Parenting In The Age Of Social Media

Parenting in the digital age is no easy task. The internet is full of wonder, social expression, and information. Unfortunately the internet is also full of predators, bullying, violence, and pornography. As parents we need to be educated about our child's online life. What is safe? What is not?  Social media is very popular with both adults and teens. Via social media we are connected to each other like never before. Sharing ideas, photos, and information, the possibilities are excitingly limitless. We cannot ban children from the internet and social media, this is their world. They need to know how to use the it, and use it safely. Let's use common sense and follow simple rules.

All social media apps come with terms of usage. Before allowing your child to download any app it is wise to go over the terms of usage with them. This teaches them to be aware of what the rules are, and what they are signing onto. and it keeps you as the parent abreast of what they are doing. Instagram's first term states,"You must be 13 years or older to use this site." Then why do some parents knowingly allow their underage child to download the app and violate the terms? I have seen underage children online act dangerously foolish via social media. I have seen underage children post inappropriate photos, use bad language, bully others, and in some extreme cases met predators in person.  Children must be mature enough to use social media. Would you drop your child off in a city alone without supervision? Any sane parent would say, No Way! Then why allow a young child to have social networking apps before they are ready? 

When a child does reach 13, and you allow them to use social media, it is your responsibility to check on them and know what they are up to. You won't know everything, but keep a pulse on your kids, and teach them to be Internet smart. With the Internet comes responsibility for both teens and parents. There is a reason for terms of usage. If you give your child access online too soon you are opening Pandora's box. Let a child be a child. Educate yourself and follow your child's activity. Don't fall into the nagging and begging... So and so has it. You as the parent must be strong. You purchased that smart phone, so be smart and teach your child to be Internet safe! http://www.netsmartz.org/InternetSafety

Kids Are Not Standard

Common Core is the demise of education. Standardization is what it sounds like, standard, but children don't come standardized. When you peel the layers away from standardized testing and see it for what is, you realize education has become a commodity. Standardized testing is a billion dollar industry that operates in private. As a parent you can't even see the test your child is taking. Why? Because the test is PRIVATE INTELECTUAL PROPERTY!

Gone are the days of creative freedom in the classroom. Gone are the days of just plain PE in grammar school. Now PE is health too and you take a test about playing basketball instead of actually playing basketball. Gone are lunch periods where children can eat. What, you say? They still have lunch period, right? They have about 15 minutes to eat! My children often bring home half their lunch because they did not have time to eat! Gone are the days of hands on art projects, creative thinking, reading for fun, games, poetry, and music. Yes, you'll see buzzwords about these subjects around school, and your kids may have art, and they may bring home a project here and there, but the focus is the test! Test, test, test!

Chew on this for one brief moment. Wealthy students in private schools are not tested like this! The policymakers who signed the deal with the McGraw Hill et el to produce the PRIVATE SBAC tests have kids in private schools! Yes, money buys education in more ways than one. Public education has become a new market for money and our kids are for sale. Did you know your children's data is mined via the school to corporations? Did you know your Blue Ribbon School is not about merit per say, it's about business! The business of testing, and lots of money is being made!

There is a price on our children's heads and advertisers have a direct link into their young minds via school. This is not what public education is suppose to be. What happened? What happened to local towns controlling what students learn? Parental input, teacher creativity. Test proponents will argue standardized testing ensures everyone is learning the same thing. How about this, homogenized people don't make for strong and active communities. We're not robots!