Mary's contact info is here http://www.makeadifference.com/contact.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Font colored for emphasis by me..
Can anyone say, "Baaaaa....Baaaaa!"FYI: Saturday, October 25 is USA Weekend's National Make A Difference Day. To learn more go to: http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Plan ahead - Order now to assure we will have the quantities you need for your event at: http://www.MakeADifference.com/BlueRibbons" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Anyone can turn on a small light in a dark room. Anyone!"
— Erin Gruwell, Freedom Writers
"Bullying is a reality both nationally and in schools. Children need to understand that: Teasing another student in a hurtful manner is unacceptable. Threatening another student is unacceptable. Pushing, punching or other physical aggression against a student or staff member is unacceptable. Carrying, bringing, using or possessing a dangerous weapon in any school building, on school grounds, is prohibited under the law. The axiom that 'it takes a whole village to educate a child' is absolutely true. We need everyone's help to ensure that our schools are safe and respectful environments."
— Dr. Keith Pfeifer, Superintendent SAU #17 KINGSTON/NEWTON, NH
Please read how the "Who You Are Makes A Difference" Blue Ribbon Ceremony changed the life of a street smart Bully at: http://www.MakeADifference.com/BullyStory" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
When we tell children it's unacceptable to carry firearms and that treating each other in hurtful manners is unacceptable, but we, as the adults who have the power to make a difference, sit back and don't say or do anything about the Texas School District that now allows teachers to carry guns in school – we are agreeing by our silence and/or dismiissal of this monumental decision being made in Harrold, TX.
If anyone accepts that it's somehow justifiable to allow teachers to carry guns, we are seriously coming "at" this in a terrifying and potentially dangerous way.
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Texas School District Allows Teachers to Carry Guns in School
A small , rural school district in Texas is allowing teachers to carry guns to class and at special events beginning this fall. This could be a first in the U.S. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5945430.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The board of the Harrold Independent School District - http://harroldisd.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - unanimously approved the plan and received no objections from parents, said Superintendent David Thweatt.
"We have a lock-down situation, we have cameras, but the question we had to answer is, 'What if somebody gets in? What are we going to do?" he said, according to news reports. "It's just common sense."
The 110-student district is located near Wichita Falls. The lone campus is just off a heavily trafficked highway and about 30 minutes from the nearest sheriff's office.
Ever since Columbine, school shootings have proliferated. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... otings.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This has prompted some calls for school officials to allow students and teachers to carry legally concealed weapons into classrooms for protection.
"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog," Thweatt said in the online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry endorsed the idea at an August 18 news conference, citing that mass shootings could have been stopped if the victims had been armed. Texas law prohibits firearms on school campuses "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution." There is an exception for police.
Congress once barred guns at schools nationwide, but the U.S. Supreme Court struck the law down, although state and local communities could adopt their own laws. One newspaper editorial addresses the legal liability of teachers who might accidently shoot a student.
Harrold ISD teachers wanting to carry a gun to school will have to be certified to carry a concealed handgun in Texas and get crisis training and permission from school officials, Thweatt said. They must also agree to use ammunition that is designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.
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It's just common sense?!
Violence begets violence. Threatening violence as a means to control, rather than seeking to simply reach out and connect with compassion and affirmative attention teaches violence, abuse and negates the power of simply connecting from an "attitude free zone!"
We teach people how to treat us.
Before a child is killed by a teacher, speak up! Write the TX Governor, Rick Perry and Harrold ISD today!
I'm currently composing a personal letter and will send them my book, "Make A Difference with the Power of Connection," my purple "I Make A Difference" Wristbands and "Who I AM Makes A Difference" Blue Ribbons, and then I'll give them a follow-up call, because something MUST be done about this fear-based belief that it's OK for teachers to carry guns to control children - now - before something tragic happens!
How about you?
One person offering a peaceful solution to a troubled situation is one thing ... large numbers of people pouring out their hearts and acknowledging the teachers of Harrold ISD as people who care and as having all the heart-power necessary to make a difference in the lives of every single child in their community through teaching peaceful connecting ... now that makes a difference!
Many today are consumed with worry about the economy. The economy will do what it always does, it will eventually remedy itself... but our kids ... well that's clearly an issue that is not getting resolved with new plans like this in the making. Let's put an effort forward on something we actually CAN have an affect on.
We all make a difference every day... the question is: what difference are we making in our own communities?
Please join me in making every day a Make A Difference Day!
Reaching out ...
Mary Robinson Reynolds, M.S.
http://www.BlueRibbonMovie.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
