PARDON ME?!? I feel this institutional attempt to take away a parent's authority is a major reason for schools and kids in general, being in such a big mess. Schools should concentrate on teaching the three R's again and leave the area of teaching VALUES to us, the parents. And we, as parents, need to teach and live the values that we teach.

Values should be taught in the home as a basic part of life, beginning at birth.

I couldn't believe the other day when I was listening to Dr Laura. The mother was calling because her daughter was sneaking and wearing slutty clothes to school. The daughter was 14 years old. Dr. Laura asked her why she had slutty clothes in the first place, a 14 year old shouldn't be buying her own clothes without the mother knowing what's going on. The mother proceeded to say that she bought the clothes for her daughter and she dresses like that to go to the mall or on week-ends, but she isn't suppose to wear them to school. This mother has obviously not taught any values, other than to not get caught. I wouldn't doubt (but this was a radio program so I couldn't see) but that the mother dresses like that too and the daughter is following her example.

I guess in order to teach VALUES, you have to have them first!!

In the home, a child should pick up what's right and wrong by listening to, and watching mom and dad, brothers and sisters and interacting with each of them. This is called EXAMPLE! This should be done with consistent love and discipline. We are all born with an inner voice (the spirit of God) to help us to know right from wrong. If we no longer have that feeling of right and wrong, it is because we have ignored that sense long enough and have become hardened to the spirit.

By attending church together, the things taught in the home are reinforced. It helps to see those things  learned at church, practiced in the home. If these basics of living aren't taught at a very young age and then reinforced with every day living, when friends try to influence our kids to do something like steal, cheat on a test, take drugs etc., they won't have that cornerstone of values to lean on. They will Fall!!!  I don't think any of us start our families with the idea that are children will be less than they can be. We aren't looking for our children to be unhappy or have no direction in life. How much richer and fuller will their lives be if those values such as, honesty, virtue, integrity, faith and service are learned. They will be learned if they are taught and shown while our children are still young, from the very start of life, by parents that they know loves them, and have a one to one relationship with.

There's a song the children sing at church called "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man". It's a fun song with actions, but the meaning is much deeper. The music is from an old Southern folk song and the idea comes from the scriptures.

1.         The wise man built his house upon a rock. The wise man built his house upon a rock.               

            The wise man built his house upon a rock, and the rains came tumbling down.

            The rains came down and the floods came up. The rains came down and the floods came up.

            The rains came down and the floods came up. And the house on the rock  stood still.

2.         The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The foolish man built his house upon the sand.

           The foolish man built his house upon the sand. and the rains came tumbling down.

            The rains came down and the floods came up. The rains came down and the floods came up.

            The rains came down and the floods came up. And the house on the sand washed away.

We need to give our kids the sure foundation of values, the rock, on which to build their lives so that when the winds blow and the storms come (which, as we all know will come) they will not be washed away.

Government is not the answer to the cries of our children. Government is not the answer to social problems. Government is not the answer to teach our children who they are and who they should be. We, as their parents must teach our children. We should make a resolve to teach correct principles so our children are better prepared for life, are happier and have that strong foundation. We are the ones who can affect our children most, if we will but take the time do so. Our children need us, they need to know that we love them and care enough to teach them the good things, the right things, for life.

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