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The White Ribbon

Monday, January 03, 2011

From Schreber and Alice Miller, via Michael Haneke, to our perception of kids (in public schools) today
by Aurore B. Reales

When you teach German, like I do, you are faced time and again with the “Nazi-card” that people are pulling on you, as I would call it. So, again, this time coming from a schoolbook I am using in class, the subject of the holocaust springs up again. I can’t just peacefully teach linguistics and poetry, etc. Sooner or later I’ll have to deal with one of the most, if not THE most monstrous genocide and cruelty in the history of mankind. Only Hannah Arendt’s words are of solace: “Humanity cannot handle this, it should never have happened.”

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Clara commented on 03-Jan-2011 01:02 PM

Thank you for this very insgihtful article, Aurore. I totally agree that this oppressive and conformist atmosphere in our school can be very dangerous. It is a total mistake to think that the fascism of yesterday will not be repeated, even if with a different face.

Terra Linda commented on 03-Jan-2011 01:31 PM

Tendencious: a very good word and so true. Look at the news item about the teacher who had her middle-schooler arrested for possesion of marker: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bizarre/boy-13-busted-illegal-marker-possession

hs01 commented on 03-Jan-2011 09:08 PM

Great article, thank you. Very frightening too.

--------------- commented on 06-Jan-2011 02:16 PM

Wow, Aurore you are so right. I really enjoyed reading this article -- but enjoy is not the right word, is it? I guess fascism always trys to work on kids first. We have to be so careful. I wish people would realize how careful we must be.

OMG!!! commented on 08-Jan-2011 10:41 AM

Very very interesting. What we do to our kids we are doing to our society and our future. Must we learn this lesson the hard way?

Maxim2243 commented on 11-Jan-2011 03:58 PM

Modern day schools are built on the prison model. The old ones were built on the model of the military. I wonder if there ever will be a new model that does not assume children are criminals or should become army criminals.

Anonymous commented on 14-Jan-2011 12:09 PM

Very good article. They are always talking about education reform without really looking at some basic questions about the notion of raising children and preparing them for the future. We also need to look at what future we want to create.

Rob commented on 30-Jan-2011 05:48 PM

You are very observant Aurore. I agree that it's scary.

From blues to jitterbug (or how drugs fail)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

by Aurore B. Reales More

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KarenT commented on 26-Jan-2010 01:16 PM

Very good read Aurore. Personal accounts are the best. I totally agree with you that depression has become a catch-all word that is applied to any feelings of unhappiness. We can't avoid unhappiness in our lives. Are we supposed to walk around drugged up all the time?

anon commented on 26-Jan-2010 01:38 PM

Very good article and links, thank you. You are definitely right about this culture not allowing people to show their emotions. It's really crazy. And what is the alternative? To make ourselves completely numb? No wonder people go crazy and start shooting people.

Dahlia commented on 26-Jan-2010 02:35 PM

Thank you for sharing this Aurore. You're actually lucky that the drugs didn't make you suicidal or homicidal. I had very bad experience with anti-depressants. But that was a long time ago back in the 90s. I hear the meds have really improved. Still, who would give them to chidlren? The idea makes me depressed!

tir73 commented on 27-Jan-2010 09:59 AM

Thank you for this piece and all power to you for quitting the drugs. I know some poeple who have really benfitted from anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds and gotten their life back together. I guess it depends on the person. Good luck to you and I'm very happy for you that you don't need them.

pissed off commented on 28-Jan-2010 02:30 PM

It is certainly good that you could get off the drugs Aurore. But it is really madenning and frustrating when people who don't need to take med dis others who need them. Do you think anybody likes to take drugs? Do you think anybody likes to give drugs to their kids? Some kids and their families are miserable without them. Life is hell. I think people should be aware of the other side of the coin too.

Clara commented on 28-Jan-2010 03:05 PM

Dear PO, thank you for bringing up the other side of the story. It is true that sometimes proper medications can save someone's life, in every way. Those of us who are skeptical about the liberal prescription of drugs for children must acknowledge this. But especially in the case of children we really have to examine what the pros and cons are.

anon2 commented on 31-Jan-2010 04:43 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective, Aurore. It is really useful to hear the experience of people with anti-depressants and other medications. I wish others would come forward with their experiences. I also wish people with good results would talk about their experience.

Solutions to Bed Wetting

Friday, October 23, 2009

By Miranda More

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