Thursday, June 2, 2011

"He had already been socialized."

In response to my WND column The Tyranny of Socialization, I received an email from a pastor that told an incredible anecdote. I asked permission to post his email here.
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Dear Mrs. Lewis:

While reading your article entitled "The tyranny of socialization" it brought back vivid memories of a particular incident that I will never forget.

I am a Baptist minister and have been pastor of the same church for over 15 years. I preached in the Kentucky prison system for a little more than 18 years. Some years ago I was counseling with a young black inmate that was soon to be released from the minimum security "adjustment center" (we have been discouraged from referring to them as prisons for many years) where he had spent 2 years of his life. He was a pleasant and likable young man. I was trying to encourage him and convince him that he did not want to return to a place like the "adjustment center." The young man smiled at me and said....

"Bro. Berry, I don’t mean to sound disrespectful and I know what you are trying to tell me, but in all reality this place is no worse than the high school I use to attend in Louisville."

Not knowing how to respond to that, I had prayer with him and wished him all the best. He had already been socialized.

Pastor Don Berry

2 comments:

  1. I'm putting that young man on my daily prayer list. It must be a difficult thing to have to live in such a state, day in and day out. I pray he got out of prison and did something good with his life.

    Ouida Gabriel

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  2. Stuck in CaliforniaJune 3, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    This young man summed up today's public school system very well. Teachers use to have their child attend the school they taught at. Today, many have their children in alternative education settings, from private school to homeschool. I know! I have been in education for 26 years. My daughter is homeschooled by her father.
    Public school (at least here) wasn't always bad. I was proud of our district when I started here in the 1980's. Society has changed a lot and our community with it. At least 20 other employees in the district I work in do not have their children in public school, including an assistant superintendent. If this doesn't tell you to take your children and run from public school than I don't know what to say.
    I work to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. My students are taught respect and manners in addition to academics in my classroom. Unfortunately, I see that is not the case in most classrooms. Our daughter did start in public school. Having to spend evenings, weekends, and summer to correct the behaviors she learned while at public school each had to stop. So we pulled her out half way through second grade. Now she is happy and learning. After her first week of homeschooling I asked her she missed public school, here is her comment, "No, it made me crazy." I forgot to tell you, she is high-functioning autistic. While attending public school she had what is referred to as melt-downs on almost a daily basis. Now that she is at home, we actually sometimes forget that she is autistic. Most of the bad behaviors are gone.
    I apologize for going on so long. In closing, if you want society to raise your child leave them in public school. The government will raise your child to be dependent of them. If you want to instill your believes and values, homeschool your child. Don't forget the words of that young man, "this place isn't any worst than the high school I attended".

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