Tag: Education

Break The Cycle

Published on by SylviaLeave a comment

The things the little girl (me) on the left went through are things no child (nor anyone) should ever have to endure.

I don’t know how I ended up not being killed due to some of the situations I was in. Having to do the things that I did, as a run-a-way, in order to survive on the streets.

Watching my mother be abused. Being abused (sexually) myself and not fully understanding it but knowing that it wasn’t right. But who do you tell when the abusers are people that are supposed to be the ones protecting you?!?

I make no apologies for what I share. Staying quiet continues to allow your abusers to have a hold on you. Staying quiet is why so many suffer in silence. Staying quiet is why generation after generation, endures some form of abuse. Staying quiet keeps you from healing.

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“They’re not bad students – They’re misunderstood” 

Published on by SylviaLeave a comment

I’ve come to learn, as a substitute teacher working within the school district, here in my hometown, that the students are not “bad” students as most of society is led to believe. Children do not act out for no reason and here is why…

Imagine a child hungry, sleepy, dealing with some type of trauma and/or abuse within the home. Imagine a child living in a car or hotel room with multiple people; and oftentimes having to move from place to place. There is no guidance. No structure. No sense of security. No support system. No love and basic necessities/needs are not being met. 

Imagine a child telling you that they are nothing and will never be nothing; after asking the child some questions because they were upset. Imagine a child telling you that they want to become a criminal like some of their family members. Imagine as you’re preparing for dismissal of class, you look over to see that a student has lined up all the Black boy’s against a wall and patted them down. You ask what that student is doing and the student tells you that she has to pat them down before taking them to jail. Imagine some of the hopelessness some of these children are experiencing. These are children in elementary school.

How would you expect a child to behave at school? 

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