Today was the last day of classes for those of us on Track C in the LAUSD school system. I let the kids in my class have a bit of a party today, and told them they could bring in music as long as it wasn't inappropriate, nasty, or full of swear words.
These kids don't even seem to have the capacity to judge what is inappropriate. A sample of the songs I made them turn off before we finally found something not too offensive (to me):
(warning - graphic)
"Smack that *ss, spread your legs wide..!" (teacher yells "STOP!")
"Yo mother f*er, I'll f* your f*ing--!" (teacher yells "STOP!")
"I'll take you down to the candy shop, let you lick my lollipop..." (teacher yells "Don't you have anything that's not about sex and violence??? Do your parents know you listen to this??")
Child looks at teacher blankly. "This is my mom's CD; she let me borrow it." (Child is 12. Mom is 27.)
I don't know what my point is... that little girl just reminded me of my students. Half of them are illegal immigrants, three quarters are on "free" lunch... but they all have those gameboys and cellphones and ipods... and this is liberal culture: let society take care of the poor, let sex be free and easy. So here we have it. Children exploited, and likely so jaded they don't even know it. Take pictures of her being violated, then stop her crying with some electronic toy that'll make her sink into a trance.
This is the biggest tragedy. We grew up in a time and place where you could be 12 and still believe in elves and magic forests. Molestation would be a violation of that last era of idealism and potential.
Kids today (many of them) are growing up in a salt-saturated broth of sneeringly contemptuous sexual cynicism and violent hostility toward... everyone, really. They have little innocence left to steal.
Sorry for the rant, I'm not saying "why bother saving her," I'm just... worn out from a rough semester.
Please don't apologize for the "rant".
God bless you for being an oasis of sanity and goodness for those children.
Living in Los Angeles makes it much worse - plus poor minorities in LAUSD. They're sexualized from the beginning - I used to work with K-2 at an L.A. innercity school and they were already using sexual references. But, yes, part of a greater trend.
God bless you for your work and keep the faith. We'll win yet and the evil corrupting, pedophiliac liberal horde will pay in spades.
Matthew 19:13-14=
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
One of the first glaring red lights for me as a parent (which would lead me on a mission to get the heck outta Palm Beach County) came a few years ago when my daughter was in kindergarten.
My daughter rec'd an invitation to a birthday party for a classmate who was turning 6. Take that age in before I go forward, and let it sink...six - SIX - 6 - s-i-x years old...a little girl.
The invitation was for a pseudo-sleepover party, beginning at 6 o'clock and lasting until 10 p.m.
At that age, I never left my daughter at parties; I always stayed.
The party had pizza and cake and stations for crafts. They painted pillowcases. They made necklaces and bracelets. A hair stylist sat at her station, and each girl had braids and ribbons woven into her hair.
The "highlight" occurred around 8 o'clock (when many of the girls were yawning and reaching their normal bed time...when out of nowhere came this Brittney Spears lookalike/impersonator. All the little girls were wide-eyed when the birthday girl yelled out, "It's Brittney!!!" For the next hour "Brittney," belly button and all sang into a microphone hooked into the home's incredible sound system, encouraging the girls to dance and sing with her. Many if not most of the girls had never heard of Brittney Spears, let alone her songs. I wound up sitting on a couch with my daughter and two others curled up beside me. They were exhausted, and a little intimidated with Brittney.
Anyway, we didn't make it until 10 o'clock because my daughter was nearly falling asleep during the whatever-it's-called Not a girl-Just or not a woman song.
This was a very nice family, however, it became very obvious we were not raising our children with the same values.
Rant understood. Glad to hear your concerns too. I'm glad to know you're there on the front lines being the teacher that yells "STOP!" At this moment, my prayers are with you too.