Category Archives: Tolerence

Education Instead of Force for Real Change 4

Bullying, Bystanders, Movies, Principals, Teachers, Tolerence • Tags: , , ,

Purchased Clip Art Collection Version 1.0 Copyright 2012 Macmanus. All Rights Reserved.

Reasons I Love That’s What I Am

There are so many things I love about the movie, That’s What I Am. My favorite part is when Mr. Simon writes this on the chalk board: Human Dignity + Compassion = Peace. Another wonderful part is when Stanley says, “I can’t make them be nice people and even if I did there would be others to take their place.”  The movie also makes the point that success is about timing, opportunity, and choices. 

Education for Real Change

I hope and pray more people will become tolerant and accepting of differences, but I cannot force them to do this. The best I can do is to continue to try to educate and pray that the message touches hearts. Words said because of fear are just words. Words said because of true change mean so much more.   

I am grateful that this movie reminded me of this. I am also grateful for others who continue to understand that education is so much more powerful than any form of violence will ever be. 

Gratitude for All Who Help

Thank God for all of those who try to make change by living good examples and by educating without cramming information down other’s throats. Thank God for the good teachers who truly inspire. May there be more of them in this world! 

Gratitude for Differences and Acceptance 15

Birds, Differences, Gratitude, Tolerence • Tags: , ,
Mejiro

©All Rights Reserved. You may share this photo only with a link to this blog. Please do not steal Katherine’s photo.

Today I am grateful for Katherine who shared this wonderful photo of her Merjiro, aka Japanese White-eye, with me and gave me permission to use it. The white around his eye gives him his name and makes him unique like many people.

Thank you to those of you who take the time to get to know and truly work to understand and accept children and adults with differences.  The support you give is greatly appreciated.  Hopefully in the future others will follow your example.  Blessings to all of you for all you do!  God willing hopefully one day in the future we will see an end to bullying of all types.    

There have always been people with differences and without them we would not have music, movies, books, cell phones, laptops, iPads, iPods, or so many other delightful things most of us enjoy.  The next time you meet someone who appears unconventional please take the time to see what wonderful insights that unique person has to offer.   

Learning Empathy and Tolerance for Others While Helping Our Children 1

Accountability, Education, Empathy, Parenting, Tolerence • Tags: , ,
Photographed at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Photographed at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

We all have to support each other and try harder to be empathic. It is not always easy to do, and this is especially true when we perceive an attack on our children. The grizzly bear or lioness comes out for me then.  I usually just avoid posting when this happens, because I know I will say something I will regret later otherwise.

Does this mean I always do the right thing?  I only wish this were true.  I too have been guilty of saying the wrong thing, as I think most people have.  I just hope anyone I have ever offended in any way has it in their hearts to forgive me.

It certainly brings home the issue of children bullying others over the Internet. That is why it is so important that we as parents teach our children that the Internet is forever.  They need to understand that it can’t just be torn up or erased.  It is the job of parents and educators to teach this to our children.

My son’s school has a wonderful class that they teach to the sixth graders called Technology.  It is not a quick one time class.  Rather, the class meets daily all year. They learn how to safely navigate the Internet, applicable laws that apply to information on the Internet, as well as, how wrong it is to cyber bully someone. They are learning that they are held accountable for their actions on the Internet.  I think it would be great if every school did this, although given the precociousness of today’s kids, it might need to be done at an earlier age.  Maybe we all need a class like this too!

Mahalo again for listening,

D. S. Walker