letz talk abt music....... m not here to preach you or for sum lecture n ol......m here to tell u wat i thnk abt music... Well when I think ‘What youngsters like’, I guess they mostly prefer rock, heavy metal and pop. When we look closely, we realize that all these songs have got very high tempo and high beats too. The fact that we youngsters react very fast has got a psychological side also. We lose our temper very fast, hmm, might be just to bring out our hidden emotions . Now I think they need a source n music is always our language of emotions. So no wonder it’s made to bring our temper down and in a way in these beats, we express all that……….In the same way if u ever notice while you are walking in a Levis store, they always play slow english songs which may be for 2 reasons-1 Youngsters are more into Hollywood, it’s a sort of fad for them.. 2 Slow songs make u calm down, they make u feel good about everything and u get into a nice mood and u shop more coz your mood swings affect even your shopping also. In fact some brands prefer rock music also because the young fleshy blood gets involved in music n in that funny and excited mood customers will shop a lot. I don’t know whether you guys noticed or not but music affects your life so much n even reflects your personality ……. I know may be on few points you guys might think that, m just a little gal, but plz guys try to notice the effect of your personality or surrounding on the kind of music you wanna tune to……..so open your eyes n ears ….. Because music is part of your personality……Dat was about music Ohk thatz it ……. It was kind of bookish thing, letz talk practically about your daily life.But still I got a question why u guys don’t listen to Hindi songs? I mean its kinda strange that we don’t listen to hindi songs though v r Indians.I will tell u an incident…….a fest was organized in my college, a young guy came on the stage, he was like correcting mistakes of people in English which he noticed in whole day, sort of pronunciation problem ……. In the end he said sorry guys I don’t know Hindi that much…….. nd the same thing happened in antakshri. People were like, ask English songs -we are not so much into bollywood……….Now I got a question why……? Why we do it, in fact in abroad you can find Punjabi music in pubs and all…… thats kind of strange…. It’s like common guys give me the answer…….. I know it would be like I am also a youngster why I am pointing finger on you…… so here is your answer I don’t believe in carpeting whole world, instead of that I will prefer covering ma feet…… today Hindi n Hindi songs are like shameful thing for us….. Tell me guys how many people got ultra modern parents like wen ur mom wore jeans n mini and your father talked about your girl friends…… I guess answer is literally 20% or 40%. Still our parents wake up in morning take bath n bow their head in front of god and worship….. Still when u borrow new car, we make that swastika sign on it …….. Am I correct…….. That it also very orthodox thing ……. But we never thought of keeping your parents out of your life I mean when you are 18 have you ever thought about leaving your parents n walking out alone on your own just because u feel ashamed because your mom wears sari and your dad don’t ask you “hey dude how is life how many lecture you bunked yesterday…….?” Answer is no never. Why don’t we think ……… so guys tell me how can you ignore your mother language or feel ashamed about it…… at least don’t b partial with songs. I accept that in studies you r under pressure coz u gotta find a job and people with good communication in English are alwz sought after…….. But no one asks about music ………. Now u don got any excuse….atlst give it a try yaar..... listen sumhindi songs....... atlst step up.......start from music ........itz not bad ...... but itz jst dat u alrdy got dis in mind dat hindi music is bad n rsn is itz in hindi.......... but u knw what music don got ny language..... it got ur emotion datz it..........so give it a try.........
Barkha Jhirwal (19 years)
About me- believe in reality, helping others and keep smiling
Crazy about- Punjab, MA MOM and ma friends
Likes- books, outing, adventures, partying n spl spending time with frandz.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Ministry of Labour recently issued a notification
The Ministry of Labour recently issued a notification banning children below 14 from working in residences and the hospitality sector. After agriculture, these areas are where children are employed in the highest numbers, and it is hoped that prohibiting their employment in homes and at waiting tables will address a large lacuna in the current laws against employing children. The prohibition was brought into force by adding these areas in the list of hazardous occupations, where child labour is already prohibited. The ban has been imposed under the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 and will be effective from 10th October 2006.
The national child rights organisation Child Rights and You (CRY) has welcomed the Ministry's recent notification but feels it is an insufficient response. Many gaps still remain in the legal provisions against child labour, and even the ones already in existance cannot be effective without proper enforcement and rehabilitation provisions. Moreover, the group has pointed out that while this notification has been necessary, it is at best another in a long line of piecemeal efforts. For real change to occur the root causes of child labour have to be addressed – causes like the lack of a coherent education policy, insufficient schools, poverty, marginalization, migration etc - situations that force children into work.
In our press release, we observed that 27 years of CRY's work with 2,500 marginalised communities across 20 states across India has shown that the piece-meal, scheme-based, relief-oriented approach adopted by both governmental and NGOs has limited impact and practically no sustainability. This is because they fail to address the underlying causes of deprivation. Causes related to gender, caste, ethnicity, religion and class keep over 100 million Indian children hungry, unschooled and vulnerable to the worst forms of abuse and exploitation imaginable. Instead, irreversible change is only possible when children, parents, community groups and local government come together to identify, address and resolve the issues that constrain children.This broader demand apart, even within the notification's limited ambit, CRY has noted significant gaps:
The prohibition is restricted to servants at home, hotels, dhabas and other recreation centres. It is not clear whether this applies to the household manufacturing sector, where a vast number of children are employed in similar working conditions.
The conviction rate for the already existing Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 is abysmally low - so low, in fact, that it is hardly a deterrent for employers. Without strengthening both enforcement mechanisms and provisions for rehabilitation, making additions to the list of prohibited employments for children has little meaning.
The notification is premised on the belief that that child labour needs to be prohibited in hazardous occupations only, but does not take a clear view of what children ought to be doing in their childhood - learning in safe and meaningful schools. An insular notofication of this sort totally ignores children's right to safe and facilitating environment for development, including health, nutrition and education needs.
It is also noteworthy that the government's notification is incongruent with another related issue pending before it - namely, ensuring the fundamental right to education. Legislation enabling this right to education is yet to be passed in Parliament, which raises the question - if children are to be stopped from working so that they may attend schools instead, why is there such a lack of poitical will in securing the right to education?
CRY believes, for this reason, that the notification on child labour has to be seen in this light - more than protecting children from hazardous employment, the government may be trying to ward off a Supreme Court decision banning all forms of child labour. The Court has already asked the States for their views on why child labour should not be entirely abolished. Its query to the state governments may have prompted this limited response from the executive.
Clearly, the journey is far from complete. The National Sample Survey 2000, reported 16.4 million Indian children aged 5-14 years were 'engaged in economic activities and domestic or non-remunerative work'. Another 46 million children of school-going age are unaccounted for, neither enrolled in school nor officially working. Giving India at least one reason to be #1 — home to the largest number of child labourers on the plane
Educated youth: The change agent in Indian politics
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The kind of fractious political environment that our disputatious leadership has created over the years in itself has become the biggest deterrent for any educated and equitably honest youth to take politics up as a scrupulously dignified career. In fact, over the years, the entire trenchant political environment has been constructed in such a discordant manner that it has managed to keep young, potently dedicated and benevolent youth away from it. If that is not the case, then how does one justify that almost 25 per cent of our Parliamentarians have criminal backgrounds!
Historically, though, this was not the case. Not that it was any better ever, but in the 1950s, the average age of Rajya Sabha members was around 50, which shot up to 59 by the turn of the century. And I’m sure by 2009 it would have gone up by a few more months. Similarly, the average age of the 13th Lok Sabha has been around 55 years! Here again, the average age has been on a constant rise. The average age during the first Lok Sabha was 46 years. The matter of fact is that Indian democracy has invariably posed a classical dichotomy with respect to Indian demographics. A nation wherein more than 70 per cent of the population is less than 40 years has a Parliament which houses 80 per cent of its politicians over the age of 70! Probably no other nation reflects such a stark irony – for example in the United Kingdom, there were only two Prime Ministers (Winston Churchill and James Callaghan) who crossed 70 while holding their office! But then it would be wrong to state that Indian Parliament is completely bereft of youth. In the 14th Lok Sabha, some 36 young debutant MPs got elected and bettered the average age factor for the Lok Sabha.
Had these 36 young MPs not been elected this time, I’m sure Lok Sabha would have been declared dead, statistically, as the average mortality rate of Indians is 64. But then, other than lowering the average age of the Lok Sabha, the young MPs did hardly anything to bring in any noteworthy political change for the people of this nation. And this ought to happen, for most of the young MPs who made it through had a political legacy behind them. And that is the reason, as per a PRS India report, that young MPs hardly participated in the Lok Sabha proceedings. Whereas on the other extreme, MPs above 70 years, accounting for 10 per cent of the House, participated in 10 per cent of total debates. The report also states that the average attendance of MPs in the 25-40 years age group, which was at 70 per cent, was the lowest. What’s even more unfortunate is that during the Budget Session, which lasts for 28 days and is of national imperative, the average attendance of the very same young MPs was a mere 62 per cent.
Though as a nation we might have succeeded in electing a few youths in the Parliament, it has been an act of mere tokenism. For neither do they seem to possess any zealously rousing vision, nor do they presumably poss any precipitously striking leadership skills, which is pretty evident from their spiritless attendance and incurious participation.
In fact, with the election having been declared and with almost all political parties creating all kind of noise about educated youth getting into mainstream politics, particularly post 26/11, I do not contemplate much to happen. At best, a few political parties might succeed in getting a few youth elected; but then that’s it. The delinquent problem lies in the fact that it is prohibitively impossible for any educated and erudite youth with the right vision and leadership skills to contest an election independently. For not only does it require considerable money, but on top of that, if someone has to get any closer to winning, then one has to necessarily be a part of existing political ideologies.
The real catalytic change can happen only when political parties in power have a pre-potently dynamic youth oriented perspective. They need to not just invigoratingly encourage educated youth to participate but they need to have a systematic selection and funding process. It is only then that there would be a true vitalising transformation in the political system that would pave a path for a fundamentally strong and prosperously efficacious democracy.
The kind of fractious political environment that our disputatious leadership has created over the years in itself has become the biggest deterrent for any educated and equitably honest youth to take politics up as a scrupulously dignified career. In fact, over the years, the entire trenchant political environment has been constructed in such a discordant manner that it has managed to keep young, potently dedicated and benevolent youth away from it. If that is not the case, then how does one justify that almost 25 per cent of our Parliamentarians have criminal backgrounds!
Historically, though, this was not the case. Not that it was any better ever, but in the 1950s, the average age of Rajya Sabha members was around 50, which shot up to 59 by the turn of the century. And I’m sure by 2009 it would have gone up by a few more months. Similarly, the average age of the 13th Lok Sabha has been around 55 years! Here again, the average age has been on a constant rise. The average age during the first Lok Sabha was 46 years. The matter of fact is that Indian democracy has invariably posed a classical dichotomy with respect to Indian demographics. A nation wherein more than 70 per cent of the population is less than 40 years has a Parliament which houses 80 per cent of its politicians over the age of 70! Probably no other nation reflects such a stark irony – for example in the United Kingdom, there were only two Prime Ministers (Winston Churchill and James Callaghan) who crossed 70 while holding their office! But then it would be wrong to state that Indian Parliament is completely bereft of youth. In the 14th Lok Sabha, some 36 young debutant MPs got elected and bettered the average age factor for the Lok Sabha.
Had these 36 young MPs not been elected this time, I’m sure Lok Sabha would have been declared dead, statistically, as the average mortality rate of Indians is 64. But then, other than lowering the average age of the Lok Sabha, the young MPs did hardly anything to bring in any noteworthy political change for the people of this nation. And this ought to happen, for most of the young MPs who made it through had a political legacy behind them. And that is the reason, as per a PRS India report, that young MPs hardly participated in the Lok Sabha proceedings. Whereas on the other extreme, MPs above 70 years, accounting for 10 per cent of the House, participated in 10 per cent of total debates. The report also states that the average attendance of MPs in the 25-40 years age group, which was at 70 per cent, was the lowest. What’s even more unfortunate is that during the Budget Session, which lasts for 28 days and is of national imperative, the average attendance of the very same young MPs was a mere 62 per cent.
Though as a nation we might have succeeded in electing a few youths in the Parliament, it has been an act of mere tokenism. For neither do they seem to possess any zealously rousing vision, nor do they presumably poss any precipitously striking leadership skills, which is pretty evident from their spiritless attendance and incurious participation.
In fact, with the election having been declared and with almost all political parties creating all kind of noise about educated youth getting into mainstream politics, particularly post 26/11, I do not contemplate much to happen. At best, a few political parties might succeed in getting a few youth elected; but then that’s it. The delinquent problem lies in the fact that it is prohibitively impossible for any educated and erudite youth with the right vision and leadership skills to contest an election independently. For not only does it require considerable money, but on top of that, if someone has to get any closer to winning, then one has to necessarily be a part of existing political ideologies.
The real catalytic change can happen only when political parties in power have a pre-potently dynamic youth oriented perspective. They need to not just invigoratingly encourage educated youth to participate but they need to have a systematic selection and funding process. It is only then that there would be a true vitalising transformation in the political system that would pave a path for a fundamentally strong and prosperously efficacious democracy.
Monday, April 19, 2010
How the youth will shape India
The condition of our children and the values our youth will conduct their lives by, as they aspire to have more and get ahead, will determine what shape our country will be in 25 years
MOTHERS matter. And children matter. Because they create our future. Therefore the recent report on the ‘State of the World’s Mothers’ by Save the Children, the international organisation, should concern those envisioning India’s future. India is 66th out of 71 developing countries in the Mothers’ Index ranking — a composite of healthcare, education, and economic status of mothers in these countries. And with over 53% of children in India under five years without basic healthcare facilities, the country also ranks very low, alongside Ghana and Eritrea, in childcare. Indians aspire for their country to be a large, rapidly growing economy, and also to be respected as a great nation. Therefore these numbers should be of immense concern because the condition of mothers and children is fundamental to realising those aspirations.
India, according to several economic forecasters, is on its way to becoming the third largest economy in the world by 2040. Recently a few Indians began to appear in the lists of the richest people in the world. Now Forbes, the international business magazine, projects that by 2017 India will have the most billionaires in the world! These could be signs that the economy is on its way to achieve its forecasted size. However, one wonders whether such spurts within the country’s economy are sustainable amidst the poverty around.
In India, 480 million are less than 19 years old. Economic forecasters have calculated the ‘demographic dividend’ for India’s economy — the boost it will receive from these young people’s incomes and savings in the next decades. In their math, well-fed and well-educated and under-nourished and uneducated children are the same. The math does not distinguish the girl with a baby in her arms begging at the street corner from the two kids driving by in an air-conditioned sedan oblivious of the other two in the heat and dust. These add up to four Indian children in economists’ estimates of the demographic dividend.
India has 20% of the world’s children: but it also has 40% of the world’s malnourished children. Since 45% of Indian children (a number higher than most African countries) are malnourished and likely to grow up with health issues later in life, and since over 50% of Indian children do not have an adequate education, a large proportion of Indian children are unlikely to be the productive assets they are presumed to be in those estimates.
According to several international commentators (amongst them Kishore Mahbubani in The New Asian Hemisphere and Bill Emmott in Rivals) India’s future greatness will arise not merely from its large economy, but mainly from the moral leadership that India, with its diversity and democracy, can provide. The world needs a new model in which relentless economic growth does not destroy the planet, and that also is more equitable and inclusive. They expect India’s path to be different to China’s and hope it will be a good example.
While singling out India as a potential role model for a great society, these observers invariably point to the values that Mahatma Gandhi lived by. Gandhi had asserted that the best test of any major decision is the benefit it would give to the poorest person one could think of. And he insisted that the ends never justify the means. Bad means, he said, would corrupt society. He was a great role model.
FOR example, though passionately committed to his goal to free India, he would not allow any violence to achieve it and even suspended the freedom movement when some of his followers turned violent. Moreover, amidst increasing concern with the impact China’s and India’s economic progress will have on the environment as they adopt the patterns of the west, Gandhi’s observation that nature has enough for all our needs but not enough for our greed has become prescient.
The type of society we want to be and the values we will live by must be essential facets of our vision for India. The size of our GDP, the numbers of billionaires we will produce, and the number of Indian MNCs in the Fortune100 list will not be enough. “Greed is good. Greed makes the economy grow”, said Gorton Gecko in the movie Wall Street. He tells an aspiring apprentice that the ends are what matters: get rich quick, no matter how, and no matter whom you hurt.
The young in India are aspiring to get ahead and make more money. Their drive will push the economy to grow. But, do they have compassion for those left behind? And cynically accepting corruption as a way of life, do they care about what rules they break in their drive to succeed? Gandhi, Gecko, and Guru — the hero of the Indian movie with that eponymous title — were all great achievers. And none of them made any bones about their values. Like Gecko, Guru also defended his corrupt practices at a shareholders meeting, because they produced wealth.
Who is the role model that Indian youth admire most — Gandhi, Guru, or Gecko? Whose values are they emulating? The answer to this question will deeply affect the type of society we will become in the next 25 years. Unlike health and education, statistics about our youth’s values are not available. Non-violent ‘Gandhigiri’ a la Munnabhai was merely a passing fashion. Whereas anecdotal evidence of increase in violence by young people against women and old people, of road rage, and other violent actions to get whatever they want is alarming. The values our youth will conduct their lives by, as they aspire to have more and get ahead, will determine what shape our country will be in 25 years.
Mother India is not in good shape. Nor are millions of young Indians. While the mantle of leadership into the future must pass on to youth, older citizens cannot abdicate responsibility for nurturing the bodies, minds, and especially values of children. Children are not merely resources for an economic machine. Saving children, especially girls, is saving humanity. It must be central to the agenda for the development of India in the next ten years.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Indian youth get their knowledge of sex mostly from friends, porno films and “self-reading”
Plenty of discussion has been generated on whether sex education is necessary in schools or not, and it appears as if the majority of state governments are against it. Well, this Kamasutra sex survey which was undertaken as recently as 2005 says that the majority of youth today acquire their knowledge about sex “primarily through ‘Self reading’, ‘Friends’ and ‘Blue films’ rather than through parents, qualified sex educators and professional help.”
And worse, as many as 26 per cent of the respondents admitted that they rarely or never use condoms. Their preferred use of contraception was “pills” or “partner’s sterilization.” In many cases then the onus of preventing pregnancy lies with the female.
These are the kind of statistics that our “moral police” (who are none other than hard line political parties) should look at. They have a constituency after all. They should know that the majority (75%) of the respondents felt that “formal sex education should be given in school,” and about half of them felt that sex education should also be provided by “a parent of the same sex.”
This survey was essentially an urban one, and the majority of the respondents belong to Delhi, Mumbai & Bangalore. These are people who are ostensibly more educated and I guess not the kind of group that political parties are interested in.
All these respondents were young, mostly in the age group of ‘18 – 30’. Approximately half were unmarried and were from nuclear families. About a quarter of the respondents earned between ‘Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh’ per annum.
Some interesting statistics on attitudes towards pre-marital sex:
1. About a third of the respondents in the age group of ‘above 31 years’ had had pre – marital sex with their spouse.
2. 27 per cent of marrieds had had pre-marital sex with more than 5 individuals.
3. 77 percent of all respondents agreed that “Pre-marital sex causes Guilt/emotional disturbance, if one does not ultimately have the same life partner”.
4. 66 per cent of respondents agreed that ‘These days pre-marital sex is acceptable “
5. 29 per cent of respondents did not think that “films and TV encourages pre-marital sex.”
About Marriage, it was ironic that while most respondents believed in “trust and sexual integrity” as being essential in a marraige, a good 35 per cent of the marrieds admitted that were currently involved with someone else!
Clearly, we are not as prudish a society as we would like to imagine. Everything happens, but it only happens behind closed doors. That is perhaps why the moral police makes such a big deal about everything. It would be interesting to delve into their personal lives to see how “pure” a life they lead.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Boy Scout Moms
Not a Den Mother but a Scout Leader
In the 1970s, women were slowly gaining recognition, training and representation on the Cub Scouting level. In 1974, Catherine N. Pollard of Connecticut filed a state level discrimination complaint against the BSA, because they refused to let her register as Scoutmaster for her troop, a leadership position she had filled for three years. Female Scoutmasters are still in the minority, but ever more women hold positions on the committees that run scouting. Merit Badge Counselors, Treasurers and Advancement chairpersons are frequently female. Females are teaching training sessions, running the monthly Scouter meetings called Roundtables and doing a variety of other important jobs for BSA.
There was a time when females could not earn Scouting’s highest awards or hold jobs as Scout Executives. Those days are a faint memory now. Scout Executives are full time employees of BSA who administer the daily business of the national, regional, council and district levels of the organization“Boys will be boys” is an old saying and one frequently heard in Scouting circles. Men understand in ways that women can’t what it means to be a boy and to survive the process of becoming a man. It is important for boys to have that experience and to have men as role models. It is less certain, but anecdotally true, that women in the neighborhood of boys being boys will bring a different point of view.
A case in point: where there are rocks on the ground, boys will pick them up and throw them. This is a universal truth that every mother knows and watches for. A group of men with a troop camping out found themselves dealing with a boy who needed stitches after the universal truth came to pass. There were no female leaders on said campout.
No one can prove it wouldn’t have happened if a female leader had been present. The point is this, at the next committee meeting, the discussion was not about what could be done to prevent the recurrence; it was about boys being boys. Female Scouters present in the room were appalled.
The real world contains not just males, but also females. It behooves young men to learn to deal with the different world view of women. It is no longer true that their future boss will definitely be a male. It is no longer true that all their college professors will be male. It is still true that most of them will date or marry a female and interaction with females on a daily basis is an absolute certainty.
The oldest of male Scouters still see the advent of women in the Scout troops as unnecessary, even intrusive. Discrimination against women in the BSA has gone underground and it is not generally a public topic of discussion. Female Scouters find varying degrees of acceptance depending on the troop or even the area of the country in which they find themselves.
It would be difficult to run the BSA without women now. Camping and hiking are not activities that only men enjoy, but women frequently know as much as or more than their male counterparts. Modern families often have no male in residence at a home. Families with two parents with both working struggle to find the time to volunteer with the Scouts.
It is difficult enough to fill the volunteer needs of the organization without eliminating 51% of the available adults. Women add a new dimension to Scouting. Now if only the sisters and daughters could participate, the whole organization might find itself in the twenty-first century.
Celebrities Crossing the Line on Medical Advice
Jenny McCarthy tells the public to stop vaccines as it can contribute to autism, while Brooke Shields speaks out about postpartum depression and Michael J. Fox shares his struggle with Parkinson's disease and the need for stem cell research. Doctors and researchers are acknowledging that people are paying attention to these celebrities.
It helps people to realize that health problems they have affect even celebrities," says pediatrician Aaron Carroll, director of Indiana University's Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research. "Knowing that a rich and famous person can have the same problem as you or me makes it seem more fair, maybe.” Carroll continues, "It also can make it easier to talk about your own problem, because a celebrity has the same issue."
The concern comes from celebrities need to get their facts right, says Bradford Hesse, who studies health communication at the National Cancer Institute. Many doctors and medical experts are very troubled by stars who cross the line from sharing their stories to championing questionable or even dangerous medical advice.
In 2005 Scientologist and actor publically railed against antidepressants and Brook Shields for sharing she had postpartum depression. He dismissed psychiatry as a "pseudoscience." Actress Jenny McCarthy, who has an autistic son, has publically linked autism with childhood vaccinations.
Doctors and public health groups say they struggle over the best way to respond to celebrity claims. Celebrities have the power to do tremendous good, Hesse says. Lance Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer, has advocated for funding and policy changes to help cancer patients and has raised more than $325 million through his foundation.
"People like Katie Couric and Lance Armstrong can do a lot to teach people that it is important to talk to their doctors about screening for cancer," Hesse says. "Some would say they have done more for the cause of public awareness for cancer than most scientists."
Still the medical community is concerned about misinformation and trying to correct that misinformation. “Even with a mountain of evidence it can be a challenge,” says Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "It's much easier to scare people than to un-scare them," Offit says.
Some psychologists say that celebrity activists are part of a larger trend, in which survivors of serious illness feel less of a stigma about speaking out and find it therapeutic to help others in a similar situation. "Giving to other people has a profound way of rewarding us," says the NCI's Julia Rowland. "It's a way to make meaning out of a situation.” She says, “You tell other people how to cope, and it helps you cope, too."
"If someone has a heartfelt belief that something ought to be on the radar screen of America, they ought to put it out there, because believe me, other people are saying it anyway," says Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon and host of The Dr. Oz Show. "I'd rather have it come up publicly and have Larry King have a debate about it." Studies have shown that doctors still have an influence on people. About 68% of people trust their doctors according to a 2007 survey by the NCI, however, it seems like people are placing some of their trust in celebrities when it comes down to medical advice.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Runaway Youth - Everyone's Responsibility
Runaway Youth and Troubled Teens are Serious Social Issue
At-risk teens and troubled youth are not defined by demographics, race, or by economics. They are found in every neighborhood. Dysfunction within the family is usually the common denominator, but not always. Runaway, abused, and thrown away youth have become a crisis. Children sleeping on park benches, thrown away youth searching for a bite to eat, or emotionally abused teens wandering the streets is everyone's responsibility. It is important to be aware of this troubled section of society and reach out a helping hand.
These may seem like rare, isolated incidents but they are not. According to me, the number of runaway and throwaway youth is hard to measure, but it is a chronic and serious social issue. It is estimated that 1.6 to 2.8 million youth run away or are thrown away each year in America.
As the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention reports,
A runaway incident is when:
- A child leaves home without permission, staying away overnight
- A child 14 years old or younger, away from home, chooses not to come home when expected to, staying away overnight.
- A child 15 years old or older, away from home, chooses not to come home,stays away two nights
A throwaway incident is when:
- A child is asked or told to leave home by a parent or other household adult with no adequate, alternative care, and is out of the household overnight
- A child who is away from home and is prevented from returning home by a parent or other household adult, with no adequate, alternative care, and is out overnight
The major reason for youth in this situation is within the family unit, stemming from child neglect, physical or sexual abuse, family substance abuse, or family violence.
“A very colorful girl,” they thought after meeting her several times. With each encounter, the hair had been a different color. Little did they know that the color of her hair was a cover for her dysfunctional, young life. Her friends had tried to help, sheltering her from the realities that lived at her home, but it was to no avail. Missing for two weeks, no one knew where she’d gone.
There’s no easy way to define this troubled section of society. They are male or female, range in age and can come from either poverty or affluence. Females seem to make up the majority or at least are more likely to seek help. The data collected by the National Runaway Switchboard in 2008 showed that 72% of the callers were females under the age of 18 and 28% were male.
"Once I turn 18, I’m getting kicked out." This statement and ones similar are often heard among troubled youth today. Unprepared for and unaware of the many decisions they need to make, they drift from place to place, never establishing roots and often getting into trouble.
Children are considered adults at the age of 18. Is this realistic? Steve Biddulph, an author, activist, and psychologist says, " The teenage brain is very unformed. It rebuilds from 13 to about 19 and is changed in structure so comprehensively that it makes decision-making and logical thinking very hard for teenagers, especially if they are stressed or distracted. So adults have to stay close to the action and not leave kids alone or with too much freedom."
The Carnegie Report on Adolescent Development reported that there has been a breakdown of traditional support networks that existed in past generations where a sense of community thrived and accountability was important. The report concluded that, "Young adults from all economic strata now find themselves alone in communities where there are few adults to turn to, and no safe places to go."
Colin Powell once shared that family, church, the public school system, and something he called the "aunt net" saved him from succumbing to the influences of street life. He said, "When I set off to school each morning, I had an aunt in every other house, stationed at the window with eyes peeled, ready to spot the slightest misbehavior on my part and report it back to my parents." As uncomfortable as it may seem, it is everyone’s responsibility to care for this next generation.
It is a challenge for parents to raise, protect, and provide guidance for children. Saturated with temptations, moral corruption, accessible illegal drugs, and other negative influences, the world is a virtual whirlpool drowning unsuspecting, neglected youth. Being a parent does not come with retirement benefits.
- Stay involved.
- Don't think that there is a magic age when it can be said children don't need guidance
- Pray
- Communicate, even when topics are uncomfortable
- Keep the lines of communication open
- Get to know their friends
- Stay close, be available
Care and discernment must be taken when becoming involved in situations dealing with troubled youth. It is not unusual for teen rebellion to regularly raise its ugly head in the best of family situations. Be informed about circumstances before offering help. Usurping parental authority may cause further problems, making reconciliation difficult. Caring adults can make a difference.
- Provide a safe haven
- Provide a listening ear, balanced meal, guidance, or a Godly example
- Provide information regarding outside agencies that reach out to troubled youth
- Establish personal, healthy boundaries so that troubled teens learn responsibility and do not rely too heavily on others’ kindnesses
- Speak words of encouragement to help rebuild confidence and self-respect
Runaway, throwaway, and troubled youth are everywhere. It is a crisis affecting the next generation and beyond. Responsibility rests in the hands of caring adults willing to reach out and make a difference. At-risk teens often need help beyond what their parents can give. Patterns of dysfunction within the family can be remedied. Healthy boundaries, a kind heart, and an encouraging word from a caring adult can be the beginning of lasting change.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Relaxation Techniques and Strategies for Teens
Helping Kids Learn How to De-Stress and Relax
Kids today are under an unprecedented amount of stress. Family issues, peer pressure, academic struggles, and an eagerness to fit in can create situations teens may not be emotionally prepared to handle. Without the skills to cope positively and de-stress, teens may turn to unhealthy coping strategies.
Much of teen maladaptive behavior is actually an attempt by the teen to manage unpleasant feelings or experiences. Explosive or angry behavior, self-mutilation, drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and school avoidance, for example, are possible ways kids may cope with situations or emotions they don’t know how to handle. Learning positive ways to relax and cope when under stress may help reduce some of these behaviors.
Relaxation skills, once learned, are versatile because they can be used anytime, anywhere, and for practically any situation. For the most part, they don’t require any special equipment, and can be modified for the individual user. For teens, learning relaxation skills have several benefits. Beyond their use as a calming strategy, their mastery also empowers teens to feel that they have some control over their emotions, and they are simple enough to teach that teens can easily share them with others.
This strategy requires teens to focus on one muscle at a time, alternately contracting and relaxing the muscle. Ideally, the teen should be either lying down or reclined in a comfortable chair. The room should be quiet, preferably somewhat dark, and comfortable. Starting at the toes and working up to the head, each muscle group is contracted, held for five to ten seconds, and then relaxed. As teens learn how to purposefully relax their muscles, as well as identify which muscles are the most tense when they are stressed out, they will gain the skills to relax their muscles during tense situations.
Teens should choose a relaxing scene at the focal point for this strategy. It should be a location that the teen finds personally meaningful and calming. It can be a warm beach scene, a walk through the woods, or a cozy, rainy day. It will likely be somewhat different for each person. The teen should make notes about what he or she finds relaxing about this scene.
Be sure to utilize all five senses. What does this place smell like, feel like, and look like? List some words that describe what it feels like to be here. Choose words that imbue a sense of peace and calmness, as well as power and strength.
Teens may choose to tape themselves talking about this special place and how it makes them feel. The tape can then be played back either during or after a progressive muscle relaxation, or during a stressful situation where the teen needs a mental “break.”
Teens are often surprised to find out that their breathing becomes quick and shallow when they are stressed out. This method of breathing reduces oxygen to the brain and heightens the body’s tension. Learning how to purposefully slow breathing down helps increase calmness and relaxation. Teens should breathe in through their nose for 3-4 seconds, and out through their mouths for 6-8 seconds.
The slower the better, but be sure the exhale is twice as long as the inhale. Breathe from deep inside the body, and be aware of the chest rising and falling during breathing. During the breathing, teens can either think about their peaceful place, or focus on one word (such as calm, peace, or another word of the teens choosing) that helps connect the brain to the breathing. Controlled breathing should be done for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Simple relaxation techniques, when practiced enough to become second nature, can have a great impact on teen’s ability to calm themselves during stressful situations. With such positive ways to manage their feelings, this may prevent teens from turning to more harmful ways of coping.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Parents' Impact on a Child's Desire to Learn Read more at Suite101: Parents' Impact on a Child's Desire to Learn: Take These Steps to Help Chidlren r
The more involved parents are in their children's school activities, the more they can encourage their children to excel. Similar to how parents inspire their children who participate in sports by attending their sporting competitions and cheering, parents can inspire and motivate their children to excel in school by showing up at academic events.
In addition to showing up at their child's school events, by regularly taking the following steps parents can help their children to excel in school. To ignite their child's imagination and inspire a passion for reading and writing, parents can create stories with their child.
Twice a week sit down and write a story with one's child. This does more than teach a child accurate sentence structure. This polishes a child's writing style and gives the child confidence to excel at English.
Ask first and second graders, younger children if they are ready, "What time is it?" several times throughout the day. This quick, simple interaction requires no books, paper, pen, pencils or money. A few seconds several times throughout the day can help to teach a child a new and valuable skill -- how to tell time.
Offer children the pleasure of spooning and measuring ingredients while preparing morning, noon or evening meals. Not only does this teach children the art of cooking, it also teaches children how to weigh and measure. Combined these at home lessons can become a definite plus when young children perform math and science equations in school.
Provide children with daily and weekly chores. When chores are given to children with love and respect, they help to teach children to be responsible. Chores can be as simple as helping to carry groceries inside the house from the car, assigning the child to make their own bed, clean their room, sweep the front or back porch, put away their clothes or feed and help care for the family pet. Children who are responsible for their actions and feelings learn to keep their word, respect others and complete school assignments on time.
Celebrate each child in the family's achievements. Reciting a poem, reading verses of scripture, earning a passing grade or helping someone are all achievements. So too is learning to share a favorite toy, learning to skate, ride a bicycle or finishing reading a new book.
Scholastic has an online resource that has a customized space for kids, parents, teachers, librarians and administrators. There are games, videos, information on book fairs and discounts on books ordered directly through Scholastic.
Reading Rockets focuses on emerging reading skills. Research data and free reading guides are offered through Reading Rockets as well. The guides can be printed and used by parents at times that best suit their family's schedule.
To o inspire older children to continue to improve their reading skills, parents will do well to celebrate their child's achievements. this builds healthy self-esteem. Parents should also set healthy boundaries and assign chores for children to complete to teach children to be responsible. Ask children simple questions like "What time is it?" throughout the day and let children measure ingredients while one is cooking to teach children how to tell time and learn about measurements.
Visit the local library and online and offline booksellers , Cushcity.com, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Walden books, Parenting Today's Teenager, Success for Students, Your Baby Can Read, Robin's and Rare and Classic Books to encourage a passion for literacy in children. Together these
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Education and Career Choice for New Generations
The increasingly technological working environment has placed a much faster pace on day to day activities. Today and tomorrow’s generations must be flexible, creative and multi-disciplinary in order to reap the most from their potential.
It is rare in today’s world for a young man or woman to graduate from University, move into a job they love and stay put until their retirement day. The working life now, in particularly for highly creative people is an adventurous journey, full of challenges, changes and the usual peaks and troughs.
The broad range of skills gathered by many twenty to thirty something’s through multiple jobs and travelling could be viewed as an asset. However, there are many companies that still consider jumping from job to job uncommitted working behavior.
Sir Ken Robinson PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. Robinson defines creativity as "originality that has value". It is his view that everybody has a talent that should be developed and that it is a misconception that only special people are creative. Sir Robinson believes that it is possible to be creative in any area of life including science and maths.
The old concept of climbing a career ladder may become a thing of the past. Instead of only moving in one direction, people will learn that there are other ways to develop a career. So how is it possible to be in control in an environment that can turn upside down in a moment?
A different mindset is needed to succeed in today’s working world which includes being flexible and creative. Having fresh ideas and new approaches applied to solid situations is the way to make things happen. Young people are the force that will create new theories and visions for the future. Experience gained by crossing disciplines and cultures allows a much broader perspective in choosing new solutions.
Unless conditions and encouragement are established during early education, talents may not flourish. Many adults today have never found what their real talents are because their gifts went unrecognised at school. Individual talents are so diverse that many are not supported by the current education system. These unsupported and unrecognised talents become a detriment to society and culture as well as individuals. Creative solutions are lost as well as lives wasted in unfound potential.
Young people today must be pioneers in creating new working formats and innovative solutions to current issues. By doing so they will gain the most from their potential as well as contribute to the continuing development of society.
What is important is that older generations are prepared to not only listen, but to initiate and support action. An honest approach to reviewing and releasing old educational and working structures is required to allow space for pioneering work to emerge.
Monday, April 12, 2010
After-school Programs Crucial for Students
After-school programs are provided for elementary and middle school students around the nation. These programs give children the opportunity to advance their skills while applying academically suitable techniques. When children are left alone beginning at a young age, they are more likely to become involved in high-risk behavior. However, when children are actively attending after-school programs, they are more likely to become involved in positive activities.
Elementary school-age children are more likely to attend after-school programs and more likely to engage in self-care as they reach an older age. “Nation-wide, 3,325,00012 six- to 12-year-olds regularly spent time unsupervised or in the care of a young sibling in 1999.” In fact, about the same number of children are left unsupervised each year, regardless of socioeconomic status (Vandivere, Tout, Capizzano, & Zaslow, 2003).
However, after-school programs are offered throughout the country to young children in hopes of improving their academic, social, and enrichment opportunities. About 14% of elementary school students are enrolled in after-school programs (ERIC Development Team, 2001). These programs are proven to be more effective for students when the adult-child ratio is low. The students receive personal attention, are able to get involved in more flexible activities, and are exposed to more age-appropriate activities.
Gender also plays a role in how effective after-school programs are. Boys who are involved in these programs usually prefer sports activities, while girls usually prefer social and academic activities (ERIC Development Team, 2001).
Socioeconomic status plays a great role in students’ involvement in these kinds of activities. Parents who make more money and have higher educational levels usually urge their children to participate in educational activities and enrichment lessons. It is easier for these parents to pay for their children’s involvement in these services (ERIC Development Team, 2001). “Most families pay, an average of $22 per week, per child for after-school programs (Making the Case, 2006). In fact, students with the most to gain from after-school programs are those who come from high-risk backgrounds.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Who are Generation Y?
children and young adults born between the early 1980s and 2001 as "The Millennial Generation," sometimes known as Generation Y. Although Generation Y has been a frequently used term used in popular culture, Howe and Strauss note that in a 1997 ABC News online poll, the members of the generation themselves overwhelmingly chose Millennials as their moniker.
Millennials, the children of the Baby Boomers and Generation X, exhibit quite different characteristics from their predecessors. Teachers, coaches, and others who work with children and young adults of Generation Y need to understand their unique traits in order to work with them successfully.
Members of Generation Y aren't typically wanted by the police, but they have been very wanted by their parents in the sense that their births have been the most planned for and anticipated in history. By 1998, the number of Gen Y births had surpassed that of their Boomer-era counterparts, as more Boomers and Gen Xers are starting and expanding their families, many times relying on fertility treatments to do so.
Because Millennials were so wanted and planned for by their parents, they have also become the most watched-over. generation in history. In sharp contrast to the "latch-key kid" mentality that marked many Gen Xer childhoods, Gen Y children have little unsupervised free time, with schools doling out more homework than ever before and parents scheduling them into more and more after-school and weekend activities.
As Generation Y is spending more time than ever supervised by parents and other authority figures, they tend to trust and respect authority more than previous generations. Rather than rebelling against parents, teachers, government, and religious institutions, Millennials believe in following the rules, precipitating a drop in violent crimes and teen pregnancy in their age group that began in the late 1990sCompared to their rather cynical Generation X elders, the children of Generation Y are a generally positive, cutting-edge bunch. They are the first generation to have been exposed to computers and technology since birth and view themselves as problem-solvers and world-changers.
Howe and Strauss note that Millennials rejected the name Generation Y due to its close association with Generation X; rather than wanting to be seeing as simply the "next" generation, Millennials want to be seen as a new and different generation that is not related to (although, obviously, still respectful of) previous generations. In general, Millennials are positive, goal-oriented team players who work well with authority, and as such, parents and other adults can easily guide them toward being the next great generation of leaders
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Youth Fusion Helps Keep Kids in School
Youth Fusion, is a non-profit Montreal organization that partners university students and high school students in a win-win program. High school students are motivated and want to stay in school, while university students gain valuable experience
In 2008/2009, a pilot project was launched that partnered Concordia University Students with two high schools, James Lyng and Pierre Dupruy. The university students implemented programs in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Environment, Journalism, Music, Politics, Sports, Technology, and Community
Students participating in the activities learn valuable skills. For example the Entrepreneurship program teaches students how to make a business plan and do a power point presentation. The Environmental program teaches students about composting and recycling. Long after they leave school, students will be using these newly acquired skills.
Participants gain a sense of belonging, both in their high school and in the community as a whole. Since the university students commit 15 hours a week, there is a bond and partnership formed with all participants. Often, field trips are involved which makes that community connection complete.
Students learn to value education and visualize a future. The mentoring relationship and the activities in the program allow the students to set goals for the future. The window of possibility is opened and they see that post secondary education can be a reality, even for those from a disadvantaged background.
Professional Experience for University Students
University students participating in the program gain valuable professional experience in their chosen field. This is a chance to put their classroom knowledge into practice.
They will also realize their potential for social change. They are able to see that they can make a concrete difference in the lives of others.
Drop Out Rate Decreased
After only one year, the pilot project produced an increase in the retention rate. On the CTV Montreal November 12th broadcast Gabriel Lopez reported, "Absenteeism rates went down by 40% and the graduation rate went up by 12.6% since we went in," The positive results set plans in motion for an expansion to the program. An expansion for 2009/2010 year is set to include at least 6 other Quebec Universities and many other high schools.
Youth Fusion introduced a innovative program to the Montreal area that really works. University students went into local high schools bringing interesting programs with them. The older peers and extra activities gave the high school kids a sense of belonging and a reason to stay in school.
Friday, April 9, 2010
What are the Four Different Types of Child Abuse?
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is a good opportunity for educators and others who work with children to take some time to become familiar with the different types of child abuse that exist, so that they may recognize when problems occur and assist in getting students the help they need.
Physical abuse occurs when a parent causes physical injury to a child from behavior such as hitting, choking, shaking, kicking, or burning. The abuse may result from physical discipline which is not appropriate for the child, or from a parent who is unable to control his or her anger and misdirects it towards the child. Children who live in homes where punishment is often physical may not always realize that they are being abused.
Signs of physical abuse include unexplained, repeated, or excessive bruises, broken bones, black eyes, or other injuries. Abused children may have long absences from school, or may wear clothing inappropriate for the weather in an attempt to cover up injuries. They may be afraid to go home or to be alone with their parent.
Emotional abuse is behavior that makes the child feel unloved and unwanted. It can include things like belittling, insulting, threatening, isolating, exploiting, and ignoring. Emotional abuse can consist of either a pattern of such behaviors or extreme examples in isolation.
Emotionally abused children may seem unusually unattached to their parent. They may exhibit physical or emotional developmental delays, or show extremes in behavior. These children may also either regress to childlike behavior, or may exhibit unusual maturity, such as providing caretaking for other children
Neglect occurs when a parent fails to provide for a child’s most basic needs. These can include food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, or supervision. Emotional neglect may include permitting the child to use drugs or alcohol or participate in other maladaptive or dangerous behavior, allowing the child to witness domestic violence, refusing to obtain needed psychological care for the child, or failing to provide the necessary nurturing for the child.
A child who is chronically neglected may be frequently absent from school, may have poor hygiene or clothing that is inappropriate for the weather, or may beg or steal food or money. There may also be an obvious need for dental or medical care that is going unchecked. The child may be unsupervised for long periods of time, or may be out getting into trouble and no one seems to notice.
A familiarization with the four types of child abuse will help educators and youth workers stay alert for signs that children may need there help. Please check back for more articles in this series on National Child Abuse Prevention Month, including information about reporting suspected child abuse and factors that can help protect families from child abuse.
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