Teach the Brain Forums

I am going to start this thread with one important declarative statement or is that imperative?
Students of all ages must be ACCEPTED by their teachers and peers.

Do we agree or disagree...why?

Rob

Well, it has been a month and the turnout for this site has been low...and of course maybe, just maybe, it is because the topic is bland. Because we all know that all children shall be ACCEPTED if we are to survive on this earth.
Have you ever been a young student and not accepted by your teacher and/or your peers? Well, it is the most lonely hurt feeling possible on a day in and day out basis. So I will change the title and see what happens. My feelings remain the same...ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCEPTED. Can you imagine, no one answered this thread and it is probably the most important thread on the web.

We are sometimes too busy to look at the real priorities in our education and teaching. Can you just imagine being a young student at school for many hours and possibly including day care, and you are emotionally filled with the feeling that a teacher or aide or day care worker really doesn't like you or your peers really don't like you. You might say that this is normal and that all kids have to go through this once in awhile but think about...going to school everyday with the profound feeling of alienation.
Just think about it.
Be well,
Rob

:confused: It is hard to see youngsters who are not accepted and how much they need someone to assist them and mentor these serious foibles. Parents seen so busy today at their jobs...but the child does not need the deep hurting feeling of being alone and being alienated by peers, teachers and others who have a different priority.
Something to think about.
Rob URL retrieved from the internet August 12, 2005....and is most likely a result of some forms of alienation.....
URL: http://www.prponline.net/School/SAJ/Arti...havior.htm
We can help!
URL: http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/kros9910.htm

Rob,
Ironically I've just been contemplating this issue?
Though I've been reflecting on Students who have a 'mild learning disorder' in one area of learning.
Which often go unrecognised for many years, or perhaps never.
Where Students are often repeatedly accused of 'not trying hard enough' and of 'being lazy'. Despite their sincere effort.
Where this ongoing intimidation develops a feeling of anxiety, which becomes associated with the affected 'Subject/s'. So that even the simple mention of Subject causes anxiety.
The attachment of anxiety to a learning difficulty, commonly turns a difficulty into an impossibility? Where Students often just give up. Which can often result in 'behaviour problems', during the relevant subject lessons.

Whereas, recognition of their "learning difficulty', brings a personal feeling of acceptance that can be built on to help them overcome their difficulty.
Where most often, with the appropriate support, their learning difficulty can be adequately addressed so as to not notably impede their future learning.
Though the extra effort that will be required of the Student, needs to be based on a feeling of confidence.
As opposed to a sense of anxiety resulting from non-acceptance of their learning difference.
Though I would pose the question as to the proportion of Students in any classroom who bring a sense of anxiety to some of their Subjects?
I would speculate a majority?
Where concern for 'acceptance' is the basis of the anxiety.

I also just listened to a discussion of research on PTSD post traumatic stress disorder. Where I drew a parallel with Students who experienced ongoing 'alienation'?
Geoff.

Good morning Geoff,
You hit the nail right on the head. Alienation is a perjorative in every sense of the word and can be deadly. Special needs children along with NT neurologically typical children feel left out if we do not "wake up" and smell the coffee.

It just fits...the message that we send by the withdrawal of affection or not speaking to someone because we want to "get back" at them is DEADLY.

If we were able to think through such a scheme to push children away and alienate them, we could not do a better job than we are doing now. The human being along with other forms of life such as dogs and cats etc. need to be part of universal of acceptance. We give lip service to this, but our priorities don't seem to be loving. NO ONE WANTS TO BE ISOLATED AND ALIENATED FROM THE GROUP.....or they will be forced as a biological species to find acceptance in ANY group that will have them. WOW, that is scary. But that is what is happening RIGHT this minute.

We built a system of ALIENATION by trying to be all things to all people that give us ACCEPTANCE...such as our peers, our job, our boss, our networking to get ahead, our test scores, how we will look when the job is done.

Some of the very best educators and teachers do a terrific job of making sure the student is included and not alienated. Gangs prey on alienated students, so they can be part of something....Even something bad.

Isolated and alienated adults form groups of mutual interest so that they can enjoy each others company and be part of something good. Is this opportunity open for the young student?

I hope we are wrong. Don't think so.

Thanks for your reply, Geoff. The questions is...............

Be well,
Rob

We have learned even by the Aplysia that if you pinch his/her tail, the whole inner Aplysia is affected. It will not be approachable to calm down. It would be most difficult to ever gain it's trust. It has emotionally and biologically incurred [sensitization]. I wonder if it is possible over time to habituate this same Apysia. Obviously it would have been much easier to calmly and gently touched the tail in the first place.....Why were you touching the tail in the first place.[B]What were you thinking?[/B] Maybe you were not thinking and maybe, just maybe this is what we do to our students. Time to remember...these children or adolescents or adults are counting on us to nuture their growth; not put them down. Think about it...
Be well,
Rob

This is really serious business. We know that our well being is based on acceptance. Our emotional health and physical health are all based on acceptance by someone...and I can tell you that students spend many many hours at school with peers and adults who do not accept them for one reason or another. This is getting to the core of our society.

For some of you that are not familiar with acceptance as a damaging tool...Let me convey this to you. Many times we have school employees that are not doing an adequate job. Once you have tried your best to help them...and still no results...some lawyers for the school districts advise the administration to: stop all communication with that employee and to advise other staff not to recognize that they exist. I fired an attorney who advised me of this.

Withholding love of family or friend and withholding acceptance of all...is very cruel and a practice that still continues worldwide.
Friends, we need to reconsider what we are doing to others under the posture of being an educator.
Be well,
Rob

Hi,
Did you ever hear the comment that little Johnny will be ok if he just can make it through the system. Well, they are talking about the educational system...the schools!

Actually if you teach school and are married or single with no children in school yourself then it is much different than if you have children in school. It seems that every minute of social gatherings at school or with school friends etc. is talking about school. Why are so many people worried that their child will not make it through the system....well it is because maybe they won't. This is not suppose to be "boot" camp unless we want to make it that way. It could be "fun" and we could extol learning. Let's take a test....let us see how much you have learned. Actually if you have ever taught in another country, the values are different but just as tenuous. Parents and teachers and administrators really need to spend more time together and get to know one another.
It seems that middle school is the big worry for parents in many respects....why is that? We know their prefrontal lobes are not developed as of yet and that the kids do some [unusual things]. If we know that the executive officer of the brain is not matured as yet....should we not plan for this.
Best,
Rob

March 9,2006

Good Morning,

Have you ever beem so involved like 'writing a paper for college on children' and at the same time you are asking firmly that your child leave you alone so you can get your work done for college?

That happened to me.....after my young child was denied my attention he went outside to cry. I thought that "spoiled kid". Then I look down at the paper that I was writing: It was titled the importance of your child's inclusion and the harm of alienation." I put my work away and went outside to 'walk my talk'. Think about it....

Best,
Rob

March 12, 2006

Good Morning,

It is time to look at ACCEPTANCE legally. Compulsory school attendance laws compel students to be at school. If they are compelled to be at school then they must be accepted. Teachers and other personnel who cannot accept all students need retraining and professional development, but usually they is very little in terms of guts in higher administration. They would rather the problem go away....so they ignore it [the student].

Wake up, it is time to smell the coffee....
Best.
Rob