Auntie Charo's Soapbox

A long time ago, just after the time of the horse-drawn carriages were teachers dressed in dresses that were long, their faces covered as were their heads. They wore wire-rimmed glasses and hardly ever smiled, most carried a ruler that had a thin sliver of steel on one side, some carried clickers so that we could all genuflect at one time while in church. When we broke the rules, however, punishment was different with each teacher depending on personality and age. It wasn't unusual to have one put tape on your mouth if you talked too much in class. Another teacher would rather you stood with your face to the black(yes, they were black during my time)board the entire 45 minutes. If you were really bad, you got to clean the restrooms for several days which meant that each and every one who used it knew you did something really bad. Catholic school restrooms were the cleanest, I'm sure. Regardless of whether you were a boy or girl, if you did something wrong, you cleaned the windows so you were humiliated, as well, you could be seen picking up papers by anyone passing the Plaza de Espana. If you were smart, you kept your back to the street while you picked up the garbage. But the theme for the punishment was public humiliation at any price! The priests did it as well. One of them had a student kneel with her hands outstretched holding two heavy books during his entire religion class just to make a point. Surely that wasn't what Jesus would have done and I don't think it was a very Christian thing for him to do but since he's dead, can only pray that she's forgiven him.
You have to wonder why these people are doing what they're doing to our children. When parents abuse their children, it's often said that they're continuing a cycle of their own abuse. How do we get in between these people with the bad karmas in order to protect our children?
I'd like to share a shortened version of Dorothy Law Nolte's
Children Live What They Learn
If children live with criticism,
They learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility,
They learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule,
They learn to be shy.
If children live with shame,
They learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement,
They learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance,
They learn to be patient.
If children live with praise,
They learn to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance,
They learn to love.
If children live with approval,
They learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty,
They learn truthfulness.
If children live with security,
They learn to have faith in themselves and others.
If children live with friendliness,
They learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

How many of our teacher aides/counselors/teachers grew up learning and living hostility and condemnation? Maybe those who have harmed our children are too broken to fix, but it's not too early to make sure that our own children grow up with acceptance, love and security.

I'm sure many of you have heard the song sung by Barry Manilow, I AM YOUR CHILD, here are the lyrics.

I am your child
Wherever you go, you take me, too
Whatever I know, I learn from you
Whatever I do, you taught me to do
I am your child
And I am your chance

Whatever will come, will come from me
Tomorrow is won, by winning me
Whatever I am, you taught me to be
I am your hope,
I am your chance,
I am your child

Whatever I am, you taught me to be
I am your hope,
I am your chance,
I am your child
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What kind of child will you give to the world? An abuser or a kind and compassionate human being? It's up to you!