Have you ever thought about how much schools have changed in the last fifty years or so. I had realized that the challenges faced by kids today are much greater then twenty or even ten years ago. But when I came across this chart, which shows a survey of schoolteachers from an article titled “School Violence Prevention: Strategies to Keep Schools Safe,” by Snell and Volokh, I was surprised at how much times have changed.
| Biggest Problems Faced In Schools |
|---|
| 1940 | 1990 |
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With all of the challenges our children now face it is more important than ever that we as parents are involved in our children’s lives. Having good communication with our teen is extremely important.
Parents need to talk to their kids about doing drugs and drinking alcohol. Many kids don’t realize that they can easily become addicted or all of the physical and emotional harmful effects. Give your children reasons why to stay away from drugs and ways to say no.
Teen pregnancy and STD’s among teens is a prevalent issue. Parents need to be upfront with their teens and express their views about premarital sex. Explain the risks associated with teen sex and the importance of waiting until marriage or at least using protection. Another blog I wrote has more ideas about how to teach your teen to be sexually abstinent.
Suicide among teens is a growing problem. Teens today face more challenges than ever before. Teens face academic pressure (grades, career decisions), pressure from peers, concerns about personal appearance, family stress (divorce, abuse, caring for younger siblings), boy/girl relationship issues, and a schedule that is often too full. Parents need to be aware of the signs of child depression and proactive in getting their child help.
With the influence of the media and peer groups it is hard to teach our children to live moral lives. But building a strong family that is connected, making sure that you have family rules and consequences, and ensuring that your teen has the chance to express him or her self will help.
Start teaching and building communication with your child when they are young and hopefully your child won’t have a problem that teachers face.