Justice Department recognizes nine sheepdogs for child protection efforts
New Mexico man pleads guilty to child sexual abuse
Georgia man sentenced for distributing child porn
Teacher's aide with HIV charged with sexually assaulting student
Sexual assault reported at Merrillville High School
Louisiana teacher arrested for inappropriate contact with student
California man sentenced for distributing child pornography
Former FBI agent pleads guilty to child porn charges
Nebraska man gets six years for child porn
High school teacher sexually assaults students
School Safety Shield
Non en Meus Vigilo!
Showing posts with label Sheepdogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheepdogs. Show all posts
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Friday, September 14, 2012
Fear and the Sheepdog
This has been a rough week for Sheepdogs, especially those who watch over children in schools.
First was a school shooting in Normal, IL, where a 14-year old boy fired a gun into the ceiling of a classroom, to be subdued by a heroic teacher.
Then came September 11, and a new generation of children who only know about this watershed event in the abstract.
Then comes a story out of Brownsburg, IN, in which an Iraqi propaganda group known as IRAQI-TOP hacked their website, leaving a threatening message. The FBI now has the lead on the investigation.
Then came a story out of Indianapolis, IN, about a threatening message found in Perry Meridian High School.
Then there was today, in which three college campuses were the recipients of bomb threats, including at least one claiming to be a member of al Qaeda. There was also a bomb scare in Kansas City, MO.
Add in the unrest in the Middle East over a movie made here in the US, and you have a lot of fear flying around. How does the sheepdog handle fear?
LTC Dave Grossman has studied fear, among other things, and has developed some interesting insights.
"The ultimate fear and horror in most modern lives is to be raped, tortured, beaten, or physically degraded in front of loved ones or to have the sanctity of the home invaded by aggressive and hateful intruders. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association affirms this when it notes that, "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) . . . may be especially severe or longer lasting when the stressor is of human "design." PTSD resulting from natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes is comparatively rare and mild, but acute cases of PTSD will consistently result from torture or rape. Ultimately, like tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes, bombs from 20,000 feet are simply not "personal" and are significantly less traumatic to both the victim and aggressor.
Death or debilitation is statistically far more likely to occur by disease or accident than by malicious action, but statistics have nothing to do with fear. Statistically speaking, cigarette smoking is an extraordinarily dangerous activity that annually inflicts slow, hideous deaths upon millions of individuals worldwide, but this fact does not dissuade millions of individuals from smoking, and around the globe few nations are motivated to pass laws to protect their citizens from this threat. But the presence of one serial rapist in a large city can change the behavior of hundreds of thousands of individuals, and there is a broad tradition of laws designed to protect citizens from rape, assault, and murder.
When snakes, heights, or darkness cause an intense fear reaction in an individual it is considered a phobia, a dysfunction, an abnormality. But it is very natural and normal to respond to an attacking, aggressive fellow human being with a phobic-scale response. This is a universal human phobia. More than anything else in life, it is intentional, overt human hostility and aggression that assaults the self-image, sense of control and ultimately, the mental and physical health of human beings." (http://www.killology.com/art_psych_arousal.htm)
The sheepdog must learn that fear, as Grossman states, is normal and natural. There is no shame in being afraid. Indeed, fear can be a great motivator, when controlled. I'll guarantee you that the teacher in Normal was afraid when the student fired the gun in his class. Yet he grabbed the gun and subdued the shooter, and no one was hurt. So bravery is not the absence of fear, but the acceptance of fear, and control of oneself in the face of fear.
Keep up-to-date on current events, especially those related to schools. Study them, learn from them, and look for them in your own school. Do away with the "It can't happen here" mentality of the sheep. Everyday the news services have stories of schools that 'had it happen there'. So operate with the mentality that it WILL happen, and work from there.
Plan for what will happen, and don't do it alone. Sheepdogs are better in packs. Work with other sheepdogs and use their knowledge and resources to help your mission. Once you have plans prepared, exercise them. Don't be afraid of failure in an exercise, because that is how you improve your plans.
Study, plan, prepare, exercise, and know that you are not alone, and that the price of failure is too high to bear.
Non in meus vigilo!
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First was a school shooting in Normal, IL, where a 14-year old boy fired a gun into the ceiling of a classroom, to be subdued by a heroic teacher.
Then came September 11, and a new generation of children who only know about this watershed event in the abstract.
Then comes a story out of Brownsburg, IN, in which an Iraqi propaganda group known as IRAQI-TOP hacked their website, leaving a threatening message. The FBI now has the lead on the investigation.
Then came a story out of Indianapolis, IN, about a threatening message found in Perry Meridian High School.
Then there was today, in which three college campuses were the recipients of bomb threats, including at least one claiming to be a member of al Qaeda. There was also a bomb scare in Kansas City, MO.
Add in the unrest in the Middle East over a movie made here in the US, and you have a lot of fear flying around. How does the sheepdog handle fear?
LTC Dave Grossman has studied fear, among other things, and has developed some interesting insights.
"The ultimate fear and horror in most modern lives is to be raped, tortured, beaten, or physically degraded in front of loved ones or to have the sanctity of the home invaded by aggressive and hateful intruders. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association affirms this when it notes that, "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) . . . may be especially severe or longer lasting when the stressor is of human "design." PTSD resulting from natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes is comparatively rare and mild, but acute cases of PTSD will consistently result from torture or rape. Ultimately, like tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes, bombs from 20,000 feet are simply not "personal" and are significantly less traumatic to both the victim and aggressor.
Death or debilitation is statistically far more likely to occur by disease or accident than by malicious action, but statistics have nothing to do with fear. Statistically speaking, cigarette smoking is an extraordinarily dangerous activity that annually inflicts slow, hideous deaths upon millions of individuals worldwide, but this fact does not dissuade millions of individuals from smoking, and around the globe few nations are motivated to pass laws to protect their citizens from this threat. But the presence of one serial rapist in a large city can change the behavior of hundreds of thousands of individuals, and there is a broad tradition of laws designed to protect citizens from rape, assault, and murder.
When snakes, heights, or darkness cause an intense fear reaction in an individual it is considered a phobia, a dysfunction, an abnormality. But it is very natural and normal to respond to an attacking, aggressive fellow human being with a phobic-scale response. This is a universal human phobia. More than anything else in life, it is intentional, overt human hostility and aggression that assaults the self-image, sense of control and ultimately, the mental and physical health of human beings." (http://www.killology.com/art_psych_arousal.htm)
The sheepdog must learn that fear, as Grossman states, is normal and natural. There is no shame in being afraid. Indeed, fear can be a great motivator, when controlled. I'll guarantee you that the teacher in Normal was afraid when the student fired the gun in his class. Yet he grabbed the gun and subdued the shooter, and no one was hurt. So bravery is not the absence of fear, but the acceptance of fear, and control of oneself in the face of fear.
Keep up-to-date on current events, especially those related to schools. Study them, learn from them, and look for them in your own school. Do away with the "It can't happen here" mentality of the sheep. Everyday the news services have stories of schools that 'had it happen there'. So operate with the mentality that it WILL happen, and work from there.
Plan for what will happen, and don't do it alone. Sheepdogs are better in packs. Work with other sheepdogs and use their knowledge and resources to help your mission. Once you have plans prepared, exercise them. Don't be afraid of failure in an exercise, because that is how you improve your plans.
Study, plan, prepare, exercise, and know that you are not alone, and that the price of failure is too high to bear.
Non in meus vigilo!
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Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Patriot Day - A Day of Remembrance
Eleven years ago, wolves attacked our sheep in the World Trade Center Twin Towers, our sheepdogs in the Pentagon, and on Flight 93, sheep became sheepdogs as several rose to the challenge and attacked the terrorists, bringing their plane down near Shanksville, PA.
This blog is dedicated to those who protect others, especially children, and today is a special day for all Sheepdogs. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice that day.
Rick Rescorla was the Ultimate Sheepdog. He was a highly decorated soldier of two armies, and was serving as the Vice President of Security for Morgan-Stanley/Dean-Witter, the largest tenant in the World Trade Center. He doggedly drilled his people in evacuating the WTC, and on that fateful day, sang Welsh battle songs and guided his people to safety. Following the Infantry Creed of 'Leave No Man Behind', he and three others went back up the Tower to make sure no one was left behind. The Tower come down on them, killing them.
As Jane Pauley writes, "In other words, Flight 93 could very well have gotten to Washington, to the U.S. Capitol, perhaps, or at the very least a well-populated area, if the passengers and crew hadn’t done what they did.
We will never know exactly which passengers and crew waged that counterattack, which ones reached the cockpit, and whether any of them could have stopped the plane from going down.
It doesn’t matter.
We do know that because of their collective courage, hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives were saved. They were all of them real heroes; they’ll be remembered in many different ways."
How do we remember them? We strive to make our lives worthy of their sacrifice. We strive to be Sheepdogs, protecting others from the wolves in our lives. We work to put the well-being of others ahead of our own, with our lives, if necessary.
On September 11, rededicate yourself to being a Sheepdog, and remember these brave Sheepdogs who went before us.
Live the motto, "Non in Meus Vigilo!" (Not on my watch!)
Never forget.
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This blog is dedicated to those who protect others, especially children, and today is a special day for all Sheepdogs. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice that day.
Rick Rescorla was the Ultimate Sheepdog. He was a highly decorated soldier of two armies, and was serving as the Vice President of Security for Morgan-Stanley/Dean-Witter, the largest tenant in the World Trade Center. He doggedly drilled his people in evacuating the WTC, and on that fateful day, sang Welsh battle songs and guided his people to safety. Following the Infantry Creed of 'Leave No Man Behind', he and three others went back up the Tower to make sure no one was left behind. The Tower come down on them, killing them.
Then there was Flight 93. Mark Bingham was a rugby player, he’s 6'5. A big, physically fit guy. Then there was Jeremy Glick, who was another six-footer. When he was in college, he was the national collegiate junior judo championship. Lou Nacke was a weightlifter: at 5’9, he was 200 lbs. of muscle and had a Superman tattoo on his shoulder. Japanese student Toshiya Kuge played American football; he was a linebacker. Richard Guadagno, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manager, was trained in hand-to-hand combat. Flight attendant CeeCee Lyles was a former cop. Todd Beamer, as it was ready to happen said, ‘You ready? Ok. Let’s roll.’
As Jane Pauley writes, "In other words, Flight 93 could very well have gotten to Washington, to the U.S. Capitol, perhaps, or at the very least a well-populated area, if the passengers and crew hadn’t done what they did.
We will never know exactly which passengers and crew waged that counterattack, which ones reached the cockpit, and whether any of them could have stopped the plane from going down.
It doesn’t matter.
We do know that because of their collective courage, hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives were saved. They were all of them real heroes; they’ll be remembered in many different ways."
How do we remember them? We strive to make our lives worthy of their sacrifice. We strive to be Sheepdogs, protecting others from the wolves in our lives. We work to put the well-being of others ahead of our own, with our lives, if necessary.
On September 11, rededicate yourself to being a Sheepdog, and remember these brave Sheepdogs who went before us.
Live the motto, "Non in Meus Vigilo!" (Not on my watch!)
Never forget.
Our Forum On
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Dark, Nasty World of the Child Predator
Mike Dorn sent me an email about this story, about a former St. Louis teacher who was arrested after admitting he had raped students years ago. He mistakenly thought the statute of limitations had expired.
Whoops.
This story is an example of why I have such a passion for what I do. I was raised to believe that it was wrong for the strong to prey on the weak. I was also raised to believe that if I were strong, I should protect the weak. Yet day after day, I see stories of adults who prey on children.
Shame. On. You. Perverts.
If you believe, as I do, that bullying is wrong, then how much MORE wrong is it for an adult to bully a child? When you add in the dimension of the adult being an educator, the betrayal of trust adds a whole order of magnitude of pain to the situation.
If I were to coax a cute, cuddly bunny to my hand with a carrot, and then smashed the bunny in the head, how would you feel? That is what child predators do. They lure the innocent into their clutches, and then smash them. Not only do they create the immediate pain of the assault itself, but they leave a permanent footprint on that child's mind, a lasting poison that never quite goes away, and can often lead to more issues later in life.
Yet, this happens daily, often in silence. People don't want to talk about it, don't want to think about it, and thus don't want to do anything about it. It is a dark, nasty underside of our culture that needs to be stamped out.
Who will stand between the wolves and the sheep?
The Sheepdog.
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Whoops.
This story is an example of why I have such a passion for what I do. I was raised to believe that it was wrong for the strong to prey on the weak. I was also raised to believe that if I were strong, I should protect the weak. Yet day after day, I see stories of adults who prey on children.
Shame. On. You. Perverts.
If you believe, as I do, that bullying is wrong, then how much MORE wrong is it for an adult to bully a child? When you add in the dimension of the adult being an educator, the betrayal of trust adds a whole order of magnitude of pain to the situation.
If I were to coax a cute, cuddly bunny to my hand with a carrot, and then smashed the bunny in the head, how would you feel? That is what child predators do. They lure the innocent into their clutches, and then smash them. Not only do they create the immediate pain of the assault itself, but they leave a permanent footprint on that child's mind, a lasting poison that never quite goes away, and can often lead to more issues later in life.
Yet, this happens daily, often in silence. People don't want to talk about it, don't want to think about it, and thus don't want to do anything about it. It is a dark, nasty underside of our culture that needs to be stamped out.
Who will stand between the wolves and the sheep?
The Sheepdog.
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Sunday, July 22, 2012
A Powerful Article about Teacher Assaults
Lately, I have read several blogs and discussions concerning the under-reporting of crimes in schools. As both a school administrator and a Director of School Safety, this directly impacts my work.
Yesterday I came across this article in the San Francisco Chronicle "Teachers learning to file assault complaints". The article covers Connecticut teachers who face problems with being assaulted in schools. It provided a chilling statistic for Connecticut schools. "In 2010-11, the latest school year data available, there were 181 assaults on teachers and school employees in Bridgeport and 1,528 assaults in the state, up from 1,308 in 2009-2010." The article goes on to add more chilling statistics: "There were more than 6,400 reported incidents of physical violence against school employees from 2006 through 2010, according to data collected by the State Department of Education. (Connecticut)"
The first response from a person in denial is, 'That's just in Connecticut.' While it might be hoped for, that is not the case. "Using figures from the National Center for Educational Statistics, the study found that 253,100 teachers -- about seven percent -- report being threatened with injury, and 127,500 report being physically attacked in 2003-04. In 2007-08, according to the NCES, the number threatened had risen to 289,600 and the number attacked rose to 154,400. Reported assaults were more likely in urban districts and in secondary schools, the data showed." Seven percent of teachers across the country report being threatened with injury, and approximately 3.5% reporting being physically attacked, and it's clear that a major problem exists.
The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a study which called violence against teachers a silent national crisis, with over 25% of teachers nationwide reporting being threatened at school. A preview of that study had a quote from the Task Force which conducted the study, "“These numbers did not differ by school setting, by gender of the teacher or by years of teaching,” said Task Force Chair Dorothy L. Espelage, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign."
The question always arises, "Why don't teachers report?" Many teachers are assaulted by young students, and they don't want the student to get into serious trouble. They may not want to get involved in a long, protracted legal procedure. Perhaps they fear retribution, or they may not feel that they have the administration's support. Sometimes teachers are dissuaded from reporting the crime, to help create the illusion that the school is safe.
This must not be.
School safety is a matter for all in schools, not just the children. We cannot attract the best and brightest to the profession of education if people will fear for their safety. People cannot perform at their best if they operate in fear. It is up to us, those that dedicate ourselves to the protection of others, to create an atmosphere of safety and hope. We cannot stand by as anyone is threatened or attacked.
Our society is in turmoil, with more and more children becoming aggressive. Yet, they are not the enemy. Their aggressive behaviors are, and it is from those that we must defend the other children, and the adults whose safety is our responsibility.
Sheepdogs protect the sheep from the wolves, from within the flock and from outside the flock. We cannot look the other way, we cannot falter, we cannot fail.
Don't accept under-reporting, and don't allow the denial of others to influence your duty.
Who is with me?
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Yesterday I came across this article in the San Francisco Chronicle "Teachers learning to file assault complaints". The article covers Connecticut teachers who face problems with being assaulted in schools. It provided a chilling statistic for Connecticut schools. "In 2010-11, the latest school year data available, there were 181 assaults on teachers and school employees in Bridgeport and 1,528 assaults in the state, up from 1,308 in 2009-2010." The article goes on to add more chilling statistics: "There were more than 6,400 reported incidents of physical violence against school employees from 2006 through 2010, according to data collected by the State Department of Education. (Connecticut)"
The first response from a person in denial is, 'That's just in Connecticut.' While it might be hoped for, that is not the case. "Using figures from the National Center for Educational Statistics, the study found that 253,100 teachers -- about seven percent -- report being threatened with injury, and 127,500 report being physically attacked in 2003-04. In 2007-08, according to the NCES, the number threatened had risen to 289,600 and the number attacked rose to 154,400. Reported assaults were more likely in urban districts and in secondary schools, the data showed." Seven percent of teachers across the country report being threatened with injury, and approximately 3.5% reporting being physically attacked, and it's clear that a major problem exists.
The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a study which called violence against teachers a silent national crisis, with over 25% of teachers nationwide reporting being threatened at school. A preview of that study had a quote from the Task Force which conducted the study, "“These numbers did not differ by school setting, by gender of the teacher or by years of teaching,” said Task Force Chair Dorothy L. Espelage, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign."
The question always arises, "Why don't teachers report?" Many teachers are assaulted by young students, and they don't want the student to get into serious trouble. They may not want to get involved in a long, protracted legal procedure. Perhaps they fear retribution, or they may not feel that they have the administration's support. Sometimes teachers are dissuaded from reporting the crime, to help create the illusion that the school is safe.
This must not be.
School safety is a matter for all in schools, not just the children. We cannot attract the best and brightest to the profession of education if people will fear for their safety. People cannot perform at their best if they operate in fear. It is up to us, those that dedicate ourselves to the protection of others, to create an atmosphere of safety and hope. We cannot stand by as anyone is threatened or attacked.
Our society is in turmoil, with more and more children becoming aggressive. Yet, they are not the enemy. Their aggressive behaviors are, and it is from those that we must defend the other children, and the adults whose safety is our responsibility.
Sheepdogs protect the sheep from the wolves, from within the flock and from outside the flock. We cannot look the other way, we cannot falter, we cannot fail.
Don't accept under-reporting, and don't allow the denial of others to influence your duty.
Who is with me?
Our Forum On
Friday, June 8, 2012
Sheepdogs You Should Know: Gopal Raja and Cassandra Sanderson
Over the last three days, I've had the privilege of taking L212, Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs, a FEMA course taught by Gopal Raja and Cassandra Sanderson.
Besides the obvious benefit of learning the ins and outs of FEMA grant-writing, I was impressed with the depth of knowledge and professionalism of my classmates. However, I was truly impressed with the instructors. Raj was obviously well-versed on the subject matter. He hails from Virginia, and while his Indian heritage was apparent, it had no affect on instruction. He was clever, funny, engaging, and I could tell he was very earnest about his job. Cassandra is from Kentucky, which we didn't hold against her too much. She was over six months pregnant, but was also knowledgeable and engaging.
She and Raj did a great job with herding the cats that are a group of professionals sitting together for three days, wading through some material that ranged from extremely interesting to as dull as watching paint dry. At the end of the three days, they had done what good teachers do: they took the knowledge they had and provided it to us in an understandable format.
Looking around the room today as Cassandra was teaching, I looked around at my classmates. I was awed by the fact that everyone in the room was there to better protect people. I was among Sheepdogs. The course is designed to teach people how to create successful grant applications that will provide federal money to prevent disasters. Lawrence Timperman is an architect from New Albany who is trying to get more safe rooms in schools to protect kids from tornadoes. David Ballew is a Flood Plain Manager and a Building Inspector from Evansville who is trying to get money to help protect people from the flooding that occurs regularly in and around Evansville.
And giving them all the help they could give was Raj and Cassandra. They travel around the country, spending time away from their families, to fulfill their calling. Training Sheepdogs to be better Sheepdogs. Those who are Sheepdogs are to be emulated and honored. There is no higher calling than to serve and protect others. Making that possible is a step above that.
Thanks Cassandra and Raj.
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Besides the obvious benefit of learning the ins and outs of FEMA grant-writing, I was impressed with the depth of knowledge and professionalism of my classmates. However, I was truly impressed with the instructors. Raj was obviously well-versed on the subject matter. He hails from Virginia, and while his Indian heritage was apparent, it had no affect on instruction. He was clever, funny, engaging, and I could tell he was very earnest about his job. Cassandra is from Kentucky, which we didn't hold against her too much. She was over six months pregnant, but was also knowledgeable and engaging.
She and Raj did a great job with herding the cats that are a group of professionals sitting together for three days, wading through some material that ranged from extremely interesting to as dull as watching paint dry. At the end of the three days, they had done what good teachers do: they took the knowledge they had and provided it to us in an understandable format.
Looking around the room today as Cassandra was teaching, I looked around at my classmates. I was awed by the fact that everyone in the room was there to better protect people. I was among Sheepdogs. The course is designed to teach people how to create successful grant applications that will provide federal money to prevent disasters. Lawrence Timperman is an architect from New Albany who is trying to get more safe rooms in schools to protect kids from tornadoes. David Ballew is a Flood Plain Manager and a Building Inspector from Evansville who is trying to get money to help protect people from the flooding that occurs regularly in and around Evansville.
And giving them all the help they could give was Raj and Cassandra. They travel around the country, spending time away from their families, to fulfill their calling. Training Sheepdogs to be better Sheepdogs. Those who are Sheepdogs are to be emulated and honored. There is no higher calling than to serve and protect others. Making that possible is a step above that.
Thanks Cassandra and Raj.
Our Forum On
Friday, May 11, 2012
Blake and Tori - Sheepdogs You Should Know
New Palestine, IN
An 11-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister are being hailed as heroes for risking their lives trying to save a man surrounded by flames.
The sisters live in New Palestine, and this past March discovered their neighbor's backyard on fire. They were home alone at the time and when they ran outside to get a closer look, they also found their neighbor, an elderly man, on fire too.
The girls say the man had been burning garbage.
"It just got out of control and he thought he could handle it," said 11-year-old Tori Lyons. "When we got down there, he fell," she recalled of the man, who the girls said was semi-conscious and mumbling.
"My stomach crunched up and I started to get kind of light headed," said 13-year-old Blake Lyons. "It all kind of just disappeared and I just moved," Blake added.
The Sugar Creek Township Fire Department was impressed too. They will be awarding the sisters the Citizens Heart of a Hero Award.
"I know I did the right thing, but I don't really feel like a hero," said Tori of her efforts. "To me a hero's someone that saves someone's life and I wasn't able to do that," added Blake, choking up and brushing away the tears.
No Tori, a hero is one who puts their life on the line for others, for no other reason than it's the right thing to do.
You and Blake are definitely heroes in MY book.
"No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for others." John 15:13
An 11-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister are being hailed as heroes for risking their lives trying to save a man surrounded by flames.
The sisters live in New Palestine, and this past March discovered their neighbor's backyard on fire. They were home alone at the time and when they ran outside to get a closer look, they also found their neighbor, an elderly man, on fire too.
The girls say the man had been burning garbage.
"It just got out of control and he thought he could handle it," said 11-year-old Tori Lyons. "When we got down there, he fell," she recalled of the man, who the girls said was semi-conscious and mumbling.
"My stomach crunched up and I started to get kind of light headed," said 13-year-old Blake Lyons. "It all kind of just disappeared and I just moved," Blake added.
The Sugar Creek Township Fire Department was impressed too. They will be awarding the sisters the Citizens Heart of a Hero Award.
"I know I did the right thing, but I don't really feel like a hero," said Tori of her efforts. "To me a hero's someone that saves someone's life and I wasn't able to do that," added Blake, choking up and brushing away the tears.
No Tori, a hero is one who puts their life on the line for others, for no other reason than it's the right thing to do.
You and Blake are definitely heroes in MY book.
"No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for others." John 15:13
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Today's Child Abducton Digest 3-29-12
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/DEVELOPING_STORY_Police_Searching_for_Man_Connected_to_Attempted_Abduction_144430195.html
Charleston, WV
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/3/28/attempted_abduction_
Deland, FL
http://fox8.com/2012/03/28/cleveland-police-investigate-another-abduction-attempt/
Cleveland, OH
http://www.kxii.com/weather/headlines/Ardmore_Police_investigate_attempted_child_abduction_144291785.html
Ardmore, OK
Charleston, WV
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/3/28/attempted_abduction_
Deland, FL
http://fox8.com/2012/03/28/cleveland-police-investigate-another-abduction-attempt/
Cleveland, OH
http://www.kxii.com/weather/headlines/Ardmore_Police_investigate_attempted_child_abduction_144291785.html
Ardmore, OK
Monday, March 26, 2012
Attempted Child Abduction is a Daily Occurrence
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2012/03/24/casa_grande_dispatch/news/doc4f6e0b922b619476609596.txt
I get Google Alerts on the keywords 'child abductions'. Every day I get a listing of news stories of child abductions or attempted child abductions from around the world. Most of them happen here in the US, like the story above. Many days, there are multiple stories. I will begin to catalog them here, so you can begin to see how serious this issue is.
Teach your children how to react is someone tries to pick them up. Create a safe word to use if someone besides you is to rightfully pick them up. Practice with them. If it seems like a lot of effort, think of your life without them in it.
Our children are too precious to offer them up like lambs to the Wolf. Be a Sheepdog for your children.
I get Google Alerts on the keywords 'child abductions'. Every day I get a listing of news stories of child abductions or attempted child abductions from around the world. Most of them happen here in the US, like the story above. Many days, there are multiple stories. I will begin to catalog them here, so you can begin to see how serious this issue is.
Teach your children how to react is someone tries to pick them up. Create a safe word to use if someone besides you is to rightfully pick them up. Practice with them. If it seems like a lot of effort, think of your life without them in it.
Our children are too precious to offer them up like lambs to the Wolf. Be a Sheepdog for your children.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Henryville, IN
I took a trip down to Henryville, IN today. I had spoken with Larry Ervin, the Hancock County EMA Director, who put me in touch with the Clark County EMA Director Les Kavanaugh, who invited me down to take some pictures of the damage.
No words or pictures can do justice to the damage done to Henryville, especially the elementary and high schools. I spent about four hours there, and took over 460 pictures. There was a lot to see, and a whole lot more to think about.
I was able to walk many of the hallways, and got a good look at a lot of the damage done. I have heard some grumblings that we need to alter how we shelter from storms. After all that I had seen, I beg to differ. There are reasons we have done things the way we do. Valid reasons. Having a bad incident doesn't mean we can everything we've done and invent something new.
I heard some talk after the Joplin tornado that we should not shelter students in hallways, because they would become wind tunnels. Well, if you take away interior hallways in most schools, you won't have enough shelter space for everyone in your school.
I will be working on a "best practices' article outlining what the current best practices are for sheltering during a tornado. With that in hand, THEN we can start talking about whether they should be changed or not.
But let's not be reactionary here. Lives are at stake.
No words or pictures can do justice to the damage done to Henryville, especially the elementary and high schools. I spent about four hours there, and took over 460 pictures. There was a lot to see, and a whole lot more to think about.
I was able to walk many of the hallways, and got a good look at a lot of the damage done. I have heard some grumblings that we need to alter how we shelter from storms. After all that I had seen, I beg to differ. There are reasons we have done things the way we do. Valid reasons. Having a bad incident doesn't mean we can everything we've done and invent something new.
I heard some talk after the Joplin tornado that we should not shelter students in hallways, because they would become wind tunnels. Well, if you take away interior hallways in most schools, you won't have enough shelter space for everyone in your school.
I will be working on a "best practices' article outlining what the current best practices are for sheltering during a tornado. With that in hand, THEN we can start talking about whether they should be changed or not.
But let's not be reactionary here. Lives are at stake.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
The F4 tornado that struck Henryville High School in Southern Indiana has generated a brisk discussion on how they responded. Fox News posted an excellent article framing the discussion HERE.
If a storm is coming, should the kids stay, or should they go? It's a tough call. If they stay, they are bunched together, but they are in your sphere of control. If they go, they are out of your control, but you may still have liability for them. The end result in Henryville was that no one got hurt, and I will not attempt to diminish that result.
When I first heard this story, I remember thinking, "Wow! That was a gutsy call!" I found myself wondering if that should be examined as a viable alternative in a storm. My short answer is yes, with a caveat. Too often in education, a horrendous event will cause people to jump on a bandwagon. Look at the numerous theories on Active Shooter response that came out after the Chardon HS shooting.
I spoke with Dave Emmert, Chief Counsel for the Indiana School Boards Association about liability. Dr, Emmert was, as is usual, very passionate in his discussion with me. Regardless of the choice a school makes, six members of a jury are going to judge your actions on a 'reasonableness' basis. The facts in each case will guide the individual findings. But, as we often say in emergency management, the time to think about the disaster is before it occurs.
Was it reasonable to release the children early? Sitting here in the comfort in my home, I can easily answer either yes or no, and feel myself right. The truth is, I am glad I wasn't in that position. However, I may be, someday, just as I was in 2002 when an F3 tornado in Indiana hit the middle school behind us and came within 50 yards of my elementary school. So what is there to consider?
175mph winds of an F4 tornado don't have many things that will provide shelter. The damage done to the high school in Henryville is proof enough. But how much more protection does it offer than a school bus? Several buses were caught out in the storm. Intrepid drivers got their kids into safe areas. One bus returned to the school in just enough time to get the students into the school. They were safe. The bus was stripped off of its frame and thrown into a nearby restaurant.
Schools typically are responsible for the students until the time they are safely off of the bus. How long does it take your buses to get everyone home? Will there be someone at home waiting? What are the ages of the students you are sending home? Are drivers properly prepared to respond if they are caught out in the open? Do you have a means of alerting parents that their children are coming home early?
Should they stay or should they go? Let's have that discussion now, while the weather is calm.
If a storm is coming, should the kids stay, or should they go? It's a tough call. If they stay, they are bunched together, but they are in your sphere of control. If they go, they are out of your control, but you may still have liability for them. The end result in Henryville was that no one got hurt, and I will not attempt to diminish that result.
When I first heard this story, I remember thinking, "Wow! That was a gutsy call!" I found myself wondering if that should be examined as a viable alternative in a storm. My short answer is yes, with a caveat. Too often in education, a horrendous event will cause people to jump on a bandwagon. Look at the numerous theories on Active Shooter response that came out after the Chardon HS shooting.
I spoke with Dave Emmert, Chief Counsel for the Indiana School Boards Association about liability. Dr, Emmert was, as is usual, very passionate in his discussion with me. Regardless of the choice a school makes, six members of a jury are going to judge your actions on a 'reasonableness' basis. The facts in each case will guide the individual findings. But, as we often say in emergency management, the time to think about the disaster is before it occurs.
Was it reasonable to release the children early? Sitting here in the comfort in my home, I can easily answer either yes or no, and feel myself right. The truth is, I am glad I wasn't in that position. However, I may be, someday, just as I was in 2002 when an F3 tornado in Indiana hit the middle school behind us and came within 50 yards of my elementary school. So what is there to consider?
175mph winds of an F4 tornado don't have many things that will provide shelter. The damage done to the high school in Henryville is proof enough. But how much more protection does it offer than a school bus? Several buses were caught out in the storm. Intrepid drivers got their kids into safe areas. One bus returned to the school in just enough time to get the students into the school. They were safe. The bus was stripped off of its frame and thrown into a nearby restaurant.
Schools typically are responsible for the students until the time they are safely off of the bus. How long does it take your buses to get everyone home? Will there be someone at home waiting? What are the ages of the students you are sending home? Are drivers properly prepared to respond if they are caught out in the open? Do you have a means of alerting parents that their children are coming home early?
Should they stay or should they go? Let's have that discussion now, while the weather is calm.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sheepdogs Named in Chardon Shooting
Two Sheepdogs that heroically acted in the Chardon High School shooting are now named. Coach Frank Hall yelled, "Hey!" after the shooting started. This startled the shooter, then Hall chased the shooter out of the school. Teacher Joseph Ricci grabbed one of the wounded students, pulled them into his room, then administered first aid. Both of these actions showed great courage, and demonstrated great love for the students in their charge.
Kenneth Trump is quoted in an article on MSNBC as saying about Coach Hall, "It's not something you can train somebody to do, it's inside the person." After the comment he made about the woman who attempted to disarm a shooter at a school board meeting, it would appear that the end result is what makes a person's actions heroic. I would say that the actions of the woman were heroic, even if unsuccessful. Coach Hall's actions were just as heroic, and were successful.
As can be discerned by my blog, I disagree with Trump's assessment. I served in the Army for 12 years, eight of them as an Infantry Drill Sergeant. I took civilians and taught them how to react in stressful, violent moments. It can, and has been, taught. The Sheepdog mindset is all about getting educators to think how they would react, to provide them with the experiences so that they can use pattern-matching and recognition to come up with the best decision.
If teachers and staff are trained properly, are given numerous scenarios to consider, and utilize mental simulations, they can reach the point where they will hear a gun shot, and know what to do. It can be done, and it must be done. A great first step is "Safe Topics - The First Thirty Seconds", a new product developed by Safe Havens International.
As Michael Dorn, Executive Director of Safe Havens International writes, "Emergency reference charts should not be viewed as an instructional manual to follow step by step during the first critical seconds of a crisis. Instead they are a valuable tool to help staff develop what Dr. Gary Klein refers to as a base of knowledge. Klein’s research shows that people can perform exceptionally well in making life and death decisions but they need practice using a concept known as mental simulation. For school employees to get increased benefit from this research – based concept, they need to be provided appropriate responses to a wide array of situations rather than just a few situations that we fear the most like active shooter situations."
If there is any lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it's that the people who watch out for our kids during the day need to be taught how to protect our kids when the wolves come howling into our safe schools. If educators don't want to develop that skill, they're in the wrong profession.
Kenneth Trump is quoted in an article on MSNBC as saying about Coach Hall, "It's not something you can train somebody to do, it's inside the person." After the comment he made about the woman who attempted to disarm a shooter at a school board meeting, it would appear that the end result is what makes a person's actions heroic. I would say that the actions of the woman were heroic, even if unsuccessful. Coach Hall's actions were just as heroic, and were successful.
As can be discerned by my blog, I disagree with Trump's assessment. I served in the Army for 12 years, eight of them as an Infantry Drill Sergeant. I took civilians and taught them how to react in stressful, violent moments. It can, and has been, taught. The Sheepdog mindset is all about getting educators to think how they would react, to provide them with the experiences so that they can use pattern-matching and recognition to come up with the best decision.
If teachers and staff are trained properly, are given numerous scenarios to consider, and utilize mental simulations, they can reach the point where they will hear a gun shot, and know what to do. It can be done, and it must be done. A great first step is "Safe Topics - The First Thirty Seconds", a new product developed by Safe Havens International.
As Michael Dorn, Executive Director of Safe Havens International writes, "Emergency reference charts should not be viewed as an instructional manual to follow step by step during the first critical seconds of a crisis. Instead they are a valuable tool to help staff develop what Dr. Gary Klein refers to as a base of knowledge. Klein’s research shows that people can perform exceptionally well in making life and death decisions but they need practice using a concept known as mental simulation. For school employees to get increased benefit from this research – based concept, they need to be provided appropriate responses to a wide array of situations rather than just a few situations that we fear the most like active shooter situations."
If there is any lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it's that the people who watch out for our kids during the day need to be taught how to protect our kids when the wolves come howling into our safe schools. If educators don't want to develop that skill, they're in the wrong profession.
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Sheepdog You Should Know
Gary Sinise. A Sheepdog who watches out for other Sheepdogs. God Bless you, Gary!
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/gary_sinise_an_american_hero.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/gary_sinise_an_american_hero.html
A Sad Day in Chardon, Ohio
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Channel/School-Safety/News/2012/02/27/Ohio-School-Gunman-Apprehended.aspx
A 17-year old makes a life-changing decision, ending the life of a another, wounding four more, and forever altering the lives of a whole town.
In the numerous stories I've read today, mention is made of a Sheepdog who chased the shooter out of the school. Think about that.
School is starting as usual. Kids are in the cafeteria talking, laughing, griping about things that happened over the weekend. Pretty much a routine start to what will be a horrible day.
A wolf, for an as yet unknown reason, stands up, pulls a pistol and begins firing. Early indications are that these are targeted victims, as it seems the victims are spread out. There is blood, the smell of gun smoke, screams, and students running everywhere.
Anyone within earshot has suddenly come face-to-face with a spiked heart rate, tunnel vision, and the oft-times overwhelming fight-or-flight response. Many are running. In the midst of all this, a teacher, whose name has not been unreleased yet, chases the shooter out of the school.
Michael Dorn, and international school safety expert, posted a great blog on some key points to remember here: http://www.safehavensinternational.org/secondary-nav-pages/micheals-blog/
Training and preparation can only bring you to the decision-point. At that point, the Sheepdog makes the decision to protect others.
Can you see yourself making that decision?
An update:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/27/ohio-high-school-on-lockdown-after-reports-shooting/
A further update:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107152/Chardon-High-School-shooting-THIRD-classmate-dies-TJ-Lanes-online-rantings-revealed.html
A 17-year old makes a life-changing decision, ending the life of a another, wounding four more, and forever altering the lives of a whole town.
In the numerous stories I've read today, mention is made of a Sheepdog who chased the shooter out of the school. Think about that.
School is starting as usual. Kids are in the cafeteria talking, laughing, griping about things that happened over the weekend. Pretty much a routine start to what will be a horrible day.
A wolf, for an as yet unknown reason, stands up, pulls a pistol and begins firing. Early indications are that these are targeted victims, as it seems the victims are spread out. There is blood, the smell of gun smoke, screams, and students running everywhere.
Anyone within earshot has suddenly come face-to-face with a spiked heart rate, tunnel vision, and the oft-times overwhelming fight-or-flight response. Many are running. In the midst of all this, a teacher, whose name has not been unreleased yet, chases the shooter out of the school.
Michael Dorn, and international school safety expert, posted a great blog on some key points to remember here: http://www.safehavensinternational.org/secondary-nav-pages/micheals-blog/
Training and preparation can only bring you to the decision-point. At that point, the Sheepdog makes the decision to protect others.
Can you see yourself making that decision?
An update:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/27/ohio-high-school-on-lockdown-after-reports-shooting/
A further update:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107152/Chardon-High-School-shooting-THIRD-classmate-dies-TJ-Lanes-online-rantings-revealed.html
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A Sheepdog You Should Know
Kathy Phillips drives a Pre-School bus for Southern Hancock Schools. Last month, while driving her students home, a car pulled out from behind a fence and ran into her bus. The car was heavily damaged, and the bus' front fender was slightly bent.
Inside the bus, the bus aide, Peggy Jones, was turned in her seat, supervising her students. The impact knocked her to the floor, injuring her neck. The children were secured in their seats via child car seats and five-point harnesses.
The first I heard of the accident was a radio call. Kathy's voice was firm, controlled, and calm. I grabbed a handheld radio and drove over to the scene of the accident. I got there right after the fire department, and I walked onto the bus.
Kathy was standing by her bus seat. She appeared as calm and collected as she sounded on the radio. She was giving information to a Sheriff's Deputy, and was watching as the EMTs cared for Peggy.
When we were released, I ended up riding with her as the replacement aide as Peggy was taken to the hospital. She was engaged with her kids, upbeat, and we got the kids home.
Her peers were very impressed with her demeanor on the radio. Several of them nominated her for the Sheepdog of the Month, and last week, she received the award in front of all of her colleagues.
Her citation read, "During a recent accident, Kathy’s aide was injured, and substantial damage was done to the car that hit her bus. Kathy maintained her composure and performed all the steps necessary to keep her kids safe. Her peers noted her calm voice on the radio, providing them with an outstanding example of how to react to a crisis. Her love for students, and her focus on what is important has helped the CSCSHC FLEET remain a safe place to travel and excel."
Kathy Phillips is an excellent example for bus drivers to follow.
Inside the bus, the bus aide, Peggy Jones, was turned in her seat, supervising her students. The impact knocked her to the floor, injuring her neck. The children were secured in their seats via child car seats and five-point harnesses.
The first I heard of the accident was a radio call. Kathy's voice was firm, controlled, and calm. I grabbed a handheld radio and drove over to the scene of the accident. I got there right after the fire department, and I walked onto the bus.
Kathy was standing by her bus seat. She appeared as calm and collected as she sounded on the radio. She was giving information to a Sheriff's Deputy, and was watching as the EMTs cared for Peggy.
When we were released, I ended up riding with her as the replacement aide as Peggy was taken to the hospital. She was engaged with her kids, upbeat, and we got the kids home.
Her peers were very impressed with her demeanor on the radio. Several of them nominated her for the Sheepdog of the Month, and last week, she received the award in front of all of her colleagues.
Her citation read, "During a recent accident, Kathy’s aide was injured, and substantial damage was done to the car that hit her bus. Kathy maintained her composure and performed all the steps necessary to keep her kids safe. Her peers noted her calm voice on the radio, providing them with an outstanding example of how to react to a crisis. Her love for students, and her focus on what is important has helped the CSCSHC FLEET remain a safe place to travel and excel."
Kathy Phillips is an excellent example for bus drivers to follow.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
A Wolf in Sheepdog's Clothing
One of the worst things a Sheepdog has to face is betrayal. When a person who is in a Sheepdog position betrays his/her trust and violates the children they were to protect, real evil occurs. Such a thing happened to us right before Thanksgiving: http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-brian-turner-former-teacher-facing-child-molestation-allegations-dating-back-30-years-20111219,0,4490875.column
Now, to be sure, he's only been charged with molestation, and I won't go any further into what I know of this case while it is still under investigation. However, this situation does bring up a very important consideration. How do we keep the wolves from wearing sheepdog clothing?
Child predators do not look like child predators. They look like real people, for obvious reasons. We had done a background check, but all that does is discover if the person had ever been arrested, or charged, with a crime. It cannot get into the mind of the monster. Thus background checks only indicate the obvious. So now what?
Child predation is a behavior. So there should be a way to ferret out this behavior prior to allowing them near children. This would require a behavioral assessment, one that would be upheld in court. My friend Michael Dorn tells me there is one. I will investigate further.
It is doubtful that this assessment will tell you that the screened person is, with certainty, a predator. However, it should raise enough uncertainty that hiring someone else would be the prudent thing to do.
Both my mom and dad were molested as children. My mom repeatedly by her father. My youngest was molested when she was 6. The man above was charged for an act that occurred on my watch.
Never again.
Case in point: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/03/molestation-complaints-increase-at-school-where-teacher-allegedly-abused/?test=latestnews
Now, to be sure, he's only been charged with molestation, and I won't go any further into what I know of this case while it is still under investigation. However, this situation does bring up a very important consideration. How do we keep the wolves from wearing sheepdog clothing?
Child predators do not look like child predators. They look like real people, for obvious reasons. We had done a background check, but all that does is discover if the person had ever been arrested, or charged, with a crime. It cannot get into the mind of the monster. Thus background checks only indicate the obvious. So now what?
Child predation is a behavior. So there should be a way to ferret out this behavior prior to allowing them near children. This would require a behavioral assessment, one that would be upheld in court. My friend Michael Dorn tells me there is one. I will investigate further.
It is doubtful that this assessment will tell you that the screened person is, with certainty, a predator. However, it should raise enough uncertainty that hiring someone else would be the prudent thing to do.
Both my mom and dad were molested as children. My mom repeatedly by her father. My youngest was molested when she was 6. The man above was charged for an act that occurred on my watch.
Never again.
Case in point: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/03/molestation-complaints-increase-at-school-where-teacher-allegedly-abused/?test=latestnews
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Sheepdogs
Merry Christmas!
Yesterday an event occurred that reaffirmed what Christmas is all about, as well as what being a Sheepdog is all about.
I received a phone call from Brenda McNamara, one of my bus drivers. She is one of the best of my drivers. She has developed great relationships with many of her students, and their parents. One of them called her to tell her that her two sons would not be receiving any Christmas presents. The woman's in dire financial straits, and wanted her children enrolled in a program called the United Christmas Service. However, despite several phone calls and letters, she never completed the necessary paperwork, and so there was nothing for her children. Brenda didn't know what to do, so she called me.
I called the school counselor in charge of the UCS program and got the background story on the family. The counselor didn't know what she could do, as the Toys for Tots program deadline had passed, as had the deadline of others. I then called Mark Kern, the principal of the children's school. He didn't answer his phone, so I left a message explaining what had happened, and started to make plans to go shopping. I live 25 miles away from New Palestine, but if I couldn't work anything out, I would go. Last minute on Christmas Eve didn't seem a good time for last second heroics.
Or did it?
Enter Dick Jefford, II. Dick is a retired police chief I first met when he joined our school's Safe School Committee. He is a former Marine, so of course he and I hit it off. He is also the Hancock County Director for Toys for Tots, so I called him up and explained the situation. He told me that he had family coming, and that things had been very hectic, then he paused. He then said, "We have a saying here, no child should be without a present at Christmas."
I gave him the necessary information, and within two hours, I received a call from Brenda thanking me. Of course I told her that the real hero was Dick. I then got a call from Mark. He was under the weather, and was on his way to a Minute Clinic when he got my message. He told me that he was about to call the mother and have her meet him at a Walmart to get presents for the boys on his own dime.
Brenda McNamara the bus driver, Mark Kern the elementary school principal, Dick Jefford the retired police chief. Three of the nicest people you know, three exceptional Sheepdogs who made sure that two boys had something to open Christmas morning. Three exceptional people who live my motto, "Non in meus vigilo" 'Not on my watch'.
Merry Christmas, Brenda, Mark, and Dick. Christ truly shone through you yesterday, and two lives were touched by your gentle Warrior spirits. Your love of children, and your compassion for others are core virtues of the Sheepdog, and it is an honor to call you friends.
God bless you all!
Yesterday an event occurred that reaffirmed what Christmas is all about, as well as what being a Sheepdog is all about.
I received a phone call from Brenda McNamara, one of my bus drivers. She is one of the best of my drivers. She has developed great relationships with many of her students, and their parents. One of them called her to tell her that her two sons would not be receiving any Christmas presents. The woman's in dire financial straits, and wanted her children enrolled in a program called the United Christmas Service. However, despite several phone calls and letters, she never completed the necessary paperwork, and so there was nothing for her children. Brenda didn't know what to do, so she called me.
I called the school counselor in charge of the UCS program and got the background story on the family. The counselor didn't know what she could do, as the Toys for Tots program deadline had passed, as had the deadline of others. I then called Mark Kern, the principal of the children's school. He didn't answer his phone, so I left a message explaining what had happened, and started to make plans to go shopping. I live 25 miles away from New Palestine, but if I couldn't work anything out, I would go. Last minute on Christmas Eve didn't seem a good time for last second heroics.
Or did it?
Enter Dick Jefford, II. Dick is a retired police chief I first met when he joined our school's Safe School Committee. He is a former Marine, so of course he and I hit it off. He is also the Hancock County Director for Toys for Tots, so I called him up and explained the situation. He told me that he had family coming, and that things had been very hectic, then he paused. He then said, "We have a saying here, no child should be without a present at Christmas."
I gave him the necessary information, and within two hours, I received a call from Brenda thanking me. Of course I told her that the real hero was Dick. I then got a call from Mark. He was under the weather, and was on his way to a Minute Clinic when he got my message. He told me that he was about to call the mother and have her meet him at a Walmart to get presents for the boys on his own dime.
Brenda McNamara the bus driver, Mark Kern the elementary school principal, Dick Jefford the retired police chief. Three of the nicest people you know, three exceptional Sheepdogs who made sure that two boys had something to open Christmas morning. Three exceptional people who live my motto, "Non in meus vigilo" 'Not on my watch'.
Merry Christmas, Brenda, Mark, and Dick. Christ truly shone through you yesterday, and two lives were touched by your gentle Warrior spirits. Your love of children, and your compassion for others are core virtues of the Sheepdog, and it is an honor to call you friends.
God bless you all!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Virtue #10 - ???
Mark Mireles has given us nine Warrior Virtues that I have tried to apply to Sheepdogs and Master Teachers. To understand the tenth virtue, Mireles reminds us of an old Greek aphorism, "know thyself."(p. 67) The Greeks knew that introspection was needed to internalize what they learned. So it is with us. Some of the best ways to teach is to use open-ended questions that force the student to bend their minds to increase their understanding. In the Bible, these types of questions were called parables. It is in this spirit that Mireles leaves the tenth virtue blank. It is for each person to come up with their own tenth virtue.
Mireles describes a pair of ill-fitting wrestling shoes that taught him his virtue. He realized that nothing will ever be perfect in the ring, and later in life, yet a Warrior will always give his best, no matter what position they find themselves in. He wore those shoes until they fell apart to remind him of that lesson.
My epiphany came on September 20, 2002, when a tornado touched down near my elementary school. When it ripped off some rooftop ventilators, and children and teachers began screaming, I found myself immediately running toward the tornado. Later, I would wonder why.
The realization I came to was not that I was afraid of not fulfilling my responsibility, nor was I afraid of being seen as cowardly, even though those played a small part in it. I was afraid of losing my people. The emotion driving that fear was, and continues to be, love.
When I am giving responsibility for people, whether they be children or adult, I cannot see them as a burden, I see them as people worthy of my life. That requires love. "No greater Love than this, that a man lay down his life for others." (John 15:13)
What is your tenth virtue?
Mireles describes a pair of ill-fitting wrestling shoes that taught him his virtue. He realized that nothing will ever be perfect in the ring, and later in life, yet a Warrior will always give his best, no matter what position they find themselves in. He wore those shoes until they fell apart to remind him of that lesson.
My epiphany came on September 20, 2002, when a tornado touched down near my elementary school. When it ripped off some rooftop ventilators, and children and teachers began screaming, I found myself immediately running toward the tornado. Later, I would wonder why.
The realization I came to was not that I was afraid of not fulfilling my responsibility, nor was I afraid of being seen as cowardly, even though those played a small part in it. I was afraid of losing my people. The emotion driving that fear was, and continues to be, love.
When I am giving responsibility for people, whether they be children or adult, I cannot see them as a burden, I see them as people worthy of my life. That requires love. "No greater Love than this, that a man lay down his life for others." (John 15:13)
What is your tenth virtue?
Sunday, December 18, 2011
School Cafeteria Safety
Witnesses say a fourth-grade boy choked on meatballs during lunch in a New York City school cafeteria this month and later died.
The New York Post reports that 9-year-old Jonathan Jewth fell to the ground during lunch Dec. 5 and was unconscious before help arrived. They say cafeteria workers at Public School 47 in the Bronx didn't know what to do and failed to help him.
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