Sunday, April 10, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
These Four Things Must be Present in a Good Education System
Four things, I tell you, are the keys to a good education system.
And, none of the four are exactly being emphasized. No, as our nation rushes to improve its education system, spilling dollars and coming up with assessment tests and establishing various programs and worrying about the curriculum -- it is pretty much overlooking these four things.
Love, desire, choice of interest, and critical thinking. I repeat, if you don't have them, you won't have a good education system.
Love. The old axiom holds true: "I don't care how much you know, until I know how much you care." People respond to love. When they are loved, they are more likely to succeed. We need teachers who love the students. All this is not to say we don't have such teachers, at least some. But, I venture to say many of them do not fall into this category. Many don't view it their responsibility to love. Some are stern, disciplined and authoritative. A stern person is sometimes not going to convey love. Now, if a stern person is conveying love, let him (or her) continue to be stern. But, I say, usually that is not the case. Other times, you have teachers who, while respectful in the way they treat the students, really do not care one way or the other about them.
I tell you this: If you have a teacher who warmly greets the students, who smiles at them, and shows interest in them, that student is going to be more inclined to want to do well in school. Love is one of the strongest forces in the world. It is a healing balm. It is something people cannot do without. When they are without it, they often wither away. Talking today with a social worker, she told me of the stresses brought on by academic expectations. She spoke of suicides. She suggested that if these things were being caused by drugs, we would see it for the crisis it is. I say, give the student all the love you can, for you never know the good it can do.
Desire. Everything begins with desire. If a person has the desire to do something, he (or she) will more likely achieve it. We do the things we want to do long before we do the things we don't. We go to movies, play basketball, and eat ice cream because they are things we desire to do. The teacher who can instill desire students, is the teacher who is a good teacher. Inspiring the student is a key to success.
Choice of interest. Not sure that is the right term to use. But, what I speak of, is giving the student free rein to pursue whatever topic pics his or her interest. If it is math, let him specialize in that. If it is the Civil War, let him study that to death. If it is playing the piano, let that be his thing. This doesn't mean the rest of the curriculum goes away, but it means the student is given large blocks of time to study what he or she selects, what he or she wants to pursue.
Thomas Edison is said to have one time been judged a poor student, but when given free rein to choose what he would pursue, became one of the geniuses of our time. Albert Einstein's father and uncle were involved electricity and drew the young Einstein into that interest, and the relationship of electricity and magnetism on light waves helped put Einstein on the road to the theory of relativity.
Critical thinking. Teaching a person how to think, is as important as what he learns. It is said that if you give a person a fish, he will have a meal for the day, but if you teach him to fish, he will be able to get his own food for the rest of his life. This principle applies to education. If you get them through the situation of one assessment test, that is good, but if you teach them to think, they will have a skill that takes them through situations for the rest of their lives.
I suppose other things could be added to these four items. Positive reinforcement would be one. That, though, is part of love. Any teacher who is providing love, is providing positive reinforcement. Discipline and direction can be important, for it the student is left to himself, he might not choose to study at all. Then again, if you have instilled desire into the student, he will be studying. Still, discipline and direction can be helpful, and with some students, all together necessary.
I do not say all the programs and tests do not have beneficiary effects on the students, but the four elements I have mentioned are the real keys to a good system, They, perhaps, are more important. To not be considering them as we strain to improve our education system, is overlooking the real things that bring success.
I had occasion today to reflect on what could be done to improve education. Some would suggest we go to private schools, or away from private schools. Others have other suggestions. Some of the ideas are wonderful. I only say, if it were me, I would look to see if we were excelling in these four areas before I would try other things. If you are a basketball player, you are taught how to make a layup. These four things are the basics. There might be other basics I am not thinking of, but these are four. If you are not doing them, you are not doing the basics, you are not following the rudiment instructions of how to make a layup.
And, none of the four are exactly being emphasized. No, as our nation rushes to improve its education system, spilling dollars and coming up with assessment tests and establishing various programs and worrying about the curriculum -- it is pretty much overlooking these four things.
Love, desire, choice of interest, and critical thinking. I repeat, if you don't have them, you won't have a good education system.
Love. The old axiom holds true: "I don't care how much you know, until I know how much you care." People respond to love. When they are loved, they are more likely to succeed. We need teachers who love the students. All this is not to say we don't have such teachers, at least some. But, I venture to say many of them do not fall into this category. Many don't view it their responsibility to love. Some are stern, disciplined and authoritative. A stern person is sometimes not going to convey love. Now, if a stern person is conveying love, let him (or her) continue to be stern. But, I say, usually that is not the case. Other times, you have teachers who, while respectful in the way they treat the students, really do not care one way or the other about them.
I tell you this: If you have a teacher who warmly greets the students, who smiles at them, and shows interest in them, that student is going to be more inclined to want to do well in school. Love is one of the strongest forces in the world. It is a healing balm. It is something people cannot do without. When they are without it, they often wither away. Talking today with a social worker, she told me of the stresses brought on by academic expectations. She spoke of suicides. She suggested that if these things were being caused by drugs, we would see it for the crisis it is. I say, give the student all the love you can, for you never know the good it can do.
Desire. Everything begins with desire. If a person has the desire to do something, he (or she) will more likely achieve it. We do the things we want to do long before we do the things we don't. We go to movies, play basketball, and eat ice cream because they are things we desire to do. The teacher who can instill desire students, is the teacher who is a good teacher. Inspiring the student is a key to success.
Choice of interest. Not sure that is the right term to use. But, what I speak of, is giving the student free rein to pursue whatever topic pics his or her interest. If it is math, let him specialize in that. If it is the Civil War, let him study that to death. If it is playing the piano, let that be his thing. This doesn't mean the rest of the curriculum goes away, but it means the student is given large blocks of time to study what he or she selects, what he or she wants to pursue.
Thomas Edison is said to have one time been judged a poor student, but when given free rein to choose what he would pursue, became one of the geniuses of our time. Albert Einstein's father and uncle were involved electricity and drew the young Einstein into that interest, and the relationship of electricity and magnetism on light waves helped put Einstein on the road to the theory of relativity.
Critical thinking. Teaching a person how to think, is as important as what he learns. It is said that if you give a person a fish, he will have a meal for the day, but if you teach him to fish, he will be able to get his own food for the rest of his life. This principle applies to education. If you get them through the situation of one assessment test, that is good, but if you teach them to think, they will have a skill that takes them through situations for the rest of their lives.
I suppose other things could be added to these four items. Positive reinforcement would be one. That, though, is part of love. Any teacher who is providing love, is providing positive reinforcement. Discipline and direction can be important, for it the student is left to himself, he might not choose to study at all. Then again, if you have instilled desire into the student, he will be studying. Still, discipline and direction can be helpful, and with some students, all together necessary.
I do not say all the programs and tests do not have beneficiary effects on the students, but the four elements I have mentioned are the real keys to a good system, They, perhaps, are more important. To not be considering them as we strain to improve our education system, is overlooking the real things that bring success.
I had occasion today to reflect on what could be done to improve education. Some would suggest we go to private schools, or away from private schools. Others have other suggestions. Some of the ideas are wonderful. I only say, if it were me, I would look to see if we were excelling in these four areas before I would try other things. If you are a basketball player, you are taught how to make a layup. These four things are the basics. There might be other basics I am not thinking of, but these are four. If you are not doing them, you are not doing the basics, you are not following the rudiment instructions of how to make a layup.
Friday, April 8, 2016
If Anyone Tries to Vacation Outside U.S., Let's Confiscate Their Money
I wondered much on Donald Trump's proposal of paying for a border wall by intercepting the money Mexican immigrants send back to their families in Mexico. I've never thought it reasonable that we object to the immigrants sending money back to Mexico. The thought behind opposing it, is that it takes the money out of the United States, and thus depletes our economy some.
I've always felt a little surprised at this. Let me get this straight: We oppose poor people sending money back to their families? Making matters worse for us, if you're looking at our attitude, is that sometimes we don't let their families join them in the U.S. If we did, they wouldn't have to send the money out of country, to begin with. So, we are intolerant of them regardless what they do.
Now, along comes Donald Trump. He speaks of a wall between Mexico and the U.S., a wall that has long been thought of, but one which he promises to make a reality. His pitch warms the hearts of enough voters that its helping propel him to the presidency. He's said he will make Mexico pay for the wall, and Mexico has said, no, we're not going to do that.
So, Trump says he will seize the monies being sent home to Mexico by the hard workers who come to the United States. If I understand him correctly, he plans on intercepting electronic transfers and confiscating the money.
Sounds to me like taking from the poor to pay the rich, for they certainly are the poor and the United States certainly is the rich. I guess the thought is, since they shouldn't be sending the money out of country to their starving families, in the first place, we are justified in taking the money away from them. It's not like they have a right to do that: supporting their indigent families when it comes at the expense of the U.S. economy. That's simply wrong.
Such a charitable, wonderful people, we are.
Well, I don't know whether Trump plans on confiscating every electronic transfer that heads into Mexico, or just the ones by those who are sending money to their families. What about transfers from Americans who have kin vacationing down there? I suppose their vacationing down there is a wrong thing, too. Since they are choosing to vacation in a foreign land, all the money they spend there is being drained out of the U.S. economy. That's simply wrong.
We might want to make it a law that it's illegal to vacation outside America. And, anybody who is caught doing it, let's confiscate all the money they attempt to spend.
I've always felt a little surprised at this. Let me get this straight: We oppose poor people sending money back to their families? Making matters worse for us, if you're looking at our attitude, is that sometimes we don't let their families join them in the U.S. If we did, they wouldn't have to send the money out of country, to begin with. So, we are intolerant of them regardless what they do.
Now, along comes Donald Trump. He speaks of a wall between Mexico and the U.S., a wall that has long been thought of, but one which he promises to make a reality. His pitch warms the hearts of enough voters that its helping propel him to the presidency. He's said he will make Mexico pay for the wall, and Mexico has said, no, we're not going to do that.
So, Trump says he will seize the monies being sent home to Mexico by the hard workers who come to the United States. If I understand him correctly, he plans on intercepting electronic transfers and confiscating the money.
Sounds to me like taking from the poor to pay the rich, for they certainly are the poor and the United States certainly is the rich. I guess the thought is, since they shouldn't be sending the money out of country to their starving families, in the first place, we are justified in taking the money away from them. It's not like they have a right to do that: supporting their indigent families when it comes at the expense of the U.S. economy. That's simply wrong.
Such a charitable, wonderful people, we are.
Well, I don't know whether Trump plans on confiscating every electronic transfer that heads into Mexico, or just the ones by those who are sending money to their families. What about transfers from Americans who have kin vacationing down there? I suppose their vacationing down there is a wrong thing, too. Since they are choosing to vacation in a foreign land, all the money they spend there is being drained out of the U.S. economy. That's simply wrong.
We might want to make it a law that it's illegal to vacation outside America. And, anybody who is caught doing it, let's confiscate all the money they attempt to spend.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
My Hat is a Democrat's Hat, and My Hat is in the Ring
As a candidate sharing values with you, I would ask for your vote for House District 44. You will get a candidate who shares concern with you on such things as Medicaid expansion, open government, lobbyists, and prison reform.
You will not be getting a legislator who simply votes on the bills presented. You will not be getting a spectator legislator who does little more than taking it all in, just proud to be there. There are many social injustices to be corrected.There are many wonderful things we can do to change our society greatly and significantly.
I do not arrive at your door without some ideas -- wonderful ideas. I do not know how much I will be able to accomplish once elected, but I will push. I do not know how much Republicans will resist, simply because the ideas are coming from the Democratic side of the aisle, but I will push. I do not know how far a bridge some of these ideas might be, but I will push to cross that bridge. I am inviting you to be the empowering force, for without your nomination, I will not be able to go to the Hill to even begin to push.
I have run for the House before, first as a Democrat, then as an independent, and finally, even as a Republican. Each time, I rejected not only taking campaign contributions, but even spending money at all. I do not like it that money buys elections. I do not like it that the person who has the biggest wad is the person who draws the biggest vote. Indeed, if elected, this is something I have resolved that I would like to help change.
But, I have learned my odds on being elected are not very good if I do not accept contributions and do not spend the money it takes.
I am an independent, at heart. (Should you like, you are welcome to read the following blog, which I wrote back in 2012: http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/10/america-of-today-deeply-divided-by_26.html. A much better-known candidate of our party, Bernie Sanders, also is an independent now running as a Democrat. He has been the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history. Bless him.
Today, I am a Democrat. My views and stands remain the same. What I now stand for, I already stood for. We will have another census in a few short years, and it will be followed by redistricting. Again, I do not know how much I will be able to accomplish, but one of the things I would love to do, is to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the legislators. They should not be allowed to taint the redistricting to benefit one political party above the other.
I am a Democrat. Of all that I aspire to change, perhaps nothing would be more society-altering than what I would do to the corrections system. Democrats value people, and they do not exclude those who have stumbled. Democrats believe prisons should not be just holding cells, should not be there just for punishment. If we can effect change in the prisoner, how great an improvement would that be for us, as a society? Yes, we are living in a day when many wonderful changes are being made. But, we are but scratching the surface of what can be achieved. There are so many things we are not doing, that we ought to be doing, things that make it exciting to think of how much room there is for improvement. The thoughts in the blogs below reflect but a portion of what I wish we could do with our courts and prisons. Give one or two a glimpse, if you like.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/10/love-criminal-or-face-him-again-if-you.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/05/it-takes-village-to-correct-criminal.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/05/prison-should-be-incubator-for.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2014/12/will-have-this-prison-not-in-my.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/05/prison-time-should-be-family-time.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-addition-to-sentence-being-given-to.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2013/06/this-is-essential-if-we-are-to-reform.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-we-would-change-prisoner-we-must.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2014/02/dont-release-them-from-prison-until.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/06/what-is-important-in-raising-child-is.html
As a Democrat. I am excited at that ours is a position of strength in arguing for more Medicaid expansion.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/04/we-let-them-die-with-no-apologies.html
As a Democrat. I favor not the lobbyist, but believe all people should have equal access to our elected officials.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-register-lobbyists-why-give-them.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/03/lobbyists-should-walk-through-same-door.html
I am a Democrat. I believe in openness.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/02/do-away-with-backroom-meetings.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/08/if-you-are-doing-publics-business-do-it.html
I am a Democrat. I believe in campaign reform with regard to contributions.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/04/this-is-so-close-to-bribery-it-too.html
Perhaps some of these feelings as I have on lobbyists, openness, and campaign contributions would translate into proposed legislation. I would first give my thoughts more thought, but I certainly think there is reason for change.
Nor are the topics I have discussed a wrap on the legislation I would consider. We need a better lemon law. We need legislation to protect us financially from devastating hospital bills. I, myself, was in the hospital three days, without getting surgery or so much as having my broken lips sewn up, and was billed $39,000. I was so aghast as the cost, I called them back twice trying to figure out what was wrong. Yes, I would legislate to protect us from such a crisis. Yes, I think there is an urgency to correct this wrong. I have since run across others in the same boat.
Perhaps, most notably, of what I would consider doing, I do, of a truth, believe there are things not being done that should be done to slash the cost of health care. Just do these basic things, just try them here in Utah, and see if our prices do not tumble.
Bless you all for participating in this process, for being delegates. My opponent is a wonderful candidate. I hope you select me above her. Actually, if I had my way, both of us would fit on the ballot. I much like it when the voters are given the choice. Why have them come to the primary election if they are not given a choice of candidates? I remember a number of years ago, when I was a delegate at a Democratic convention, trying to vote for the candidate less likely to win, in hopes of leaving the decision open for the public.
(Edited April 8, 2016)
You will not be getting a legislator who simply votes on the bills presented. You will not be getting a spectator legislator who does little more than taking it all in, just proud to be there. There are many social injustices to be corrected.There are many wonderful things we can do to change our society greatly and significantly.
I do not arrive at your door without some ideas -- wonderful ideas. I do not know how much I will be able to accomplish once elected, but I will push. I do not know how much Republicans will resist, simply because the ideas are coming from the Democratic side of the aisle, but I will push. I do not know how far a bridge some of these ideas might be, but I will push to cross that bridge. I am inviting you to be the empowering force, for without your nomination, I will not be able to go to the Hill to even begin to push.
I have run for the House before, first as a Democrat, then as an independent, and finally, even as a Republican. Each time, I rejected not only taking campaign contributions, but even spending money at all. I do not like it that money buys elections. I do not like it that the person who has the biggest wad is the person who draws the biggest vote. Indeed, if elected, this is something I have resolved that I would like to help change.
But, I have learned my odds on being elected are not very good if I do not accept contributions and do not spend the money it takes.
I am an independent, at heart. (Should you like, you are welcome to read the following blog, which I wrote back in 2012: http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/10/america-of-today-deeply-divided-by_26.html. A much better-known candidate of our party, Bernie Sanders, also is an independent now running as a Democrat. He has been the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history. Bless him.
Today, I am a Democrat. My views and stands remain the same. What I now stand for, I already stood for. We will have another census in a few short years, and it will be followed by redistricting. Again, I do not know how much I will be able to accomplish, but one of the things I would love to do, is to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the legislators. They should not be allowed to taint the redistricting to benefit one political party above the other.
I am a Democrat. Of all that I aspire to change, perhaps nothing would be more society-altering than what I would do to the corrections system. Democrats value people, and they do not exclude those who have stumbled. Democrats believe prisons should not be just holding cells, should not be there just for punishment. If we can effect change in the prisoner, how great an improvement would that be for us, as a society? Yes, we are living in a day when many wonderful changes are being made. But, we are but scratching the surface of what can be achieved. There are so many things we are not doing, that we ought to be doing, things that make it exciting to think of how much room there is for improvement. The thoughts in the blogs below reflect but a portion of what I wish we could do with our courts and prisons. Give one or two a glimpse, if you like.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/10/love-criminal-or-face-him-again-if-you.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/05/it-takes-village-to-correct-criminal.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/05/prison-should-be-incubator-for.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2014/12/will-have-this-prison-not-in-my.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/05/prison-time-should-be-family-time.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-addition-to-sentence-being-given-to.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2013/06/this-is-essential-if-we-are-to-reform.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-we-would-change-prisoner-we-must.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2014/02/dont-release-them-from-prison-until.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/06/what-is-important-in-raising-child-is.html
As a Democrat. I am excited at that ours is a position of strength in arguing for more Medicaid expansion.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/04/we-let-them-die-with-no-apologies.html
As a Democrat. I favor not the lobbyist, but believe all people should have equal access to our elected officials.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-register-lobbyists-why-give-them.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/03/lobbyists-should-walk-through-same-door.html
I am a Democrat. I believe in openness.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/02/do-away-with-backroom-meetings.html
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2015/08/if-you-are-doing-publics-business-do-it.html
I am a Democrat. I believe in campaign reform with regard to contributions.
http://newsasnewstravelsfast.blogspot.com/2016/04/this-is-so-close-to-bribery-it-too.html
Perhaps some of these feelings as I have on lobbyists, openness, and campaign contributions would translate into proposed legislation. I would first give my thoughts more thought, but I certainly think there is reason for change.
Nor are the topics I have discussed a wrap on the legislation I would consider. We need a better lemon law. We need legislation to protect us financially from devastating hospital bills. I, myself, was in the hospital three days, without getting surgery or so much as having my broken lips sewn up, and was billed $39,000. I was so aghast as the cost, I called them back twice trying to figure out what was wrong. Yes, I would legislate to protect us from such a crisis. Yes, I think there is an urgency to correct this wrong. I have since run across others in the same boat.
Perhaps, most notably, of what I would consider doing, I do, of a truth, believe there are things not being done that should be done to slash the cost of health care. Just do these basic things, just try them here in Utah, and see if our prices do not tumble.
Bless you all for participating in this process, for being delegates. My opponent is a wonderful candidate. I hope you select me above her. Actually, if I had my way, both of us would fit on the ballot. I much like it when the voters are given the choice. Why have them come to the primary election if they are not given a choice of candidates? I remember a number of years ago, when I was a delegate at a Democratic convention, trying to vote for the candidate less likely to win, in hopes of leaving the decision open for the public.
(Edited April 8, 2016)
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
This is so Close to Bribery, it, too, should be Illegal
I wonder if we have laws against money that buys influence. Yes, we have bribery laws. But, do we have any law that says, if you contribute money to a candidate, you forfeit the right to approach that respective legislative body concerning legislation to benefit you, specifically, or to benefit any entity you represent? Does any state have such a law?
Do we have any law that says you cannot seek a contract with any government entity having officers to whom you have contributed?
These are laws we should have. We should seek to end government by veiled bribery. Yes, actual bribery is the giving of money with the express understanding that a political favor will be granted in return. And, yes, that is different than giving money with only the hope the government official will come along with a favor. But, the second situation is so close in kinship to the first that it remains wrong. It is a shadow of bribery. It is the essence of bribery without the designation.
I wonder but what such a law would run into trouble in the courts, being seen as a limitation of free speech. My argument before the judge, would be that current laws against bribery are not seen as impairing free speech, so this new law should not viewed as such, either.
(This column was edited April 7, 2016.)
Do we have any law that says you cannot seek a contract with any government entity having officers to whom you have contributed?
These are laws we should have. We should seek to end government by veiled bribery. Yes, actual bribery is the giving of money with the express understanding that a political favor will be granted in return. And, yes, that is different than giving money with only the hope the government official will come along with a favor. But, the second situation is so close in kinship to the first that it remains wrong. It is a shadow of bribery. It is the essence of bribery without the designation.
I wonder but what such a law would run into trouble in the courts, being seen as a limitation of free speech. My argument before the judge, would be that current laws against bribery are not seen as impairing free speech, so this new law should not viewed as such, either.
(This column was edited April 7, 2016.)
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Investigate not Just the Crime, but the Criminal
In addition to a sentence being given to every prisoner, a rehabilitation plan should be given. We should outline the steps and measures that will be taken to change and rehabilitate the prisoner.
It is said, if you don't have a plan, you plan to fail. Having an outline of what will be done to effect change makes sense, if your goal truly is to rehabilitate.
Now, if you are going to have a plan, it also makes sense to base it on what you know about the prisoner. What are the factors that led him or her to drift into lawlessness? What are the factors in his or her environment, and what are the factors in his or her psychological makeup? If you want to put it this way, what are the buttons that need to be pushed?
The prisoner becomes the patient. You evaluate him or her.
So, in addition to an investigation into the crime, you now need an investigation into the criminal. You need a social worker to study the prisoner. Of this, I am fearful. I do not want to create an expensive system. Government is expensive enough. So, I toy with the idea that the police officers take on the background studies, instead of adding a new layer of workers. Nor do I feel the study should be overly exhaustive. Once the worker knows what to look for and what questions to ask, perhaps each study can be completed in a day.
I do think this whole idea bears merit, though. It would be a revolutionary change, true, but a worthy one. I do think having a rehab plan based on the individual's own needs and characteristics will enhance the chances of rehabilitation. I do feel we should study the criminal in order to know what things will work best to bring about change, and what things there are that need to be changed. The evaluation should include determining what character flaws he or she has, so those can be addressed. We should be seeking to place a better person back into society.
It is said, if you don't have a plan, you plan to fail. Having an outline of what will be done to effect change makes sense, if your goal truly is to rehabilitate.
Now, if you are going to have a plan, it also makes sense to base it on what you know about the prisoner. What are the factors that led him or her to drift into lawlessness? What are the factors in his or her environment, and what are the factors in his or her psychological makeup? If you want to put it this way, what are the buttons that need to be pushed?
The prisoner becomes the patient. You evaluate him or her.
So, in addition to an investigation into the crime, you now need an investigation into the criminal. You need a social worker to study the prisoner. Of this, I am fearful. I do not want to create an expensive system. Government is expensive enough. So, I toy with the idea that the police officers take on the background studies, instead of adding a new layer of workers. Nor do I feel the study should be overly exhaustive. Once the worker knows what to look for and what questions to ask, perhaps each study can be completed in a day.
I do think this whole idea bears merit, though. It would be a revolutionary change, true, but a worthy one. I do think having a rehab plan based on the individual's own needs and characteristics will enhance the chances of rehabilitation. I do feel we should study the criminal in order to know what things will work best to bring about change, and what things there are that need to be changed. The evaluation should include determining what character flaws he or she has, so those can be addressed. We should be seeking to place a better person back into society.
Monday, April 4, 2016
You Won't Recover the Prisoner if You Don't Offer Him Love
If you would change a person, you must love him first.
What is that phase? I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care? And, what is it that all those studies on loving and hugging children show? That they grow up to be better adapted? Well, the need for love doesn't stop just because you are no longer a child. And, there is no part of society we should want to change more than those who are in prison.
So, where is the love?
When our prisons are created -- when the functions of the prison officers are assigned and the programs are all set in place -- how often is the element of love even considered? Confinement is the concern. As long as we have confinement, we have a prison. To the large degree, it is punishment we seek for the criminal to have. Love becomes important, though, if we decide punishment is not enough, that we also want the criminal to be rehabilitated. Now, though we often do seek rehabilitation, I do not see love as being an integral element that we infuse into our correctional system when our jails are established.
It should be. A correctional facility should not be master planned that does not address how the prisoner will receive love. In Utah, we are fortunate to have volunteers go to the state prison, and we are fortunate that the prison is located so close to our large population, so it is easily accessible to the volunteers and encourages them to come.
Studies have indicated recidivism is reduced when the prisoner is loved.
Love the prisoner, then, or face him again.
(Blog is a repost from Oct. 26, 2012)
What is that phase? I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care? And, what is it that all those studies on loving and hugging children show? That they grow up to be better adapted? Well, the need for love doesn't stop just because you are no longer a child. And, there is no part of society we should want to change more than those who are in prison.
So, where is the love?
When our prisons are created -- when the functions of the prison officers are assigned and the programs are all set in place -- how often is the element of love even considered? Confinement is the concern. As long as we have confinement, we have a prison. To the large degree, it is punishment we seek for the criminal to have. Love becomes important, though, if we decide punishment is not enough, that we also want the criminal to be rehabilitated. Now, though we often do seek rehabilitation, I do not see love as being an integral element that we infuse into our correctional system when our jails are established.
It should be. A correctional facility should not be master planned that does not address how the prisoner will receive love. In Utah, we are fortunate to have volunteers go to the state prison, and we are fortunate that the prison is located so close to our large population, so it is easily accessible to the volunteers and encourages them to come.
Studies have indicated recidivism is reduced when the prisoner is loved.
Love the prisoner, then, or face him again.
(Blog is a repost from Oct. 26, 2012)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)