by Ann Bibby

As a former middle and high school teacher, I will admit to moments in the classroom and hallway where I worried about my own safety and that of other students. Even in the Midwest, where I was teaching, there are students (and parents) who can be threatening and dangerous. But I never wished I could arm myself.

Teachers in the Texas school district of Harrold however are now able to carry concealed weapons if circumstances warrant and I find this development more than a little scary. Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to Seattle’s The Green Parent for alerting us to the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act (aka H.R. 3021).  It’s a school construction program with a green building requirement.  Makes good sense to require green building if you’re gonna fund building, but what I want to know is this: if Congress can drum up huge sums of money for this, why so few teachers?  Old text books?  Don’t states fund schools? Read the rest of this entry »

by Ann Bibby

Until two summers ago I was blithely ignorant of bees and wasps. Having spent many a fall and spring dispatching the bees who wandered into my classroom via screenless windows I was a bit too nonchalant really.

But a lawn mowing incident in the summer of 2006 changed all that. While being the good daughter and mowing my parents’ lawn on a weekend visit, I disturbed a bee who was flitting in and around the area where I was working. Instead of being merely annoyed with me and tormenting me with facial fly-bys, it attacked. Chased me into the house and just as I thought I was safe - it stung me on the hand.

I haven’t been stung since I was a kid. I stepped on a bee while running barefoot through a lawn - not a good idea the experts remind us. This sting however was different. The pain was intense to the point where I couldn’t move my hand or wrist because it felt broken. I felt as though someone was kneeling on my chest and I began to wheeze a bit. Read the rest of this entry »

by Ann Bibby

When I was teaching middle school back in central Iowa, I was expected to ensure the learning and safety of every child assigned to me regardless of how cooperative, charming or innately intelligent that child was, and I took that very seriously. I cannot honestly say I enjoyed every little soul I crossed paths with but I can say that there were only a handful of them that I couldn’t manage or that I didn’t coerce into learning.

The recent incident in a Florida elementary school, where a kindergarten teacher had her students vote to remove a disruptive classmate after allowing them the opportunity to tell the boy what they didn’t like about him, got me thinking about some of the reasons I left the classroom and will probably never return. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the reasons I enjoy writing for Moms Speak Up is the opportunity to research topics that are fairly new to me.  Recently, I learned the difference between an aquifer and aquitard.  More importanly, I learned how these two water-related words affect our every day life. 

Read the rest of this entry »

At the beginning of this month, I wrote a check for $1,118 to our child care center. What for? For my two children to attend a total of five days/week - one for two days (the 2-year old) and the other for three days (my five-year old). That adds up to $13,416 for one year of part-time child care. That is one ton of money. The cost for two kids to attend our center full-time (and the income neeeded to fund it)??? I don’t want to know!

OK, so I do (thankfully!) get a subsidy in the form of a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through my employer. But the max is $5,000/year. Love the benefit but really, how far does $5,000 go these days toward your child care costs? If you don’t have a FSA, you can take the child care tax credit, with a max of $3,000 per child (up to a max of $6,000). Helpful? Yes. Sufficient? Hardly. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m sad today as an American citizen and a fellow bi-racial citizen, like Barack Obama. I cried last week as I watched CNN, CSPAN, MSNBC, & Fox News network debate the issues about the Rev.’s Wright’s comments and their unfair link to Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

No matter what your political or religious beliefs, I believe we all have an obligation to do 2 things if we call ourselves true Americans before we abandon support for Obama over this insidious situation.

1. Take a real look at the African American history of slavery here in the US and be sensitive to the fact that AAs have looked to the church for many years to make sense of their oppression. There are legitimate cries of outrage, sadness, tears and disappointments about discrimination the AAs have suffered for hundreds of years. The black church is where AAs go to vent these frustrations and seek peace to continue to work through these “private” issues. That is what the Rev. Wright was voicing. Those are issues Obama understands being 1/2 black and asks other Americans to try and get past.

2. Take a look at the melting pot of ethnic diversity all around the US to know that every race has a similar story of oppression which led their families to this great land. Arab-Americans, Russians, Jews, Haitians, Rwandans, Polish, Japanese, Koreans, Cubans, Italians, Yugoslavians, Albanians, Chinese, etc…All speak in “private” of their experiences with discrimination and trying to get ahead against adversity in America.

Why is it okay for Jews to speak publicly and privately about their feelings of the Holocaust, but it is not okay for African Americans to voice their hatred for the the atrocities of slavery and how it’s devastating effects have followed them and continued on to this very day without being taken out of context and seen as hate mongerers?

Barack Obama has been forced to denounce these passionate (yet true) words spoken from a man he has respected for over 20 years all in the name of running for President instead of speaking to his need to align himself with Rev. Wright while attempting to help the underserved community in Chicago which Rev. Wright’s church has successfully served for many years.

Barack stands for a new tomorrow where all people of all races can get past the atrocities of yesteryear that we all can somehow relate to. He also knows the plight of African Americans - that’s why he fore went a well-paying job as a corporate lawyer to serve his own people for no pay. That’s an admirable person who knew what it was going to take to get his feet wet in a town he wasn’t originally from, but saw a need. He needed Rev. Wright and saw something else in him we didn’t - something wonderful.

Unless you’ve gone to an African American church (anywhere in America) and listened to the passionate sermons coming out of the pulpit that speak to the African American community and their unique situation as citizens here in America, you don’t really know your African American neighbor, co-worker, or passers-by on the street.

Everyone knows AAs are not hate-mongerers of any sort. They are loving people who know and carry the weight of their slave ancestors who were oppressed by the American affluent (a sad but honest truth). Just as Jews say, “never again” why can’t African Americans.

I am sad that we are in this place to rip down a good man for speaking the truth (albeit passionately) and for trying to make another good man denounce him unfairly.

Research Rev. Wright and the good he’s done in Chicago before you make a snap judment based on 30 sec sound bites put together by people who don’t understand, don’t want to understand and have a different agenda all together.

This man has given thousands of sermons over the course of 30 years “in the name of Jesus and love” and does not sit there and bash America in every sermon.

The following is the first of a series of essays which discuss the 5 founding principles of Mothers Acting Up, a national non-profit organization which exists to inspire and mobilize mothers to advocate on behalf of the world’s children.

Cross posted from the Mothers Acting Up blog.

From all over the country, people are taking the MAU Pledge to bring the security of the world’s children into the forefront of all discussions – from conversations with family and friends, to our wider communities and certainly with candidates and elected officials.

How to do this effectively? To answer that, let’s begin at the very beginning, with the first of the 5 MAU Principles:

Be exuberant: Since we’re ACTING UP for the rest of our lives, our activism has to be joyful. No one wants to rally around anger; studies show that negative advertising causes women to politically disengage. This movement is about the JOY of standing up for what you believe & publicly declaring your priorities. Let’s gather in the streets, not with bullhorns, but singing.

With its roots in the lavish abundance of growing and being fruitful, the quality of exuberance smacks with the juicy goodness of mother nurture, Mother Nature and Mothers Acting Up.

As of this writing, we at MAU Central are nodding our heads in collective understanding as to precisely why one presidential nomination candidate’s message of hope and of change has engaged, inspired and ignited citizens across lines of gender, race, class and socioeconomics. While we do not organizationally endorse any candidate, we know from our studies that research shows proof positive that women as a whole, and mothers in particular, disengage when activism and campaigning turns nasty – not just in the presidential race to the nomination, but in life itself! It seems no wonder then, that a swell of support favors positive messaging, declaring that we are not to be saved by any one elected leader alone, but that yes, WE can make the difference all together. Yes, WE can be scrappy and strong and sassy and also sublime when we collectively hold corporate and government leaders accountable for policies that uphold values and services and for the great human family rather than a few select someones. We the mamas, say YES.

Exuberance in practical application means saying, for instance: “Thank you, Delta, for revising your policies in support of breastfeeding families,” instead of, “Hey, Frontier, you messed up and breastfeeding moms are angry!” or by saying “Children Deserve a Bigger Piece of the Pie” instead of “Bush Hates Kids.” But this is not about being sunny for sunny’s sake. This is about focusing on WHAT WE WANT rather than looking back at what we reject. It’s moving towards, rather than against.

While perhaps Pollyanna in part, this primary MAU principle is neither easy nor simple. Sustaining exuberance is a tough row to hoe, a perennial crop whose nutritive value staves off depression, indifference and offers a real life solution to overwhelm and fear. Kind of like mother’s milk for the great human family itself, exuberance promotes real security.

Go forth and be exuberant mamas. Live in liberation of what others’ think of your choices. Model this joyful abundance because it feels good, because your kids will enjoy it far more than staying holed up in fear and loathing, and because you’re likely to inspire others to sing along while plucking up the fruits of your labor.

Try sowing seeds of exuberance by sharing this essay with two friends and asking them to declare themselves Mothers Acting Up. Try bolstering your own activism by writing YES on a mirror with lipstick so you see it each day; the affirmation a reminder of your call to duty and your sheer brilliance in carrying out your mission.

Holler at me with your comments, questions and desire to act up!

I thought you couldn’t get much lower than you already are, but I guess I was wrong. You are evil.

Advertising on children’s report cards?! WTF?

Who decided this was okay, that it was A GOOD IDEA?

From CCFC, December 5, 2007

Last week, students in Seminole County, Florida received their report cards in envelopes adorned with Ronald McDonald promising a free Happy Meal to students with good grades, behavior, or attendance.

“It bypasses parents and targets children directly with the message that doing well in school should be rewarded by a Happy Meal.” Susan Linn says.

Pissed off yet?

Take action here!!

I am sputtering!!!!!!!! Pissed off and sputtering——

Both are on the rise.

On December 5, 2007, Mike Stobbe, AP Medical Writer, wrote an article that reported a 3% increase in the teen birth rate—the first increase in 14 years.

For some reason, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were surprised.

I’m not.

I fully expect that the teen birth rate, and rate of STDs, will be on the rise. I attribute this to the absolute failure of the only sexual education program taught in schools: abstinence-only.

As I stated in my post, “Abstinence only sex education is risky and ineffective,” the abstinence only program—which received $168 billion in funding in 2005, and has only received more funding since—uses an approach to education and discipline that any parent knows is likely to have a high failure rate: Don’t Do It Because I Said So.

In fact, I cited three reasons why I believe the abstinence-only programs are a failure:

1. Mixed messages about group think
2. One size does not fit all
3. The irony in the negative

But don’t take my word for it:

* In 2005 a study funded by the Texas Department of Health concluded that, “Abstinence-only sex education programs have had “little impact” on Texas teenagers’ behavior.” (Source: Medical News Today, “Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs Have Little Effect on Texas Teenagers’ Behavior, Study Says,” February 2, 2005.)

* A national study funded by Congress, tracked the abstinence only program beginning in 1997, and concluded the same thing as Texas: “. . .abstinence-only sex education does not keep teenagers from having sex. Neither does it increase or decrease the likelihood that if they do have sex, they will use a condom.” (Source: The Washington post, “Study Casts Doubt on Abstinence-Only Programs,” by Laura Sessions Stepp; Saturday, April 14, 2007; Page A02.)

These conclusions are intriguing since states contributed matching funds to the federal abstinence only program, and funding has continued to increase despite the multiple studies—some state-funded and some privately-funded—that all conclude the abstinence-only programs are ineffective.

Arthur Caplan, Ph.D.—director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania—said in his article, “Blind faith on sex-ed approach puts kids at risk”

Actually, you cannot expect abstinence-only sex ed to be protective, effective or in any way useful at all. Ever. Period. Enough already. It’s time to pull the plug on abstinence-only sex education. There are too many lives at stake to put up with a reproductive-health policy that is willing to kill and disable our kids out of an allegiance to a blind faith in something that does not work.

I agree, and I think Democratic candidates do, as well. Or do they?

They seemed to change their mind from one season to the next.

In May, according to NPR, “Democratic Rep. John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, made it clear that Democrats do not intend to re-fund a $50 million grant program for abstinence-only sex education. Dingell says he considers the funded programs ‘a colossal failure.’”

“Democrats would still include money for abstinence teachings in schools, but would combine it with comprehensive sex-ed program* that would teach about birth control and other safe sex methods.” (Click here to read the full USA Today article.)

The abstinence-only grant was set to expire on June 30, 2007.

However, despite Democrat statements and the factual studies that revealed the fallibility and lack of efficacy of abstinence-only education, in June, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations voted to increase federal funding for community based abstinence-only education programs (CBAE) in this country by $27.8 million.

In November, the increase amount was officially set at $28 million for a grand total of $141 million. President Bush would like that amount increased to $204 million for 2008.

This brings the grand total of money spent on abstinence only education to over $1 billion dollars.

(Source: SIECUS press release.)

What happened to cutting funding? What happened to responsible sex education?

I believe we can safely assume Republicans will vote to support funding abstinence-only programs in 2008, despite facts, studies, evidence, and this new teen pregnancy rate increase.

This leaves us with the Democrats…how will they vote?

Here’s what I discovered (after an unbelievable amount of digging):

Senator Clinton and Senator Obama both favor programs* that teach both abstinence and traditional/comprehensive sex education. Both have created programs to decrease teen pregnancy. Senator Obama’s was focused to minorities.

Edwards, Gravel, Kucinich, and Richardson also support the mixed program.*

Senator Dodd does not support abstinence-only programs and is vocal in his criticism of the Bush program.

Joe Biden has voted to fund abstinence-only education programs.

* The program, specifically, is the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act. In short:

The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT), would provide federal money to support responsible sex education in schools. This education would include science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information about both abstinence and contraception.
(Source: Advocates for Youth.)

My question to the Democrats is this: despite stated support for the REAL Act and continued verbal support of funding decreases, funding continues to increase. If you were elected President, what would you do with the existing sex education programs?

My question to you is: What would you like to see the new administration—who ever it is—do about sex education programs?

cross posted at Using My Words and The Political Voices of Women

Copyright 2007 Julie Pippert
Also blogging at:
Using My Words