with out current cultural war and those trying to destroy the middle class, it's almost impossible for parents to do all they want to do. Bills are higher, taxes are being pushed up on those that have less money to lose.
Meanwhile, the wealthiest are given cuts and some huge companies have high priced CPA and lawyers abuse loop holes so they don't pay any taxes on billions AND they get millions back from the govt too! So why do they need tax cuts???

We have got to do whatever we can to help our kids. They will be the leaders of tomorrow, if we can get the dinosaurs out of office. They must understand what's at stake - our future. They must be open to learning from others who are solving their own problems. To realize that investing in education, technology and renewable energy is the direction, if we're to find a better future. To admit we have fallen, then find the right way to rise.
Protecting our ecology, our people, our rights and our voices so we are heard - Being accountable for actions - to speak the truth.

We were fooled to in the last election, by those who said they would create jobs & reduce the deficit. They have been in office for almost 4 months. So far the House cuts would cost 700,000 jobs! They want to cut the programs that are the safety net for senors, the poor, our children and disabled. They've bullied their way to get huge tax cuts for the richest.  Now they're also wanting to add to the deficit with huge tax cuts to big business!

At the state level they've been pushing for harsher anti-abortion laws while defunding planned parenthood which would stop unplanned pregnancies. They want to endanger the lives of women by cutting funding to groups that offer breast cancer screening and health education to those that can't afford it.
They are taking the rights from unions to negotiate for better conditions, safer work environments, a living min. wage, better health care options and protections.

They say it's the budget - it's not. When unions gave on all the money points demanded, they still refused the unions. It's not about the budget.

They have gutted funding on K-12 schools by millions & at some points billions! They said because of the budget.
Then they turned around and gave millions or billions in tax cuts to big business. It's not about the budget.

They couldn't push some of these things at the fed level on the Hill. They didn't hold all the cards.
So they are doing it state by state. They are pushing through these policies despite huge protests - because these policies are unpopular with the people.
Remember, the people who supposedly grant power to the government - the govt. whose one and only reason for existence is to protect the rights of the people.

We are getting bullied, having illegal policies turned into laws and our rights & freedoms are being stripped. This is what we need our children to learn. They need to learn the Constitution, "the highest law of the land" - or it was. Then need to realize that the people are slowly being turned into slaves under the rule of a corrupt govt sector and the big corporations that rule them.

If we don't stand up, all of us that work, that want to work, the elderly, the disabled, the older children that will be the leaders of tomorrow...if we don't stop them from defunding our programs, from over reaching power grabs, from dictating to us what our freedoms and rights are...we will no longer be living in our country. We will be living in their Corporately ruled country.

Thanks for the kind words, even though we don't agree on all things that should not prevent us from communicating.
It's communication between all people that is sorely lacking in our country's discussions and debates....
when we actually have debates or discussions.

We somehow have lost control of the town square where all voices can be heard freely, respectfully, without malice.

Forgive the huge posting...lol I do tend to be rather literary on passionate, potent & political topics...among others. lol

You are right. Our economy has affected the education system in our country. Teachers are paid less. classes are over crowded, and priorities have changed. Each year it gets worse, and each year more children are affected. Students are being rushed through the school system and graduating unprepared for college. Budget cuts should not be done at the risk of shattering the future of our nation.
I know there are some wonderful teachers that do their best in spite of their pay or the system, but many of those teachers have had to seek employment elsewhere to survive financially. Our nation needs to think about the child more then the almighty dollar, and as the saying goes , "You get what you pay for". If we continue to have budget cuts within the education system we will end up with a less than satisfactory school system, and the students that emerge from it when not be able to meet the potential they could have achieved.
Our local CPS offices are not what they need to be either. They too are understaffed, under paid, and have more cases then they can handle, which in turn leads to rash decisions, and neglect in some cases. If we want the best for the children, then we need the best overseeing them.
Parent's do have to be advocates. That may require more work on their part, but it is necessary to make sure their child is being treated fairly and given the best education possible. If a parent feels that things are not being done correctly rhea have to get involved. This may require visits to the school, administration office and school board. When that does not work it may be necessary to get the state representatives involved. Whatever it takes is required, and should continue at all cost to protect and equip the child.
I am only 22 years old, but I have already seen a lot of changes in the system during my life time, and I am sure those older and wiser than I am have seen even more drastic changes. I feel that things began to change when we removed prayer from our schools. We have ended up with more gangs, more violence and more drop outs. Children are being bullied, killed, and neglected and the statistics get worse every year. Our country is medicating more and teaching less, and children are suffering. We have to take a stand, and keep standing until we have been heard and our concerns addressed and corrected.
God needs to be allowed back in our schools and welcomed into our homes. Children need to be viewed as an asset not a number, and we all need to do our part through prayer and by being active in our child's life.
I love our country and would not want to live anywhere else, but there are things that need to be changed in order for this country to be all it can be, and it starts with the children.
Thanks for your message. It is so encouraging to see someone with such a drive and dedication to their child and other children. Your message is heart felt and needed.
Have a good day GOD BLESS

 in response to susie's son...   Thanks for your kind words. I only did what I thought was right.
How could they think that I'd believe my son had "suddenly" become brain damaged because a teacher marked off some boxes on a few sheets of paper?

These bullies think that if they threaten parents with Child Protection Services, that they can scare them into doing what they want. Knew why parents are afraid of the CPS?
Because the whole system is corrupted and needs to be abolished and started over from scratch. Only workers that have had children or have children in their lives should be allowed to be hired.

One year in Florida when a new administrator took over it was discovered that over 1400 kids were "missing" in just one district. It was later discovered that over 20,000 kids were "not" where they were supposed to be. That workers had not been doing follow ups and the some foster people had given up the child to a "cps worker" (they had id, they looked like one) and never saw the kid again. There was no paperwork on dozens of cases with no one checking on the kids for years, not months! It was a huge scandal that rocked Florida for a time. But it was eventually pushed out of the news and most forgot about it.

That system is as broken as many other organizations. Underfunded and unregulated. A neighbor's step son and his girl had a baby. The mother was working and was trying to save up money for them to get a place. She was at her mom's place. She did NOT want her mother watching the baby. She had a disabled brother at the house. (who may have been that way due to the mom dropping him as a baby.) Nothing had happened about it. Her mom also used drugs and smoked (not cigs.) so she made arrangements for the baby's father to watch him while she worked.

When the mom found out, she complained and called up CPS on the father. (I'd been a reg. visitor to my neighbor's house. You could eat off the floors it was so clean! She was really good about keeping her home nice. She had 3 girls so she was happy to have her step son & the new grandson over at her place. He was great with the baby too.)
The CPS worker said that since they weren't married that she couldn't have him watch the baby. (Say what?!) For whatever reason that worker "made" the cops take that baby back to the mother's to be watched by her mom.) My neighbor even said, if anything happened to that baby because of them interfering then they were at fault. She said they were murderers, because by giving that woman the baby to watch - she'd kill him.
Harsh words one would think since this was the grandmother of the baby too. But the baby lived just over 2 weeks. Because when they took the baby to the other one, not two days later the baby was dead.
She had suffocated it. Tossing a pillow over it when it wouldn't stop crying. There was also drug paraphernalia all over the living room when the cops came in. The brother had called 911 when she wouldn't stop covering up the baby. He'd tried to help the baby, but she'd yelled at him and threw a shoe at him. Then put the pillow back on top of the baby.
The police arrested the mother of the baby and put her in jail. (WHAT? WHY?) I don't know. The mother had no choice but to go to work, it was her only way to earn the money to get away. The mom had prevented her from having the baby watched in a safe place. Yet they blamed her for leaving the baby with the person CPS agreed to watch him.

Thankfully, they got a lawyer to help them out. I don't know what they did or if they won. CPS and their workers seem to be untouchable and that needs to change. I did the funeral package for the family and they moved shortly after this tragedy. The father was heartbroken.

This is why so many bullies can threaten parents into cooperating. The CPS needs to be investigated - and this time something needs to be done.
The schools need to return to educating and training our children and stop trying to make money off of them. It's wrong! The schools are there for them. They are supposed to be institutions of learning and higher education. Not big business who's bottom line is more important and pushing kids through the system's how they keep the costs down.

Too many cuts to education is going to cripple the next generations ability to compete in the world. If we can't produce skilled workers then more jobs get shipped overseas. More foreign workers are brought here to fill the jobs we can't.
If you want to know how to help our kids, follow the money. Find out who's taking it away from our education system? Who's making it harder to make a living min. wage? Who's taking the money from the people and giving it to businesses?
I don't mean small time businesses making less than $100k a year. I'm talking about businesses that have made several mil in profits while we struggle to pay our bills. They don't need that money! We need it for our schools. To shrink the deficit in our states and to get our people working again. Training new workers in technology & services that can't be shipped overseas.
That's how we help our kids - by finding out who's robbing them of their future.

Thanks so much for responding. I'm very passionate about education and lifelong learning. Sorry for climbing on my soap box. I didn't mean to rant so much. I'm a mom & a teacher..lol

Your son is Very blessed that you are his mother. You stood up for him when others refused to see his value, and because of you he became a success story.
Parent's have to be advocates for their children. Our nations school systems, at times, try to find a easy way out. Medication do not always work, and they can depress the child's self-worth, creativity, and success.
Parent's have to educate themselves and they should never accept what a person tells them in regards to their child without the facts. I realize there are situations where medications are needed, but that should be determined by a specialist, and with the acceptance and consent of the parent.
Ritalin is not a solution, and does have a lot of side effects that can be long term. There are natural remedies available that have been proven to work in a lot of cases, but they too should be done only after everything else has been tried.
Children come is a wide variety and I think that we have failed them in the education system. I realize there are a lot of wonderful teachers out there that always put the needs and goals of the child first, but there are also those that view medication as a easy way out instead of devoting more time toward the child's needs.
It saddens me to think how many children"s lives have been affected in a negative way due to medications, or from ignorance. I find it very disturbing that a teacher thought she had the education, right, or authority to suggest to you that you son was less then normal. The sad thing is that this goes on all the time.
The children are the future and our school systems, government and doctors should do more to insure that they are protected at all cost. Parent's need to do their part too, be informed and be their child's advocate.
Thanks for a wonderful post. It brings awareness to this problem, and encouragement to those struggling with this issue.
God Bless