Warning! Public schools are teaching what!!

[Pjdriver]

7 hours ago, Shawnster said:

But then, neither are all the children who attend the Kingdom Hall, so... 

“So” what?

Edited September 6, 2020 by Pjdriver

[Shawnster]

41 minutes ago, Pjdriver said:

“So” what?

Words right out of my mouth 

[McKay]

I understand why some parents would want their children attending a JW only school but I think it’s a bad idea. Children, even young ones, need to learn to take a stand for true worship. They need to learn that doing so will come with ridicule in this system. As long as they’re in the truth and this world exists, these children are going to face persecution. Parents need to help them DEAL with the persecution, not run from it. Even homeschooling, which is often done with best intentions, can be a bad thing if the kid grows up in a totally sheltered environment where they are NEVER exposed to Satan’s machinations. I’ve seen a lot of kids grow up in a homeschool environment and as soon as they get their first job and get a taste of the world they leave the truth and are never heard from again. The same can happen to kids who go to public school, but I think the kids who learn to stand tall during the pledge of allegiance in front of an entire class of peers and learn not to care what the other kids think is far better prepared for living in the real world as it exists today. 

 

As for the public schools teaching kids things that are unscriptural (lgbt, etc), that’s why the parents need to talk to their kids and find this stuff out so they can counteract it. You can’t completely control what your kids are exposed to. But you have an obligation to straighten them out when they come home with bad ideas. Or prepare them during family worship for what they may learn in school.

 

I think a lot of parents mean well here but they’re misguided. Like those parents who wrote into the branch to complain about the “violence” in our dramas and how they don’t want their kids exposed to ANY violence...how unbalanced and naive! I’m of the opinion that JW schools fall into the same trap.

[M.J.]

And, if you are young and never exposed,  and don't know any better, when you hear witnesses talk about the non-witnesses, they make it sound like the boogeyman, or these 'evil' , 'wicked' people. Then you meet them and realize, why are they so normal? So no development of discernment.

Edited September 6, 2020 by M.J.

[Amygdala]

3 hours ago, McKay said:

Children, even young ones, need to learn to take a stand for true worship. They need to learn that doing so will come with ridicule in this system. As long as they’re in the truth and this world exists, these children are going to face persecution. Parents need to help them DEAL with the persecution, not run from it

 

3 hours ago, McKay said:

As for the public schools teaching kids things that are unscriptural (lgbt, etc), that’s why the parents need to talk to their kids and find this stuff out so they can counteract it. You can’t completely control what your kids are exposed to. But you have an obligation to straighten them out when they come home with bad ideas. Or prepare them during family worship for what they may learn in school.

I don't disagree. But I won't judge brothers and sisters, who, for their own personal reasons decide otherwise and choose home or private schooling - and I know quite a few.. We put our daughter into the standard school system and actually ever since kindergarten, she has dealt with birthdays, christmas celebrations, along with a plethora of other catholic celebrations, and since the first grade even sex talk between other girls. Our daughter has managed these situations with "street smarts". Thankfully she seeks out the "good", well-behaved, smarter kids to hangout with now, and avoids the "problem" kids. We are also very active at guiding her and reviewing situations of "what if" during family study, so I agree parents play a large role in influencing and helping this way.

 

 

Of course our kids should have a balanced view of worldly people and kids, and know how to deal with situations that can test their faith. Being an only child, our daughter plays with neighborhood kids.

 

My angle is that the type of kids nowadays having almost little to no discipline at home, letting the tv and gadgets be their babysitter (also bringing cells to school with pornography from some 4th graders), and then take that into the schools, coupled with the fact that schools are often overcrowded, with some teachers who care about their jobs vs. those who care just about a paycheck. I almost saw a strike form in my daughter's school regarding one apathetic teacher from another grade. With the cookie cutter approach to many public schools, I have talked to a couple of moms of kids who are constantly getting in trouble at my daughter's school, and to hear their frustration that their child is being "misunderstood", when it is clear to me there are some other impediments due to the child's makeup or perhaps upbringing. Not all kids are suited for structured learning, and need more lee-way in order to enjoy learning, and at a pace right for them (whether that is slower or for some faster). For the "troubled kids", their self-esteem about even being at school is being affected because of always sitting in the corner. Bullying behaviour can be seen towards other kids from these ones. If a family is fortunate, the school their kids will be in is a calmer environment, where the teachers and principle will respect our JW beliefs, but this is not reality everywhere. I have seen other Witness kids being negatively targeted even from teachers at their schools, and threatening failing grades for refusing to participate in certain catholic tradition celebrations...

 

One single mom of 2 kids in our congregation had her daughter being bullied by a boy in her school, where he would chuck rocks at her while she walked home from school. She was so mad to see it herself one day, she literally leaped off of her 1st floor apartment balcony and ran to confront the boy - scared him like crazy - to the point where the mother was called into the principal's office explaining that the boy was pretty much traumatized by her actions and had to switch schools. But this, and other crazy ideas (as mentioned in this thread) being promoted in schools nowadays, and the overall environment in public schools nowadays, are pushing even worldly people to seek alternatives for their children.

Edited September 6, 2020 by Lieblingskind

[Amygdala]

I also was flabbergasted when last year I had to call out to one girl who my daughter has known since kindergarten, to get off of the street. She went out onto the middle of the street to lay down. She screamed out in reply that she would rather die than go home after school. I went into the after school care area where I had picked up my daughter to advise one of the workers. One of them came out and took her into the offices, and said they were also going to call youth services. Just crazy times were living in. And we live in a nice area!

[cricket246]

I have been wondering how many mates, children and even older parents are being subjected to abuse with this covid pandemic keeping more people home?...

 

I have personally heard of some of the curriculum from my worldly nieces and nephews and I am even more thankful I was home-schooled. I can only imagine what sort of pressure young ones in Jehovah's organization have to face on a daily basis. 

 

And a note on the earlier posts concerning hidden links : IN my teens/early twenties I myself stumbled upon innocent looking modeling agencies that looked like disney type agencies, but certain links at the bottom (appearing to be sign up pages or info pages) were actually there for those seeking anything but modeling signups. They turned out to be in a ring of hundred of links. I reported the main page with all the links to the authorities. They disappeared shortly after... Satan likes to work alot in the dark where he can't be caught as easily.

[Pjdriver]

14 hours ago, Shawnster said:

Words right out of my mouth 

You must not have children. Those with children care about that kind Of thing. I know it’s hard to believe but some parents aren’t as sharp as you are, and they do assume things like that.
I remember a sister saying to my wife when we put my son in a class of all JW kids. She said, “at least now we don’t have to worry about the association. 

Edited September 7, 2020 by Pjdriver

[Amygdala]

4 hours ago, cricket246 said:

I have personally heard of some of the curriculum from my worldly nieces and nephews and I am even more thankful I was home-schooled. I can only imagine what sort of pressure young ones in Jehovah's organization have to face on a daily basis. 

This makes me grateful that the F&DS are doing so much for our children today - including Caleb and Sophia videos focusing on temptations at school, homosexuality, sexual abuse, bullying, peer pressure, free thinking and evolution and other pertinent videos. The GB are more than aware of the challenges are young ones are facing, and giving them the support they need - including educating parents on how to raise their kids in these environments. Who would have thought that kids would bring knives or guns to school today, or face online bullying telling victims to "go on and kill themselves", child pornography, sexting or crazy social media pressures...

Edited September 7, 2020 by Lieblingskind

[Amygdala]

One of the recent temptations at my daughter's school was that the teacher recommended that our daughter join in a kids math program at our local university. Selected kids from various schools would come together and begin experimenting with math projects and problems - even using philosophy to solve some  math equations for a couple of hours. It would be "fun" and help develop the child's math skills. Every Wednesday afternoon. This also is at the same time where a girl my daughter met at her school from the lower grade became friends because she speaks English (self-taught), and who now comes over to play on Wednesday afternoons and is now my daughter's weekly bible study. She would have had to stop coming over as the rest of the days of our week our already planned with other activities.

 

I know my daughter will undoubtedly get other academic offers in the future because she does excel academically, but these are the kinds of pressures some parents face, and Satan tries to promote his world as much as he can through our children.

Edited September 7, 2020 by Lieblingskind

[trottigy]

I haven't seen anything that makes me think schools are trying to indoctrinate kids into Marxism. Exercising one's first amendment rights to speak out is not Marxism. Jehovah's witnesses exercise theirs every time they go in the ministry. And I wouldn't say because we teach our kids how to speak up and go in the ministry we are teaching them Marxism.

 

Sex education is a difficult thing for parents, teachers and kids. I give the talk "A Godly View of Sex and Marriage" and that is not easy!! But I usually have many who come and thank me for even bringing the topic up.

 

If I had kids - I would definitely be sending my kids to public schools, but I would be involved in their education. I wouldn't just send them, close my eyes and hope for the best. That is a recipe for disaster. Thanks to public school I learned how to stand up for Jehovah's principles, how to study, how to think and reason (that had more to do with parents talking to me about what I was "learning" in school and training me than anything) and how to be partial of a social group. Too many home schooled kids are really suffering in being able to socialize, hold a job and FOCUS. I can almost always tell the difference between the home schooled and the public schooled just by their ability to focus and have a conversation with me for longer than 2 minutes.

 

As to why they want the kids to go back to school - that is usually just economics. Many homes only have one parent. How does that one parent go to work and leave their school aged child at home? Day care and baby sitting is WAY too high to manage that. OR if there are 2 parents - often both have to work to make ends meet. Politicians want the kids back to school so parents can be freed up to go back to work.

[Amygdala]

2 hours ago, trottigy said:

If I had kids - I would definitely be sending my kids to public schools, but I would be involved in their education. I wouldn't just send them, close my eyes and hope for the best. That is a recipe for disaster.

Unfortunately many, including brothers, just send their kids to school and "hope for the best." Some are too busy with work, some don't have the energy, others don't think anything will happen. Though I have heard stories from other kids who are scared to tell their parents the truth about what is going on in school. I have heard it from some parents that a child will learn everything in school, so no need to even help the child with homework. Is it any wonder these kids are struggling with school work, relationships with teachers or other kids?  In Germany, we don't have the option for homeschooling as it is illegal, but for some parents I am sure they are quite happy about that and not worry about training or looking after their own kids. Just give birth, and send them on their way...

 

For those who don't have children, or who haven't had kids in the mainstream public school system in a long time, let me just say teachers are underpaid and feel overworked, so when situations arise where kids are being bullied in school(from perhaps mentally disturbed kids) , often there is just passive action towards it. For some kids who might not know how to stand up properly for themselves, or are different because they don't have the latest styles or electronics at school, they become even more of a target for bullying. When I walked my daughter to school one day, I saw 2 boys in a fist fight, where the 1 boy was nearly double the size and weight of the other boy and just throwing punches at him.  I intervened and quickly told the smaller boy to stay away from the bigger, but where were the teachers? A couple of them were standing on one corner of the school yard just engaged in small talk, totally ignoring what just took place.

 

When I picked up my daughter from school one day, I had to use the washroom in one area of the school. I was absolutely disgusted to smell urine everywhere. My daughter later told me that she saw feces around the toilets and doors. Apparently there is a cleaning company, but that smell of urine was definitely not something fresh, had likely been there for weeks. I told the care workers in this area that that is unacceptable, and suggested that I would come and clean the toilets myself. Well, after my small complaint, it started smelling like lemon and clean stalls after that. Schools don't have the budget, nor the energy, nor manpower to keep the schools a safe place. 

 

I am very involved in my daughter's school and try to volunteer when I can as I don't help out during christmas or other catholic celebrations as other parents do. But the more I see what is going on, including girls already in the first grade wearing lipstick and tanktops, and stories I have heard about certain girls already, it is really no wonder some parents would rather train their kids themselves. These families shouldn't feel judged for that. The ones I know who were homeschooled and now adults are still in the Truth this day, and doing quite well in their congregations.

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by Lieblingskind

[Qapla]

When our children were young and in school, my wife got a job at the school ... that helped greatly

[Shawnster]

11 hours ago, Pjdriver said:

I remember a sister saying to my wife when we put my son in a class of all JW kids. She said, “at least now we don’t have to worry about the association. 

And that was literally my point that you seemed to have missed.  Yes, not all the children in a "Witness school" are good association.  So what?  Neither are all the children in the Kingdom Hall.  So, while the warning that not all children in a "Witness school" are good association is a valid warning, in the long run it's a bit moot.  As a parent we have to always watch our children's association be it in the congregation or without.  

 

The possibility of exposing our children to bad associates is not enough reason to reject a "Witness school."  By that reasoning we should keep our children away from the Kingdom Hall because they might get exposed to bad association.  We have to educate our children and keeping them in a bubble at home isolated from everyone is not a logical option.  

[Pjdriver]

1 hour ago, Shawnster said:

The possibility of exposing our children to bad associates is not enough reason to reject a "Witness school."  By that reasoning we should keep our children away from the Kingdom Hall

Looks like your the one who missed my point. First, I never said that is a reason to reject JW schools. I actually preferred them. You interjected that yourself. Why, I’m not sure.
Also, The kids are from different congregations, so you may not be familiar with them as you might be if they were all from the same congregation. 
So, as I said, don’t assume (because some do) that they are all good associates. In fact I recall that a couple parents sent their kids to JW school because they had behavioral problems themselves in public school, and they thought it might straighten them out. 

Bottom line: a heads up, especially for young inexperience or spiritually immature parents is very appropriate. 

[Amygdala]

Home-schooling has also evolved over the years. Parents can elect to choose a local school and have homework and tests that those in-class work on, sent by mail. The home-schooled student can also keep in touch with their classmates over Zoom, which is the case I know for one family in Canada. So it is not necessarily a sheltered way of schooling from bad association, but I would say more that the parent has more control of what their child will learn, and avoiding problems typical to learning on location. Such as distractions and the inability to concentrate, bullying, nationalistic or religious rituals, wrong peer pressure, and more.

 

I am not convinced that children do not develop the life skills to stand up for the truth because of not being at a physical school. Many observe and can learn from our day-to-day experiences with neighbors, of which children are generally exposed to other children. Or if we have contact with worldly relatives.  Also when we have to defend our beliefs in the ministry, we learn how to do so, especially from an irate householder. A person doesn't have to be a literal park ranger, to understand how to get around in a park and knows enough and is prepared. Jehovah gave us the tools to help our children, and develop their own personal convictions in him. Being more exposed to the world than the truth is not necessarily a way to build up that conviction, especially if there is no foundation to start with in the first place. Our kids are not brought up Mennonites. They know about schools and they can see that is a different way of growing up. We have interview videos and films about those who did leave the Organization and came back, and many lessons can be learned alone from these former "prodigal sons". But it's up to the parents role in educating their child about the better way of life vs.lessons learned from those who left, and guiding them to know how to stand up for their beliefs when situations arise in life in general. Some may perhaps take their children out more in the ministry, and if they are qualified, they can do their own form of standing up for the truth. Plus more time can be used exploring the world outside on hikes, visits to museums, parks, and learning about the world at large, as well as more quality time with parents, which is often lacking with many children today.

 

If a parent helps their child form friendships with other kids in the congregation or in other congregations, then it won't feel like a missing hole or loss for not attending public school with their peers, as the sister above who home-schooled above says she is grateful to have home-schooled.

 

A benefit, though, of attending a public school is that it is a specialized territory for the ministry that our kids and even parents can tap into.

Edited September 7, 2020 by Lieblingskind

[Katty]

21 hours ago, trottigy said:

I haven't seen anything that makes me think schools are trying to indoctrinate kids into Marxism. Exercising one's first amendment rights to speak out is not Marxism. Jehovah's witnesses exercise theirs every time they go in the ministry. And I wouldn't say because we teach our kids how to speak up and go in the ministry we are teaching them Marxism.

 

 

When people say Marxism, they generally are talking about internationalism. You might have seen in the news that Trump has outlawed the teaching of critical race theory training for government agencies. Apparently this has also been on the curicula for many public schools as well; it teaches that all white people have privilege and non whites are oppressed, and thus basically takes the ideas of the Communist Manifesto and replaces bourgouisie with white people and proletariat with non whites. I could be wrong, but I don't think this is necessarily taught in all schools, but apparently it is taught in at least some public schools.

[Amygdala]

Sorry it sounds like I am being sponsored by the Witness school, but this stood out to me:

 

Quote

Life skills and preparation for the career of their choice, trades, family responsibilities, and single life preparation skills are all provided.

Parents and schools do not do enough of this. I don't know how many young people (including peers in the past) I have met who were finished with their education, and just felt totally unsure what to do next, and even lost about the future. They had no sense of direction, should they get married, what kind of job to do, if they should pioneer, should they travel, go to Bethel, or if they should just stay home. I don't know if they teach kids how to budget as part of this school's curriculum, as nowadays it seems like once kids get money, it's gone the next second. Not saying for all young people, but some parents have left it to the "schools" to teach their kids these important aspects in life - and not all schools make practical life skills a subject at all.

 

I also noticed this school teaches students how to study, which schools don't. Probably with the same principles from our meetings.,

Edited September 8, 2020 by Lieblingskind

[Amygdala]

In talking to one young brother in our congregation, my husband said many in  his school aspire to be youtube stars. 😗

[EccentricM]

7 hours ago, Lieblingskind said:

In talking to one young brother in our congregation, my husband said many in  his school aspire to be youtube stars. 😗

It's a very attractive and convenient way to make money today. Doing what you want, and getting paid for it. It's the modern day version of movie, t.v or celebrity stardom. The nack is getting popular, and "staying" popular. And people also don't realise the background work that goes into it.

Edited September 8, 2020 by EccentricM

[Amygdala]

They should create a term for this generation other than the "Millennials". The DM generation or SM generation. 😅

[BenJepthah]

1 hour ago, Lieblingskind said:

They should create a term for this generation other than the "Millennials". The DM generation or SM generation. 😅

We are now in the post millennial generation. “ Generation Z”.   Ironically the end of the alphabet at the end of the world.

[Amygdala]

Interesting from Wikipedia:

 

Quote

According to Dictionary.com's Slang Dictionary, "Zoomer" is an informal term used to refer to members of Generation Z.^[16] According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term "Zoomer" is rising in popular usage, but was still not widely used enough to justify a dictionary entry as of January 2020. Previously, it was used to describe handheld personal computers or personal digital assistants (in the 1990s) and particularly active Baby Boomers (in the 2000s).^[13] Zoomer, in its current incarnation, skyrocketed in popularity in 2018, when it was used in a 4chan Internet meme mocking Gen Z adolescents via a Wojak caricature dubbed a "Zoomer" (a pun on the term "boomer").^[17][18] The term "zoomer" is modeled on "boomer" and is often used in an ironic, humorous, or mocking tone.

 

[M.J.]

20 hours ago, Katty said:

You might have seen in the news that Trump has outlawed the teaching of critical race theory training for government agencies. Apparently this has also been on the curicula for many public schools as well; it teaches that all white people have privilege and non whites are oppressed,

I'm familiar with racial sensitivity training.  However, the government programs you're mentioning are allegedly teaching that white people are to blame for racism, and so Trump wants these programs cancelled, as the implication was that they are demonizing white people. However, news reports could not find anyone to indicate what specific programs he was referring to, and so it seems to be more of a political move. But anyway, I've never seen or heard this taught in public school education; racial sensitivity training, yes, but demonizing white people as part of the school county approved curriculum, that seems a bit of a stretch. 

Edited September 8, 2020 by M.J.

[BenJepthah]

4 minutes ago, M.J. said:

I'm familiar with racial sensitivity training.  However, the government programs you're mentioning are allegedly teaching that white people are to blame for racism, and so Trump wants these programs cancelled, as the implication was that they are demonizing white people. However, news reports could not find anyone to indicate what specific programs he was referring to, and so it seems to be more of a political move. But anyway, I've never seen or heard this taught in public school education; racial sensitivity training, yes, but demonizing white people as part of the school county approved curriculum, that seems a bit of a stretch. 

Well, their is the children’s book “ Antiracist Baby”. And then their is Oprah Winfrey’s statement about the “ System of White people”. ( AKA Satan’s system).  But other than that theirs is the thousands of pages of curriculum from BLM being promoted to school teachers currently.   And then Their is the 1619 project.