I consider myself an advocate for many causes. However, one thing that joins us all together is the fact that if we didn't live in this country and had the freedoms that we enjoy, our lives would be totally different. I NEVER take that for granted. Another thing to consider is the fact that many of you reading this have medical insurance. Although it might not be the best, at least we have it. Many in this country do not.
I have been doing some reading and research lately about the health care crisis and what is happening to our country. Although this blog focuses mainly on the health and care of children, I thought this post would be more than appropriate.
The following are some questions that we should all ask ourselves. If you haven't thought about these issues then I would encourage you to do so.
1) How do you feel about our health care in the United States?
2) Does your state representative KNOW how you feel about what is happening?
3) Do you know your rights concerning health insurance and coverage for your family?
4) Is it fair that the people who work in Congress have wonderful coverage and their choices concerning health care don't affect them?
5) Would it bother you to find out how much money is being spent on frivolous projects and research.... knowing that YOU are paying for it?
6) How much money is spent on illegal immigrants? (The answer will shock you!) Check out the answer at: http://kevincolby.com/2008/07/27/the-cost-of-illegal-immigrants-to-the-american-taxpayer/
7) What would you do if your child needed surgery and the hospital denied it due to insurance not covering it?
8) Can a medical insurance company legally drop your coverage without cause?
9) Who pays the bill for those people who don't have insurance or who don't have the money to pay their medical bills?
I could keep going, but I hope this gives you all some food for thought. I promise you that the more you find out about what is happening, the angrier you will become. There is so much corruption and lack of common sense in Washington. It's unreal how blinded we have become as a nation. We need to wake up and see what is happening. We've become a nation where the few or minority have the stronger voice. Case in point: I know for a fact that the majority of the children in my daughter's school are Christian and yet they can't have "Christmas Parties" since that would offend someone. They end up having to change the name to "Holiday Party" and they can not be centered around Christmas. What???!!
*********************************************
If we sit back and let others decide our fate
then we don't have a right to complain. Now
is the time to decide where you stand and do
something about it.
*********************************************
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
The H1N1 Flu Vaccine Dilemma
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5237185n
This is the link to a very interesting CBS investigative report concerning the H1N1 vaccine. I love it when a doctor has the same thought process I do concerning vaccines. It's so refreshing to hear someone in the medical community admit the truth about vaccines.
Enjoy!!
This is the link to a very interesting CBS investigative report concerning the H1N1 vaccine. I love it when a doctor has the same thought process I do concerning vaccines. It's so refreshing to hear someone in the medical community admit the truth about vaccines.
Enjoy!!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Truth About Friendship
This post was inspired by my Relief Society lesson we had last Sunday. It was taught by one of my friends and I learned so much from it. I wanted to share some of my thoughts on friendship and how important it is to me.
The truth about friends is that you have no control over who you "click" with and who you don't. I know we can be more outgoing and try to put ourselves in situations where we can make friends, but in the end it's something far deeper and spiritual that guides our paths and joins us with those we ultimately call our friends. There is usually common ground and common values that help us become closer. I feel that the autism community is one of those that is so much like my LDS community. Everyone I have met is a wonderful mother, friend, and is struggling to find answers and do what is right. It's amazing how much in common I have with people who have children with autism or any other special needs. It immediately links us together and we can talk for hours... and often do. It's true what they say: you don't know what it's like until you walk in someone else's shoes. I used to be very judgmental and criticized parents who had children who were unruly or disrespectful. I still don't like it, but now I have a better understanding of what is REALLY going on in the mind of the child. Most of the time it's not his/her fault.
A true friend will stick with you no matter what. I've had friends that I love dearly and felt very close to, drift away since my son's diagnosis. I know that part of it is that they just don't understand. However, I have made some awesome new friends in the past couple years and I wouldn't trade them for the world!!! We understand one another and don't feel we need to apologize all the time for our children. It's understood that our kids will behave inappropriately at times and we just deal with it in our own way. I love the fact that I can have friends who can give me counsel without being condescending or judgmental. I KNOW that they have walked where I have walked and so that means so much to me.
It's not easy being a good friend sometimes. I used to get my feelings hurt very easily, but have grown a rather thick skin in the past few years. It still hurts when I hear negative comments or when I see those looks of disapproval, but I don't let it get to me in the same way. I believe that there is good in everyone. No one wakes up each day and thinks to themselves, "who am I going to hurt today?" I know I am not perfect, and I am sure that I have hurt someone's feelings without even realizing it. I consider myself to be a considerate person, but I am only human. That is the biggest lesson I have learned about others. I am taught to love everyone at church and I honestly say that I do. However, I have learned to surround myself with uplifting and positive people. I have many friends, but only a handful of very close friends. I can only hope and pray that I am as a good a friend to them as they are to me.
********************************************
I hope you all have good friends who support
and uplift your soul. A good friend is like
a good bra: lifts you when you're down and
is always close to your heart.
********************************************
The truth about friends is that you have no control over who you "click" with and who you don't. I know we can be more outgoing and try to put ourselves in situations where we can make friends, but in the end it's something far deeper and spiritual that guides our paths and joins us with those we ultimately call our friends. There is usually common ground and common values that help us become closer. I feel that the autism community is one of those that is so much like my LDS community. Everyone I have met is a wonderful mother, friend, and is struggling to find answers and do what is right. It's amazing how much in common I have with people who have children with autism or any other special needs. It immediately links us together and we can talk for hours... and often do. It's true what they say: you don't know what it's like until you walk in someone else's shoes. I used to be very judgmental and criticized parents who had children who were unruly or disrespectful. I still don't like it, but now I have a better understanding of what is REALLY going on in the mind of the child. Most of the time it's not his/her fault.
A true friend will stick with you no matter what. I've had friends that I love dearly and felt very close to, drift away since my son's diagnosis. I know that part of it is that they just don't understand. However, I have made some awesome new friends in the past couple years and I wouldn't trade them for the world!!! We understand one another and don't feel we need to apologize all the time for our children. It's understood that our kids will behave inappropriately at times and we just deal with it in our own way. I love the fact that I can have friends who can give me counsel without being condescending or judgmental. I KNOW that they have walked where I have walked and so that means so much to me.
It's not easy being a good friend sometimes. I used to get my feelings hurt very easily, but have grown a rather thick skin in the past few years. It still hurts when I hear negative comments or when I see those looks of disapproval, but I don't let it get to me in the same way. I believe that there is good in everyone. No one wakes up each day and thinks to themselves, "who am I going to hurt today?" I know I am not perfect, and I am sure that I have hurt someone's feelings without even realizing it. I consider myself to be a considerate person, but I am only human. That is the biggest lesson I have learned about others. I am taught to love everyone at church and I honestly say that I do. However, I have learned to surround myself with uplifting and positive people. I have many friends, but only a handful of very close friends. I can only hope and pray that I am as a good a friend to them as they are to me.
********************************************
I hope you all have good friends who support
and uplift your soul. A good friend is like
a good bra: lifts you when you're down and
is always close to your heart.
********************************************
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Looking Forward with Wilson's Disease
There is no reason to dwell on what happened in the past. The only thing I can do right now is look at the future. I could feel a lot of resentment towards the doctors who dismissed my daughter's illness or my worries. I could also feel a lot of anger towards the pediatricians who tried to make me feel like I was crazy. However, I have learned so much from my experiences and I have helped so many people that I almost look at it all as a big blessing in my life.
I have to share a recent experience I had with a wonderful doctor. His office is located in Florida (another state away from us), but he was referred to me by someone I trust very much. I called the office and they told me that he was out of the country and would not be back for another month. Last week, I checked my phone messages and he actually called me HIMSELF and left a very sweet message apologizing for not being able to contact me earlier. I almost fainted! I returned his call, but he was not in his office and his nurse said she would leave him a message to call me back. Of course, in the back of my mind I thought he MIGHT call me the next day or by the end of the week at best. Well... he called me on his way home that very same day!! We talked for about fifteen minutes and he was the sweetest and warmest doctor I have ever talked to. He listened to me and told me his recommendations for Sarah. He told me that he had actually called the Mayo clinic to inquire about the genetic testing that was done just to make sure that the diagnosis was correct!! He confirmed and validated the results to me. That made me feel so much better because I have had some doubts in the back of my mind concerning that very thing.
After telling him some background information concerning what I went through with previous doctors, he told me that unfortunately my story was not unusual. He said that basically most parents have gone through the same thing. He also told me that the neurologist who tested my daughter for copper and other various tests that others don't normally test for was "one in a million" and had a "head on his shoulders". I wish ALL doctors tested for those things. Some of the tests could explain so many disorders! It's amazing what blood can tell a doctor if you just give it a chance. I worked in the laboratory and I can tell you from personal experience that laboratory tests can sometimes tell the doctor more than the symptoms and physical exams... as a matter of fact, some doctors RELY HEAVILY on the laboratory testing. In many situations it's just a matter of what insurance will cover. That is so sad.
One thing I want to make sure to clear up is that the doctor explained chelation to me. I have been very scared about that and was unwilling to even consider it with my daughter. However, chelation is evidently the only way to get rid of the copper that has accumulated in the body. The zinc acetate is just a way to keep the body from building up any more copper in the body, but it doesn't get rid of what was there before. We are going to discuss that in depth at her first appointment with this doctor. I still feel that I wouldn't want to do something like chelation with doctors who don't know much about it. In other words, I don't want my daughter to be a guinea pig. At least with this doctor, he has treated almost ten pediatric patients so far and that is more than any other in my area. I want to discuss the side-effects and possible scenarios that could occur. After reading Dr. George Brewer's book, I was under the impression that zinc therapy was the first line of therapy for "asymptomatic" patients. That is something I definitely want to discuss with him. Is my daughter technically "asymptomatic" or not? I also want to know how to find out how much copper she has accumulated.
I have a dear friend who is not of my faith, but she reminded me that this experience is definitely a faith-building experience and a testimony that God does answer prayers. It's definitely a testament of my faith. I continue to rely on spiritual guidance and pray that the doctors do the same.
*************************
Looking forward sometimes
means looking back and
realizing that you can
either agonize over
decisions made or learn
from those experiences.
**************************
I have to share a recent experience I had with a wonderful doctor. His office is located in Florida (another state away from us), but he was referred to me by someone I trust very much. I called the office and they told me that he was out of the country and would not be back for another month. Last week, I checked my phone messages and he actually called me HIMSELF and left a very sweet message apologizing for not being able to contact me earlier. I almost fainted! I returned his call, but he was not in his office and his nurse said she would leave him a message to call me back. Of course, in the back of my mind I thought he MIGHT call me the next day or by the end of the week at best. Well... he called me on his way home that very same day!! We talked for about fifteen minutes and he was the sweetest and warmest doctor I have ever talked to. He listened to me and told me his recommendations for Sarah. He told me that he had actually called the Mayo clinic to inquire about the genetic testing that was done just to make sure that the diagnosis was correct!! He confirmed and validated the results to me. That made me feel so much better because I have had some doubts in the back of my mind concerning that very thing.
After telling him some background information concerning what I went through with previous doctors, he told me that unfortunately my story was not unusual. He said that basically most parents have gone through the same thing. He also told me that the neurologist who tested my daughter for copper and other various tests that others don't normally test for was "one in a million" and had a "head on his shoulders". I wish ALL doctors tested for those things. Some of the tests could explain so many disorders! It's amazing what blood can tell a doctor if you just give it a chance. I worked in the laboratory and I can tell you from personal experience that laboratory tests can sometimes tell the doctor more than the symptoms and physical exams... as a matter of fact, some doctors RELY HEAVILY on the laboratory testing. In many situations it's just a matter of what insurance will cover. That is so sad.
One thing I want to make sure to clear up is that the doctor explained chelation to me. I have been very scared about that and was unwilling to even consider it with my daughter. However, chelation is evidently the only way to get rid of the copper that has accumulated in the body. The zinc acetate is just a way to keep the body from building up any more copper in the body, but it doesn't get rid of what was there before. We are going to discuss that in depth at her first appointment with this doctor. I still feel that I wouldn't want to do something like chelation with doctors who don't know much about it. In other words, I don't want my daughter to be a guinea pig. At least with this doctor, he has treated almost ten pediatric patients so far and that is more than any other in my area. I want to discuss the side-effects and possible scenarios that could occur. After reading Dr. George Brewer's book, I was under the impression that zinc therapy was the first line of therapy for "asymptomatic" patients. That is something I definitely want to discuss with him. Is my daughter technically "asymptomatic" or not? I also want to know how to find out how much copper she has accumulated.
I have a dear friend who is not of my faith, but she reminded me that this experience is definitely a faith-building experience and a testimony that God does answer prayers. It's definitely a testament of my faith. I continue to rely on spiritual guidance and pray that the doctors do the same.
*************************
Looking forward sometimes
means looking back and
realizing that you can
either agonize over
decisions made or learn
from those experiences.
**************************
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Dealing With Insurance and Billing Update
I posted about my issues with my insurance company not wanting to cover the genetic testing we had to do for our family a long time ago. I also explained how I had to call numerous times and try to figure out what was happening. Our entire family had to be tested for the ATP7B gene mutation due to my daughter having Wilson's Disease. This was done in April of last year. It has now been over a year and we still have not resolved our billing issues with the laboratory. The insurance company pointed their fingers at the billing department at the lab, and the lab pointed their fingers at the insurance company.
The biggest piece of advice I can give you is this: MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS CHECK YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM STATEMENTS!!!! Don't take it for granted that things will be taken care of on their own. I have learned so much in these past few months and one thing I wish I could have changed is that I had paid attention to the statements that came in the mail.... and read the fine print. You are given a limited time to take care of the amount due before you have no recourse to appeal it. Our insurance company gives us 90 days. Believe me, it sounds like a long time, but it isn't.
What do you need to look out for? Make sure that the information is correct. For example, did you REALLY go to Dr. Smith on July 18th and have laboratory work done? Also, do the amounts charged make sense? If the amounts processed seem outrageous you should definitely check. That is what happened in my case. I saw the amount the testing cost and since I worked in a lab I knew that it looked like too much. Of course, I had NO idea how much I was overbilled. Two days ago, I found out that my testing should have cost me $450 PER person total (who knows how much they REALLY charged the hospital). They were trying to bill me for between $10,000 and $13,000 PER person!! I knew that typically hospitals will charge a bit more to the patients to make up for the ones who don't pay. However, this was definitely a case where there was a billing error. I was able to finally reach someone who could tell me how much the testing was supposed to cost me. I was so relieved to finally have an answer! The biggest issue I had was that they were sending my bills to collections and it would potentially harm my good credit. That was definitely my motivation through all of this.
I am not quite ready to exhale, but at least I don't feel like I have a ton of bricks on my shoulders at the moment. I have to share one little tidbit with you all. I want to share what happened and hopefully inspire you to listen to that inner voice that we all tend to ignore at times. This is what happened: I was in the shower and all of a sudden I had the thought, "why don't you call the lab and see if someone can give you the amount that the test cost and how much you should have been billed for each test?" The funny part about that is that I tried numerous times to find out that very thing but was always unsuccessful. Perhaps it was the way I asked the person or maybe it was the person I spoke with. I will never know. However, as soon as I could I called the laboratory that drew the blood (not the ones who actually performed it since they had already told me they couldn't tell me since I wasn't their "client") and asked if there was anyone who could tell me how much a certain laboratory test that my doctor ordered would cost me. I was transferred to the supervisor and she actually called the Mayo Clinic and found out the exact amount the test was supposed to cost. It literally took only five minutes!!! She then told me that I had called the right person and not to worry. The first thing she would do was to get all my bills out of collections. She would then notify the right people and get my bill corrected. I was so relieved! It was definitely an answer to my prayers.
I think we are all blessed with this inner voice inside of us. We just need to listen to it. Sometimes it comes in a whisper. Other times it might come as an email from a dear friend. You just never know how your prayers are answered. Don't be discouraged. Sometimes things take longer than we would like. However, if we are patient and persevere good things do come. It's definitely true what they say, "Good things come to those who wait."
****************************************
I've recently learned that the insurance
company is not always the guilty ones
when it comes to billing problems.
****************************************
The biggest piece of advice I can give you is this: MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS CHECK YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM STATEMENTS!!!! Don't take it for granted that things will be taken care of on their own. I have learned so much in these past few months and one thing I wish I could have changed is that I had paid attention to the statements that came in the mail.... and read the fine print. You are given a limited time to take care of the amount due before you have no recourse to appeal it. Our insurance company gives us 90 days. Believe me, it sounds like a long time, but it isn't.
What do you need to look out for? Make sure that the information is correct. For example, did you REALLY go to Dr. Smith on July 18th and have laboratory work done? Also, do the amounts charged make sense? If the amounts processed seem outrageous you should definitely check. That is what happened in my case. I saw the amount the testing cost and since I worked in a lab I knew that it looked like too much. Of course, I had NO idea how much I was overbilled. Two days ago, I found out that my testing should have cost me $450 PER person total (who knows how much they REALLY charged the hospital). They were trying to bill me for between $10,000 and $13,000 PER person!! I knew that typically hospitals will charge a bit more to the patients to make up for the ones who don't pay. However, this was definitely a case where there was a billing error. I was able to finally reach someone who could tell me how much the testing was supposed to cost me. I was so relieved to finally have an answer! The biggest issue I had was that they were sending my bills to collections and it would potentially harm my good credit. That was definitely my motivation through all of this.
I am not quite ready to exhale, but at least I don't feel like I have a ton of bricks on my shoulders at the moment. I have to share one little tidbit with you all. I want to share what happened and hopefully inspire you to listen to that inner voice that we all tend to ignore at times. This is what happened: I was in the shower and all of a sudden I had the thought, "why don't you call the lab and see if someone can give you the amount that the test cost and how much you should have been billed for each test?" The funny part about that is that I tried numerous times to find out that very thing but was always unsuccessful. Perhaps it was the way I asked the person or maybe it was the person I spoke with. I will never know. However, as soon as I could I called the laboratory that drew the blood (not the ones who actually performed it since they had already told me they couldn't tell me since I wasn't their "client") and asked if there was anyone who could tell me how much a certain laboratory test that my doctor ordered would cost me. I was transferred to the supervisor and she actually called the Mayo Clinic and found out the exact amount the test was supposed to cost. It literally took only five minutes!!! She then told me that I had called the right person and not to worry. The first thing she would do was to get all my bills out of collections. She would then notify the right people and get my bill corrected. I was so relieved! It was definitely an answer to my prayers.
I think we are all blessed with this inner voice inside of us. We just need to listen to it. Sometimes it comes in a whisper. Other times it might come as an email from a dear friend. You just never know how your prayers are answered. Don't be discouraged. Sometimes things take longer than we would like. However, if we are patient and persevere good things do come. It's definitely true what they say, "Good things come to those who wait."
****************************************
I've recently learned that the insurance
company is not always the guilty ones
when it comes to billing problems.
****************************************
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Galzin Therapy for Wilson's Disease
Our daughter who is 6 years old was not on any drug therapy until recently. The only thing doctors suggested for us was liver biopsy and consequent chelation therapy if the numbers were high enough. The problem with this mode of treatment is that they are basically waiting for the patient to get "sick" before treating. This is the equivalent of a doctor waiting for a diabetic to lose their kidney function before starting insulin. Luckily, as I have said numerous times, I have been surrounded by guardian angels who have guided me through the process of keeping my daughter well. I am so thankful that I did not ignore the warnings and counsel that were given to me.
The main reason for this post was to update you all on how my daughter is doing on this new treatment and to offer some advice. First of all, she is taking 25 mg. of Galzin (Zinc Acetate) three times a day. The biggest challenge for us is making sure that her stomach is empty. She has a big appetite and usually eats mini-meals throughout the day. Also, when school started that presented YET another challenge for us. How did I ensure that she took her medicine on time and on an empty stomach when they have snack time at about the time she is supposed to take her medicine? I went to the school and talked to the nurse. She was so sweet and gave me a great idea. She told me that I should send a special water bottle with her to school and that way she could sip water during snack time. This was also a good way to ensure that she didn't drink tap water. We found out recently that the copper level in our water is higher than it should be for her. We try to give her only filtered water at home.
I want to stress an important point right now. While we were trying to get a diagnosis years ago and the doctors ignored my concerns, they did a random urine copper on my daughter and the results were normal. A year later they did the 24 hour urine copper and again it was normal (in the 40's range). However, right before she started taking the zinc acetate her 24 hour urine copper was 68 which is a little higher than normal. NOW, after only a month of medication, she is in the normal range. Her latest value was 54. We are so excited! I urge parents to not ignore their instincts. I did not know as much THEN as I know NOW. After reading Dr. Brewer's book I understand that in asymptomatic patients the results can often be misleading. EARLY INTERVENTION is the key. You MUST start treatment right away. The longer you wait, the more damage there will be. The more damage there is, the harder it will be for the patient to recover. It is possible to recover if caught early enough. It is possible for a patient with Wilson's Disease to live a long and healthy life. The biggest mistake anyone can make is to have a "wait and see" attitude with Wilson's.
So far, my daughter has had no side-effects on Galzin and it is definitely working for her. I am so glad we were able to avoid the chelation therapy and liver biopsy. I am still trying to learn as much as I can about how the 24 hour urine copper range is used to monitor Galzin. According to Dr. George Brewer, the "normal level of urine copper of 20-50 micrograms per 24 hours is not reached for many years, if it is reached at all, because of the extensive body loading of copper in Wilson's disease." I guess a value of 54 is not too bad after just a month of treatment. That is very reassuring for me.
**********************************
Don't delay....start today!!!!!!!
**********************************
The main reason for this post was to update you all on how my daughter is doing on this new treatment and to offer some advice. First of all, she is taking 25 mg. of Galzin (Zinc Acetate) three times a day. The biggest challenge for us is making sure that her stomach is empty. She has a big appetite and usually eats mini-meals throughout the day. Also, when school started that presented YET another challenge for us. How did I ensure that she took her medicine on time and on an empty stomach when they have snack time at about the time she is supposed to take her medicine? I went to the school and talked to the nurse. She was so sweet and gave me a great idea. She told me that I should send a special water bottle with her to school and that way she could sip water during snack time. This was also a good way to ensure that she didn't drink tap water. We found out recently that the copper level in our water is higher than it should be for her. We try to give her only filtered water at home.
I want to stress an important point right now. While we were trying to get a diagnosis years ago and the doctors ignored my concerns, they did a random urine copper on my daughter and the results were normal. A year later they did the 24 hour urine copper and again it was normal (in the 40's range). However, right before she started taking the zinc acetate her 24 hour urine copper was 68 which is a little higher than normal. NOW, after only a month of medication, she is in the normal range. Her latest value was 54. We are so excited! I urge parents to not ignore their instincts. I did not know as much THEN as I know NOW. After reading Dr. Brewer's book I understand that in asymptomatic patients the results can often be misleading. EARLY INTERVENTION is the key. You MUST start treatment right away. The longer you wait, the more damage there will be. The more damage there is, the harder it will be for the patient to recover. It is possible to recover if caught early enough. It is possible for a patient with Wilson's Disease to live a long and healthy life. The biggest mistake anyone can make is to have a "wait and see" attitude with Wilson's.
So far, my daughter has had no side-effects on Galzin and it is definitely working for her. I am so glad we were able to avoid the chelation therapy and liver biopsy. I am still trying to learn as much as I can about how the 24 hour urine copper range is used to monitor Galzin. According to Dr. George Brewer, the "normal level of urine copper of 20-50 micrograms per 24 hours is not reached for many years, if it is reached at all, because of the extensive body loading of copper in Wilson's disease." I guess a value of 54 is not too bad after just a month of treatment. That is very reassuring for me.
**********************************
Don't delay....start today!!!!!!!
**********************************
Friday, August 21, 2009
I Can't Be The Only One
There are three questions I want answered at this very moment:
#1: Am I the only one who cares about what books my child reads at school?
#2: Am I the only one who cares about what movies my child watches at school?
#3: Am I the only one who feels that values and morals are going down the drain?
When my oldest went to middle school he had to read a few books that were frankly offensive and vulgar. I was shocked at the subject matter and the language. I already have discussed in previous posts how tough middle school can be and adding that issue was enough to give me an ulcer! However, parents have NO say in the books that are in the curriculum and what they watch at school. Parents have NO control over any of the subjects they decide to add or delete. It's no wonder more and more parents are deciding to home school. It definitely makes sense to me.
I have recently learned that high school is not any different. The books they read do not get any better and the subject matter can be gruesome and offensive. I don't want to offend anyone, but I feel that in order to get my message across you have to read what I am referring to. The following is a poem that a movie entitled "Then There Were None" (an Agatha Christie novel) was based on. This is how it goes:
Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One chocked his self and then there were nine.
Nine Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself then there were eight.
Eight Indian boys traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there then there were seven.
Seven Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves then there were six.
Six Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumble-bee stung one then there were five.
Five Indian boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery then there were four.
Four Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one then there were three.
Three Indian boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one then there were two.
Two Indian boys sitting in the sun;
One got all frizzled up then there was one.
One Indian boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none
The summer reading list included the book: "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. http://www.bookrags.com/notes/none/SUM.html This website has the synopsis of the book. It is a very interesting story and I, as an adult, would probably enjoy reading it. However, why do 9th graders need to read this book? What does this plot teach children? They see and hear enough violence on the television and nightly news. School should be a place where they can get away from those things. The book is basically about a man who invites eight strangers to an island where they are killed one by one using the methods in the poem. In the end they ALL die. Evidently, all eight strangers had killed someone and the man who kills everyone wanted justice and he arranged the death of all the people. Again... I ask you what is the purpose of reading this novel?
I guess the reason I am so upset about the situation is that they no longer allow prayer in school. I bet if my child decided to bring his scriptures and read them in class there would probably be something "wrong" with that. I think there is definitely something wrong with that!! What kind of future can we expect if we are teaching our children to become desensitized to violence and gore? Where are the values and morals being taught? I do MY part at home. However, I also expect schools to maintain a much higher standard and I believe that parents should have the right to decide what their children can read or watch in school. Parents cannot remain complacent about what is happening in schools. We have to voice our opinions and let our concerns be heard. If we let the government have control over our children's education without our input, then we might as well let government into our homes and raise our children.... thus having control over our children's minds and lives.
*************************************
Don't be afraid to call and talk to
the principal or director of your
school and voice your opinion.
If enough people do that.... perhaps
change is possible. If we sit back
and just let it happen then we might
just one day "wake up" and see that
it's too late.
*************************************
#1: Am I the only one who cares about what books my child reads at school?
#2: Am I the only one who cares about what movies my child watches at school?
#3: Am I the only one who feels that values and morals are going down the drain?
When my oldest went to middle school he had to read a few books that were frankly offensive and vulgar. I was shocked at the subject matter and the language. I already have discussed in previous posts how tough middle school can be and adding that issue was enough to give me an ulcer! However, parents have NO say in the books that are in the curriculum and what they watch at school. Parents have NO control over any of the subjects they decide to add or delete. It's no wonder more and more parents are deciding to home school. It definitely makes sense to me.
I have recently learned that high school is not any different. The books they read do not get any better and the subject matter can be gruesome and offensive. I don't want to offend anyone, but I feel that in order to get my message across you have to read what I am referring to. The following is a poem that a movie entitled "Then There Were None" (an Agatha Christie novel) was based on. This is how it goes:
Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One chocked his self and then there were nine.
Nine Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself then there were eight.
Eight Indian boys traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there then there were seven.
Seven Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves then there were six.
Six Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumble-bee stung one then there were five.
Five Indian boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery then there were four.
Four Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one then there were three.
Three Indian boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one then there were two.
Two Indian boys sitting in the sun;
One got all frizzled up then there was one.
One Indian boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none
The summer reading list included the book: "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. http://www.bookrags.com/notes/none/SUM.html This website has the synopsis of the book. It is a very interesting story and I, as an adult, would probably enjoy reading it. However, why do 9th graders need to read this book? What does this plot teach children? They see and hear enough violence on the television and nightly news. School should be a place where they can get away from those things. The book is basically about a man who invites eight strangers to an island where they are killed one by one using the methods in the poem. In the end they ALL die. Evidently, all eight strangers had killed someone and the man who kills everyone wanted justice and he arranged the death of all the people. Again... I ask you what is the purpose of reading this novel?
I guess the reason I am so upset about the situation is that they no longer allow prayer in school. I bet if my child decided to bring his scriptures and read them in class there would probably be something "wrong" with that. I think there is definitely something wrong with that!! What kind of future can we expect if we are teaching our children to become desensitized to violence and gore? Where are the values and morals being taught? I do MY part at home. However, I also expect schools to maintain a much higher standard and I believe that parents should have the right to decide what their children can read or watch in school. Parents cannot remain complacent about what is happening in schools. We have to voice our opinions and let our concerns be heard. If we let the government have control over our children's education without our input, then we might as well let government into our homes and raise our children.... thus having control over our children's minds and lives.
*************************************
Don't be afraid to call and talk to
the principal or director of your
school and voice your opinion.
If enough people do that.... perhaps
change is possible. If we sit back
and just let it happen then we might
just one day "wake up" and see that
it's too late.
*************************************
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