School

Links

Sharing – We Didn’t Say ‘Gay’ At My High School. It Almost Cost Me My Life.
ByMikeM April 18, 2022April 18, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Not acknowledging the humanity of anyone is what should not be acceptable. Trying to will an entire subset of humanity out of existence because they make you uncomfortable or some religious leader has told you that they are dangerous is not acceptable.

People die from suicide when there is so much pain that they see no path forward. The solution to that is to connect with them, to show them a path forward that involves being in community with people who accept and support them. Anything less than that is a willful decision to let people die.

If that’s what your beliefs tell you to do, you need better beliefs.

Read More Sharing – We Didn’t Say ‘Gay’ At My High School. It Almost Cost Me My Life.
Links

Sharing – Here’s How to Actually Talk to Little Kids About Sex
ByMikeM April 14, 2022April 14, 2022 Reading Time: 4 minutes

Since you didn’t, and school isn’t allowed to, teach them someone else will. It might be online or in person, but there is nothing more attractive to real pedophiles than kids who lack the basic skills and open communication with adults to tell on them.

Kids who are aware of their bodies and their place in the world can openly talk about sex with trusted and safe adults, understand what it means to be LGBTQ in some basic fashion and what to do when someone makes them feel threatened, making for poor targets. That’s not grooming; that’s teaching them basic self-defense. That’s teaching them the truth and the basics of reality.

I know a lot of supporters and people in the child abuse community don’t want to hear this, but I will not stand by while we practice things that make children less safe. Lacking knowledge about these topics does that. You’re not protecting them. You’re endangering them.

Read More Sharing – Here’s How to Actually Talk to Little Kids About Sex
In the News

Youth Mental Health – A Crisis, but Ending Pandemic Rules Won’t End the Crisis
ByMikeM February 16, 2022February 16, 2022 Reading Time: 3 minutes

There’s been a lot of talk about youth mental health during the pandemic, including a number of prominent voices raising the alarm about this crisis. There have been almost as many voices suggesting that ending things like lockdowns, mask and vaccine mandates, and just getting “back to normal” will fix this mental health crisis.

I am not one of those voices.

Now let me be clear, I’m not saying that the pandemic hasn’t played a number on mental health for all of us, it clearly has. But, the crisis in mental health for everyone, but especially young people, existed long before COVID-19.

Read More Youth Mental Health – A Crisis, but Ending Pandemic Rules Won’t End the Crisis
Links

Sharing – Texas parents must now sign-off on child abuse, dating violence education
ByMikeM December 20, 2021December 19, 2021 Reading Time: 2 minutes

I’m afraid that I have the same concerns about this change in Texas law. “School districts in Texas are now required to teach students about dating violence, family violence, child abuse and sex trafficking after a new law went into effect in early December. But advocates are concerned that a last-minute change to the law’s…

Read More Sharing – Texas parents must now sign-off on child abuse, dating violence education
Links

Sharing – Illinois Schools Allowing Students 5 Mental Health Days From School
ByMikeM September 4, 2021September 4, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

The thing I want to support with this is not students being lazy or getting a free pass for skipping school, but just the simple fact that someone, somewhere, is normalizing the idea that sometimes, we just need a freaking break. That taking a breath for our own mental health is perfectly acceptable.

Read More Sharing – Illinois Schools Allowing Students 5 Mental Health Days From School
Book Reviews

Reviews Elsewhere – Being Julia
ByMikeM August 31, 2021August 28, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

I found this review and also learned a bit about a disorder I wasn’t really familiar with before, so I thought I would share it with you all.

I’ll let the description written by Steph’s Two Girls tell you more about the book:

Read More Reviews Elsewhere – Being Julia