A person of words and not deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.
School Shootings and Bullying
With school shootings in the news these days, there is one common factor that is often overlooked. The majority of school shooters feel the need to kill as a result of being the victim of bullying. Here are some scary bullying statistics from a 2013 study:
Percent of students who reported being bullied at school, on a school bus or on the way to and from school:
• Bullied at school: 21.5%
• Made fun of or insulted: 13.6%
• Subject of rumors: 13.2%
• Pushed, shoved, spit on or tripped: 6.0%
• Excluded from activities: 4.5%
• Threatened with harm: 3.9%
• Forced to do things they didn’t want to do: 2.2%
• Property destroyed: 1.6%
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s Champions for Change Gala & Auction will be taking place this Friday. Y3K Tutor In Your Home donated tutoring and test preparation services to the auction. This money raised will support the free services provided to over 5,000 survivors and family members each year. Also it will provide trainings and outreach to over 10,000 community members.
Michigan Is The Newest Dissection Choice State
The Michigan State Board of Education adopted a dissection-choice policy that allows more than 1.57 million students throughout the state to opt out of classroom animal dissection. Children now have the option of using modern computer software and other humane methods. Michigan joins 21 other states plus the District of Columbia in establishing a policy to allow students to avoid animal dissection. Michigan students can now choose not to dissect without worrying that their grades will suffer or that there will be other repercussions from the teacher.
The policy is important because students who have a moral objection to animal dissection often stay silent and go along with it causing anxiety. This is because they are not presented with a choice or fear being punished for opting out. Michigan was able to make this new policy due to the fact that numerous studies show that advanced computer simulation software helps students learn anatomy even better than old-fashioned animal dissection does.
Tomorrow we will take a closer look at Michigan’s new dissection-choice policy.
Kids and Animal Abuse
Every generation seems to have a serial killer hyped up by the media. Many of these serial killings could have been prevented if people saw the early warning signs as children. These infamous killers’ violent acts towards people were first directed at animals when they were kids. Notorious murderers including Dennis Rader (BTK Killer), Jeffrey Dahmer (cannibal), Albert DeSalvo (Boston Strangler), and Lee Boyd Malvo (Beltway Sniper) all tortured and killed many animals in their youth. As they got older, they transferred their enjoyment for inflicting pain and murder on people. If parents, teachers, coaches, neighbors, etc. saw the warning signs when these murderers were still children, then they may have been able to prevent the atrocities that were to follow in the years to come.
If you witness animal abuse, report it immediately. YOU may be the one to not only stop the pain of an innocent animal but also save our society from evil bloodshed in the future.
Children and Animal Abuse
Acts of cruelty to animals are symptoms of deep mental problems. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals don’t stop there. Many of these abusers move on to hurt people as well. According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation profiler, murderers very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids. Studies have shown that violent and aggressive criminals are more likely to have abused animals as children than criminals who are considered non-aggressive.
Want evidence? Check back tomorrow!
Behavior
Do not accept unacceptable behavior.
Animal Abuse Linked to Child Abuse
Parents who neglect or abuse animals frequently subject their own children to similar hardships. Sometimes these guardians treat their children with actual abuse and other times they neglect them with poor living conditions. For example, Indiana parents faced felony charges after authorities reportedly discovered their two children as well as three dogs languishing in their filthy home. According to news sources, officials first found a tethered dog that was deprived of food and water outside the home. Upon entering the couple’s residence, investigators reportedly found a 3-month-old boy lying near piles of feces, trash, and rotten food. They also found a half-clothed toddler and two additional dogs. In another case, Illinois authorities found 40 parasite-ridden dogs languishing amid 6 inches of feces on property occupied by an Illinois parent. According to news reports, officials responding to neighbors’ concerns found the sick and emaciated dogs confined to filthy animal carriers before confirming that three children—ages 3, 10, and 15—lived in the horrific conditions as well. If you witness abused or neglected animals in your neighborhood, report it immediately. You may end up saving children along with the animals.
Cycle of Violence: Children & Animal Abuse
Children who abuse animals are often displaying signs that they are victims of physical, mental, or sexual abuse. As a child’s anger escalates as a result of the continued abuse, he or she may ultimately lash out against humans. When a child matures and becomes a parent, the person’s anger is often vented upon his or her own children, continuing the cycle of violence. If you hear of a child that abuses an animal, seek help for them right away.