Isle of Freedom

Have you ever visited the Isle of Freedom in the Bahamas?  If you haven't you should.

This is a typical evening overlooking the water.

Have your own 'boat'? It is even better you can anchor off the shore and enjoy true tranquility.

And, the people are friendly.

Should Students Be Punished for Fighting at School?

Why do students fight?  Why do they feel it is OK to attack each other in groups?  Why are they comfortable with bringing a weapon to school, be it a knife or some other edge tool?

A few days ago some students felt it was right to fight during school.  The fighting was so severe that the police had to be called in...what kind of reflection does this have on parents?  Should parents be held responsible for the child's behavior when he is at school? Should the school?  What negotiation tactic should be used to enable the student[s] to defend his action? It is obvious that beating the child does not work.  In fact it seem to be encouraging the student[s] to counter use violence.

High school students can be tried as adults, but do we want more prisoners living off the state?  Are prisons  remodeling inmates for the benefit of society or are they producing better criminals?  Why is it that some people after spending a term in prison decide to make a career of being a prisoner and do the most trivial thing to return to prison?

Question after question can be raised, but we need answers.

More police officers does not stop people from committing crimes.  Some people feel that they are smarter than the officers.  When they are apprehended they quickly lawyer up. What is the solution?
Please share.

School Year Ends with Drama

As the 2010 school year ends around the world we wonder what this group of young graduates would contribute to the world.

Yet, as we reflect on this some students are grappling with abuse of one kind or another. This abuse has led to abusive behavior by students against each other.

Teachers are being charged with sexual abuse against minors, male and female. There are many charges against male teachers whom we expect to 'look after' our children are preying on them. Not only are they preying on the young females but in some cases they are preying and being charged with abuse of young males also.

The question arises should all future teachers be investigated by the police before they are hired?

While the preyer sits in prison or is out on bail, what happens to the young person who has been abused?

What kind of help is given to enable that young person to go on? To acquire a college education, to lead a production life without shame and blame feeling as if it was their fault?

What will the end results be when young people are abused?

Do you have an opinion, please share.

New Commissioner of Police in the BAHAMAS

I watched history in the making today. The Bahamas received its sixth Commissioner of Police. A young man under 50 and who has over thirty years in the policing field. A young man who has trained in The United States, Canada, United Kingdom and The Bahamas.

Crime in the Bahamas at this time seem to be out of control. In 2009 this small country with less than 500,000 inhabitants had 87 murders! That number is unacceptable.

Most of those murders were committed by young men.

This weekend, one of those young men who though violence was the way will be buried, on the same day a young lady who was killed in a car accident would also be buried. Two young lives who did not live out half of the 70 years promised.

As we reflect on the History made today it is my wish that parents would communicate more with their children especially the young men. That more adults would become mentors to the youth. That the churches will spend more time talking to instead of talking at young people. That adults on the whole become a true example for the youth to follow, instead of portraying double standards, that is saying one thing and practicing the other.

We will see.

What Will 2010 Hold For You?

It's January 1,2010. We made it. Have you made resolutions again? Will you keep them through the year or will you drop them within the month,week?

Let's try another tactic, the things you wan to do write it on your wall [use a sheet of chart paper]. Make sure that wherever they are written you can see them daily. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time, finish it, do it well and then move on. Or consider choosing the one thing that you feel is 'pressing'. Do that, then go down your list in order of priority.

Think of the things you wish to do seriously, is it to lose those nagging 10 pounds? or clean out your closet and pass on those shoes and clothes you have not worn in six months to the Red Cross, The Salvation Army or Good Will; what about that vegetable garden you keep telling yourself you are going to start? and what about that mentoring program you promised to join? There is no time like the present to do yourself that favour and 'do it'.

Have you promised yourself that next year I am going to take a vacation; or go see my grand children in another state or country, this is the year to keep that promise. What about the course you promised to take? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to register on the Net or are you going to do those classes in the evening at the campus?

WE must live in the NOW... we only have this moment in time. If you start now you will finish. If you don't start who know how long it would take to do so?

This 2010 should be the year you go for it and do so in a BIG way. Take the bull by the horns and ride it. No more excuses. No more procrastination. Just go with your gut instinct. You are what you think so think BIG.

Christmas 11 days away, yet who knows who will be here to enjoy it.

We can reflect on the past but the future is unpredictable. Rage, Anger and being unprepared can hamper one from seeing Christmas.
Every day in the 'news' no matter where you are there is tragedy. The young people are most likely to be involved. In the past two days two young men lost their lives in tragic situations. The first murdered in anger by his neighbour. Not everyone can take 'teasing'. The murderer said he had enough and with a screwdriver stabbed and killed the victim. Two families in mourning. One son in prison and the other on a slab of cold metal. One family looking for a lawyer and the other for the undertaker. This 11 days before Christmas.
Less than 24 hours ago another young man lost his life. He decided to hold up a business place and threaten to kill the workers if they did not hand over the money. He met his match, the owner decided, he had worked too hard to just hand over his money and while the gunman held a customer as ransom the owner shot and killed the would be thief. Again, one more family looking for an undertaker instead of 'enjoying' the Christmas.
Why the rage? We cannot blame it on the economy, there are many things that can be done to make money. Why nit ask to clean someone's windows, what about cutting someone's lawn, what about walking the dogs, cleaning a vehicle? And the list can go on.
Yes, Christmas is in the future, yes it is only 11 days away, the question is how many more families would be in grief instead of in celebration?
What advice are you giving your family members? Think about it!

Reading is Fundamental

The ability to read is so important. Today too many children are unable to read. Parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, and other family members must take a keener interest in children and help them to learn how to read. Take 10 - 15 minutes a day and read them a story and ask them to tell you what it's about. Teach them alphabetical sounds, sight words and show pictures of words to help the children retain what they have learned.
Once a child is able to read, he would be able to do so many other things. Reading gives a child his independence. He knows which bus to take without being a follower. He can choose different topics to read about. He can improve in every other subject area. He can research things that he wants to know by himself. He would no longer have to rely on some one telling him, with the ability to read he can see and know for himself.
If you know of a child who needs help in reading become a mentor and help that child read. Help him to expand his world. If each one teach one or two it would make a big difference and make this world a better place.