Inspiration

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."~Abraham Lincoln

Inspiration:
Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world.

Integrity...lesson learned for life

I was sneaky when little. At 7, I went into a local grocery store and bought some candy. As I was leaving, I stole a pack of cigarettes and put them in my bag. The manager busted me and, instead of calling the cops, he called Dad.

I would have preferred the cops.

2 days later, after the pain from the beating subsided, Dad took me back to that store and I picked up trash for 3 hours to pay for my crime. I was so embarrassed and humiliated, I never stole again.

Fast forward 1 month. I was riding my bike in front of that same store at 6 am ( always been a morning person). I found a fat wallet in the parking lot and Immediately took it inside and handed it to that manager. He smiled and put it in the safe - and promptly got a medium size bag, took me to the candy aisle, and let me fill it up.

I took it home and Dad took me back to the store, not believing it was given to me.
The manager told him what he had witnessed ( he saw me bend over and pick up the wallet).

Dad took me out for breakfast, telling me how pleased he was with me.
I did get a reward from the owner of that wallet.

Lesson learned for life!

Author's name withheld

Humans of New York raises $1 million for Brooklyn public school students' trip to Harvard

Humans of New York raises $1 million for Brooklyn public school students' trip to Harvard

Humans of New York
On January 19th, I met a young man on the street named Vidal, and I asked him to tell me about the person who had influenced him the most in his life.

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ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVE

The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis:

They're written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words.
Enjoy.......

I've learned .... That the best
classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned .... That when you're
in love, it shows.

I've learned .... That just one
person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned .... That having a
child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned .... That being kind
is more important than being right.

I've learned .... That you should
never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned .... That I can always
pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned .... That no matter
how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned .... That sometimes
all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned .... That simple walks
with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned .... That life is like
a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned .... That we should be
glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned .... That money
doesn't buy class.

I've learned .... That it's those
small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned ... That under
everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned .... That to ignore
the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned .... That when you
plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned .... That love, not
time, heals all wounds.

I've learned .... That the easiest
way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned .... That everyone you
meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned .... That no one is
perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned ... That life is
tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned .... That
opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned .... That when you
harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned .... That I wish I
could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned .... That one should
keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned .... That a smile is
an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned .... That when your
newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned .... That everyone
wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned .... That the less
time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Feb. 1, 1960 Woolworth Sit-In That Launched a Movement

Four black college students - from NCA&T — Ezell Blair Jr, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond --- began a sit-in protest at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, where they had been refused service.

Woolworth's Lunch Counter - Separate Is Not Equal

 

Greensboro sit-ins - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The Woolworth Sit-In That Launched a Movement : NPR

 

The Greensboro Chronology | International Civil Right

The Woolworth Sit-In That Launched a Movement : NPR

North Carolina History Project : Greensboro Sit-In

Feb. 1, 1960 | Black Students and the Greensboro Lunch Sit-In

1960 - Civil Rights Movement Veterans

Dealing with Cyberbullying: Tips for Kids and Parents

Dealing with Cyberbullying: Tips for Kids and Parents to ...

Lawyer's response to parent's sexting question:

(Parent's sexting question at bottom)

 

Thanks for your involvement with this issue. It is certainly an important one in schools these days. There are many laws which can pertain to these issues, but a good deal of information is needed to determine which, if any, laws fit the specific situation, since the facts of every single case are different. Some of the laws requires one or both of the parties to be either over or under a specific age, so without that information, I cannot speak specifically to which particular laws in question might have been broken. I have visited many middle schools to educate the kids about making good choices with respect to social media, as well as giving an overview of sexting and some of the laws that can be broken. I have spoken with large groups of girls, and my male co-worker spoke with the boys. The kids were incredibly responsive to us, and it was nice to be able to answer questions for them and help them to be more empowered to take care of themselves.
 

One thing that we stressed in talking to the students was to make use of the School Resource Officers (SROs). They are a mainstay in every middle school and they are there to help. They can investigate specific situations since they are there at the schools and interacting with the children. I would encourage any parent who has questions or is worried about an incident like this one at school to give the SRO a call and go see them to discuss what is going on. Children, too, should be encouraged to talk to the SRO at their school in the event that they are worried about someone. If the SRO investigates and determines a crime has been committed, then they will bring that to the District Attorney’s Office.

---------------------------------------------------------

My daughter was was at middle school yesterday when she befriended a girl who was crying in the bathroom. The girl confided in my daughter that there are rumors going around the school that she sent naked pictures to an older grade level boy by text. The girl said she didn't send naked pictures but the older boy had texted her asking her to send naked pictures. My daughter is in shock personally (we have warned her about sexting) yet to hear about it first hand and so close to home has been troubling for her. My daughter is also concerned for the girl's emotional state. My daughter spoke to the 6th grade principal alerting him that she was concerned for this girl yet not giving him any specific information because the girl asked her to not say anything.

My question (assuming the girl is telling the truth and she did not send pictures): is this boy breaking any state or local laws by trying to elicit naked pictures over the phone? If so, which laws?

If the girl did not tell the truth and did send naked pictures by phone what / laws is she breaking?

Do the rumors like these in schools create a negative school environment? Is spreading rumors like this breaking any laws? What policy's/ practices are in place or can be put in place to protect students from this behavior and to know what to do if solicited?

Does our committee or NC department of public safety have any fact sheets to support parents/ students to to know what to do in situations like this? Informational guidelines/ suggestions for parents/ students would be helpful on how to handle a situation like this. Many of you may know me from the quarterly meetings as the parent advocate who speaks up at the local /state level to keep our schools safe. I have also been advocating for NC to create cyber bullying laws which includes allowing off campus cyber bullying that creates a negative school environment to be information a principal can use to ensure school safety and a positive school environment. I would appreciate comments/ suggestions.

Thank you,