June 20, 2006

Parent Corps Conference Notes

Bertha K. Madras, PhD, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, White House Office for National Drug Control Policy, gave a speech on WHY PARENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT at the 2nd annual Parent Corps Conference yesterday. Just a couple of notes that I wanted to share:

Drug Addiction is not Predictable - No one starts using drugs thinking that they will become addicted.

Parents are the most important influence in their kid's lives - AT ALL AGES! When there are clear rules at home about not using drugs the results are much better (drug use is significantly reduced) than when the rules are not defined or communicated.

Drug use and addiction is like going to Alaska in the coldest time of the year. When you get there you put on a very warm coat and zip it up - all the way to your neck to stay warm. When you zip up the coat you can not unzip the coat. In a few months you travel to Miami, Florida in the middle of August. When you get to Miami you find it extremely hot and want to remove the warm coat, but you can't get out of the coat. You are stuck in the coat - even though you want out. Addiction - hard to get away.

Screening is important. For students involved in extracurricular school activities drug testing has been upheld by the Supreme Court. The military has found a significant decrease in drug use since they began testing. Schools that screen students involved in extracurricular school activities found a decrease of drug use of more than 50%. They also found that students supported the screening because it gave them a legitimate excuse not to use drugs. When they were at social gatherings with their peers they can refuse by saying that they want to play sports or cheer and if they are tested positive they will be kicked off the team.

Posted by Jim Travis at 6:03 AM | Comments (214)

June 15, 2006

Teenagers Prayer

Parents often wonder what in the world will my son/daughter be like when they grow up? Judy and I were in Hawaii in 2005 and found the "Teenagers Prayer." We thought it addressed the question perfectly. If only our kids realized the forces out there trying to pull them in the wrong direction they could pray for help.

Posted by Jim Travis at 3:16 PM | Comments (3732)

March 31, 2006

ASK HAL: A Daughter on Drugs

Hal Runkel is the author of the book ScreamFree Parenting: Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool. ScreamFree Parenting is the revolutionary parenting approach which will focus on a positive relationship with your kids. The scream free parenting approach was created based on university research and sound academic principles, with its foundation in the Bowen Family Systems Theory. The program has been tested and refined through thousands of hours of family therapy performed by a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, Mr. Hal Runkel. Mr. Runkel also provides parenting seminars parenting workshops, even family vacation retreats at the beach or in the mountains which incorporate the parenting methods.

The following is a question that a mother has and Hal answers her question:

My 14 year old daughter has TOLD me that she tried pot and likes it. She has been told under no circumstance is she allowed to use drugs OR alcohol. #1, it's against the law and she can be arrested for even being in the same place with someone who is using, and #2 it makes you "stupid" and lazy and #3 You never know if it's been treated with other more dangerous elements and could be lethal. She [now] says she is not smoking OR drinking, but I'm having a real hard time with trust. She's not associating with the person/persons that I think were the initial bad influence, but I know more and more kids are trying it and it's very hard to condemn it when on tv it seems that many programs just make fun of someone who smokes....it's a joke, not a problem on TV. I know I'm not the only parent who's having this problem....am I overreacting or what?
Nancy

Continue reading "ASK HAL: A Daughter on Drugs"

Posted by Jim Travis at 7:40 AM | Comments (233)

March 29, 2006

My thoughts on a sleepless night

I start by saying that my heart is heavy. I don't know where this saying came from or exactly what it means, but I know that I have a concern that will not leave me - the safety of our kids!

Our kids are drinking more alcohol at younger ages. They are using more drugs more frequently. And, they don't seem to understand the negative consequences associated with their behavior.

Continue reading "My thoughts on a sleepless night"

Posted by Jim Travis at 5:07 PM | Comments (1769)

March 22, 2006

An email from a concerned parent

The note below came from a friend who attended the PTSA meeting that I have on a previous entry. I wanted to post it so you could see how one mother was affected.

Friends,

For those of you who missed Monday night with Rebecca Hagelin at Brookwood High School I wanted to share a few of the points she presented.

Are you aware of the worldly influences your child is bombarded with daily? I thought I was until I heard a few things from Rebecca Monday night. For example, I've always noticed the magazines at the checkout in Publix and other stores and usually just ignore them (unless a recipe catches my eye) but last night while checking out from ordering my child's birthday cake with her and one of her friends, turned to find the two 13-14 year old girls deeply engrossed in the "garbage" news in several of the magazines. Yes, I know I've been somewhat aware of this for years but it is truly making an impression on me now as well as other media substances we are constantly viewing that we must now teach our children are wrong and inform them that the majority of these sources are preying on their innocence and ultimately endangering a healthy future for them.

One of the most important items Rebecca mentioned was websites such as MySpace, Xanga and Facebook. She recently met with the producers of America's Most Wanted and informed the crowd at BHS that they are doing a special only for MySpace due to the fact that so many young people's deaths have been connected to this website! The top story on the 11 pm news last night (on 11 Alive) was about MySpace.com and how predators (doesn't just that name scare us) are using these sites to lure young girls into meeting them. There was a week long special recently on Good Morning America as well addressing these same concerns.

I could go on with what I learned that night, and I thought I was a very informed parent. I urge you to sit with your children and on a routine basis and point out to them what untruths they are being fed from these corporations and hold their hands in a world totally confusing....remember, they are children and will make mistakes so offer a loving and guiding hand....our future depends on it.

You can email Rebecca directly at HomeInvasion.org or at HomeInvasion@ThomasNelson.com. Thanks for listening, I hope you only have happy memories with your children.

Best regards,

Gayla

Posted by Jim Travis at 10:36 AM | Comments (11512)

March 21, 2006

Guest Speaker: Rebecca Hagelin

Last night Brookwood High School was fortunate to have Rebecca Hagelin, author of the book Home Invasion, speak to parents of the Brookwood Cluster. While the attendance at this meeting was not what was hoped for, the presentation was a whole lot more!

Rebecca discussed the invasion into our homes by the mass marketers, television, video games, bill boards along the interstate, magazines in the grocery store, and public televisions in fast food stores.

These elements have crept into our lives so slowly that we are impervious to them. However, our children are being indoctrinated with these messages hundreds of times each day - unknowingly!

Small steps and personal involvement are what is required. To eat the elephant we must take one bite at a time.

Posted by Jim Travis at 7:29 AM | Comments (4422)

February 22, 2006

Brookwood Cluster Meeting

Jane Stegall, our principal, is a great supporter of Parent Corps, as is the Brookwood High School PTSA. Jane gave us an opportunity to invite the Brookwood Cluster PTSA Presidents (4 Elementary Schools and 2 Middle Schools) to join the already planned Principal's Cluster Meeting scheduled for Monday of this week, February 20, 2006. Each of the schools in our cluster participated. Our goal was to introduce Parent Corps to the school principals and the PTSA presidents by showing the 8 minute Parent Corps Video. We wanted to encourage the other schools to participate in a cooperative effort to carry the message "keep our kids drug free" to parents in our community. To further support our goal we presented a slide show using some of Ken Winters slides on drugs and the adolescent brain. The slides provided talking points for the remainder of the meeting. The vulnerability of our kids in school, at home and out with their friends was discussed along with what "next steps" we could take as a group. When the meeting ended you could feel the energy, excitement and enthusiasm. When I got home after the meeting my wife asked how it went. I replied that it felt like we left the meeting with the audience wanting more. Yes...there will be a follow-up meeting.

Click here to go to the Brookwood High School Web Pagehttp://www.brookwoodhighschool.net

Posted by Jim Travis at 2:15 PM | Comments (599)

February 13, 2006

Guest Speaker

Rebecca Hagelin will speak at the high school on Monday, March 20, 2006 in the commons area. The theme of her talk will focus on her book HOME INVASION and the topic of internet safety for parents and students. This meeting is open to all of the Brookwood Cluster Schools. Watch for future emails, posters and flyers that announce this event. Email me at jctravis@bellsouth.net if you have any questions.

Click here to read more about Rebecca Hagelin http://www.heritage.org/About/Staff/RebeccaHagelin.cfm

Posted by Jim Travis at 12:06 PM | Comments (3832)

Contact Information

Jim Travis, Parent Leader - Brookwood High School
770-979-3322
jctravis@bellsouth.net

Posted by Jim Travis at 11:39 AM | Comments (246)