Teaching tolerance to our kids

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2010
Teaching tolerance to our kids
1822
Mon, 12-27-2010 - 4:06pm

The discussion in the other thread about gay marriage (OK, it wasn’t so much a discussion as an attack on granitestategal, plus the last time I checked it had devolved into mumbling and maniacal laughter...time to move on!) got me to thinking about this new generation of kids and how things have changed for them. Technology has exploded, and kids are more connected than ever before. They’re also disconnected in a whole new way, but this thread isn’t about that. I’d like to know what we are teaching our kids as far as tolerance for other religions, races and lifestyles.

My parents were brought up by parents who were extremely prejudiced against non-Catholics and non-whites. My great-grandparents must not have passed along the lessons they’d learned as immigrants themselves. The town we lived in was predominantly white and Catholic, and up until high school I didn’t know anyone who was black, Jewish, Hispanic, or gay*. When I moved away from home, I was blown away by how different people outside my little world really were, and fascinated by it. I was, and am, determined to raise my kids to respect and appreciate the differences of others and to understand that deep down we really aren’t that different.

A few years ago when DS was 4, we ran into the husband of a co-worker at a music festival. My co-worker is also male. I probably went overboard in my introduction, but I wanted to get the point across that it’s perfectly OK for some families to consist of 2 dads or 2 moms, or one parent, or parents of different races/religions.

Kevali


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:33pm
But isn't the discussion about middle school children? I think that if the parent/child has seen lots of bullying issues on line among friends on facebook and those children are underage, then it is a clear case of maturity and a very good reason as to why facebook has the age of 13.

Yes, people violate rules all the time....that doesn't make it right and it doesn't make someone who reports someone who is breaking the rules to be "playing God".


I think one should blame the bullies personally.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:33pm

IMO and IME it makes a BIG difference with age of the type of discipline that is used.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:34pm

Yes and the #1 reason would be that they did NOTHING about it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:35pm

IMO middle school ages are also 13 and 14.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:36pm

They are in 6th and 8th grade.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:36pm
No thank you, the discussion was about day trips, that was the topic. Trips made over several days were not relevant then or now, it would be logical to post examples there were relevant to the topic.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:37pm

Here, those are 8th grade ages.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:39pm
<>

As I said, if it is too personal for you to share the details of a car trip that was taken 10 years ago, I fell that it is too personal for me to share the details of my children's lives currently. Since I accepted that your trip was too personal it would be logical for you to accept the same from me, unless of course you wish to have a duble standard here?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:41pm
I'm not sure I agree, can you elaborate on this point?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 8:43pm

If they did do something about it, they would not be able to discuss that with ducky anyway.

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