One of our vocabulary words in my fifth grade class this week was principle: “a personal or specific basis of conduct or management.” Basically, I told my students, principles are your personal beliefs and values and they dictate how you act.
Why are children who seem to have so much promise taking their lives?
The experts have identified two factors: overwhelming pressure to succeed AND a broken or non-existent bond within their families. These youth are showing signs of mental illness and their parents are in denial. The principles, then, of these parents are simply high achievement, excellent education and then successful careers for their offspring. Absent is the principle of unconditional love and acceptance.
With such principles, only disaster can result.
It is up to each of us to do our own part to right this wrong.
Subscribe to the NY Times.
Volunteer at a community organization that serves people in need.
Any other ideas? Feel free to add!
I know roller are going to hate me for this, but be a parent to your kids, not their friend. Teach responsibility, set limits, don’t make comparisons to other kids/people. Make sure you are not living through your kids.
Quite true! I have made my mistakes, but now I NEVER compare my kids to others or to each other.
Wouldn’t the entire world be so much better if every single person believed and acted according to this TRUTH?