In one of my online classes, "Child Development", we have to post answers to discussion board questions a couple of times a week. Our grade depends on this, and in addition we're also graded on our answers to at least two of the other students' posts.
For the last two weeks I've been reading posts about how children who are adopted will suffer because they're not with their biological mother, women should be at home and not at work, and how if they knew they carried a genetic disease like Fragile X, they'd choose not to have "abnormal" or "defective" children, except for the women who'd chose to anyway since they know that "the bond you get with your child after carrying him for 9 months is the most important thing".
Today's question was "What would you promote as a way to improve prenatal health". My answer was "avoid mercury, such as in fish" and some folks talked about getting genetic screening to help avoid certain hereditary traits, like sickle cell. Ok, cool.
One girl posted this:
"I would publicize malnutrition as the leading cause of abnormal babies. I would publicize family planning instead of "oops! I'm pregnant." I would make some huge billboard advertisements showing pictures of healthy babies with adcopy reading "Family Planning" and "Prenatal Nutrition" alongside pictures of defective babies with adcopy reading "OOOOOPS!"
The reason I would do this is because those defective children are going to have to suffer throughout their lives because their parents did not have the decency to do a little family planning. Also, it's not just folic acid, but all the basic nutrients and clean air and water that ensure a healthy baby. And, please! stay away from the drugs and alcohol. Growing babies are delicate and precious. Don't destroy yours before its born."
I am so -gah- I just can't believe this stuff. And it's not just one person, it's several (though at least two of them are mother/daughter, as if that helps). I don't know if I'm more upset about these attitudes about children or the fact that I'm the ONLY person (out of 35 or 40) to say "Hey, monied thoughtful married parents with good prenatal care sometimes have special needs children too!".
I've emailed the teacher, and I'm looking into dropping the class (I need a certain number of untis per semester, but I don't want to be constantly upset either).
I know that I'm being thin skinned about this, but it just seems really insensitive to me. I've talked it over with my husband, and he thinks I should drop too, so I'm not looking for people to tell me to drop, but I'd be happy to listen if anyone thinks I'm over reacting.
For the last two weeks I've been reading posts about how children who are adopted will suffer because they're not with their biological mother, women should be at home and not at work, and how if they knew they carried a genetic disease like Fragile X, they'd choose not to have "abnormal" or "defective" children, except for the women who'd chose to anyway since they know that "the bond you get with your child after carrying him for 9 months is the most important thing".
Today's question was "What would you promote as a way to improve prenatal health". My answer was "avoid mercury, such as in fish" and some folks talked about getting genetic screening to help avoid certain hereditary traits, like sickle cell. Ok, cool.
One girl posted this:
"I would publicize malnutrition as the leading cause of abnormal babies. I would publicize family planning instead of "oops! I'm pregnant." I would make some huge billboard advertisements showing pictures of healthy babies with adcopy reading "Family Planning" and "Prenatal Nutrition" alongside pictures of defective babies with adcopy reading "OOOOOPS!"
The reason I would do this is because those defective children are going to have to suffer throughout their lives because their parents did not have the decency to do a little family planning. Also, it's not just folic acid, but all the basic nutrients and clean air and water that ensure a healthy baby. And, please! stay away from the drugs and alcohol. Growing babies are delicate and precious. Don't destroy yours before its born."
I am so -gah- I just can't believe this stuff. And it's not just one person, it's several (though at least two of them are mother/daughter, as if that helps). I don't know if I'm more upset about these attitudes about children or the fact that I'm the ONLY person (out of 35 or 40) to say "Hey, monied thoughtful married parents with good prenatal care sometimes have special needs children too!".
I've emailed the teacher, and I'm looking into dropping the class (I need a certain number of untis per semester, but I don't want to be constantly upset either).
I know that I'm being thin skinned about this, but it just seems really insensitive to me. I've talked it over with my husband, and he thinks I should drop too, so I'm not looking for people to tell me to drop, but I'd be happy to listen if anyone thinks I'm over reacting.
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Re: Am I overreacting about classmates insensitive comments?
Mon, September 5, 2005 - 5:51 AMthe only way to overcome ignorance is with correct information. If a child had cancer, people wouldn't tell the parents "your child wouldn't be this way if you fed/didn't feed him XXX, spanked/didn't spank, etc. " like they do when a kid has a mental health problem, learning disability, or other problem that doesn't have symptoms that are visually obvious to the public. -
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Re: Am I overreacting about classmates insensitive comments?
Mon, September 5, 2005 - 9:06 AMIt is hard, because in many classes, there are young people who are out there just parroting what they think will get them a good grade, because it's easier to just post a seemingly unassailable argument than to actually think first.
In that class you really can be a light. Maybe there is someone in the class who will really take to heart your posts. There will also be some morons who never get it.
There is only so much that you CAN do in that situation. At the same time that I say you can be a voice of reason, I also understand that it becomes very stressful to be in that environment and you can only take so much before the insanity can be overwhelming.
You are not the one with the problem!
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Re: Am I overreacting about classmates insensitive comments?
Mon, September 5, 2005 - 11:02 AMYeah, I gotta go with these other two. You have your own problems, and the weight of the world does not need to be on your shoulders here, but misinformation can be very damaging, and you are in a unique position to try and setthese people right.
Sort of off topic, but also a product of misinformation, the AIDS epidemic is out of control on Africa. Somewhere along the line, the rumor was spread that having sex with a virgin would cure AIDS, so men began looking for 12 and 13 year olds to have sex with, raping them mostly. And then, when 12 and 13 year old virgins became scarce, they began raping younger and younger girls until eventually, they're getting raped as babies, to the point of damaging them so horribly, they are forever physically deformed.
And ugly point to make, but the point is that these people had the wrong information, and no one was there to correct it for them. You, as a member of this group, have the opportunity to tell the truth, and even if not everyone listens or gets it, some people are bound to.
That's not really what you were asking, but I wanted to comment. No, I do not think you are overreacting. But at the same time, unless it is unbearably upsetting to you, I'd suggest that you don't drop it. You my effect a lot of positive change in some of them. -
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Re: Am I overreacting about classmates insensitive comments?
Thu, September 22, 2005 - 3:24 PMIm sorry this is happening to you, and as someone who works with DD kids and has 24 units of ECE, Ive seen what youre talking about before.
Whomever said that is probably some kid fresh out of high school that never had a DD kid mainstreamed into her classes in school as a child.
OR is a completely ignorant fop.
Either way, go get your A+, dont let it bug you! -
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Re: overreacting ... insensitive ?
Thu, September 22, 2005 - 10:30 PMLook for the answer inside the question. Rumi
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Re: Am I overreacting about classmates insensitive comments?
Sat, July 15, 2006 - 8:42 AMone must develop a thick skin- the sooner you learn it the better. Otherwise you will be stomped on!
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Re: Am I overreacting about classmates insensitive comments?
Tue, November 7, 2006 - 9:49 AMDo Not Drop! Never Drop.Dude, never let what people say stop you from what youre doing. You need to simply help educate them, I know not all want to learn, but, then dont let that affect your goals.Speak your mind and dont be afraid what the remarks of your classmates think.As a matter of fact have fun stirring things up in the name of what you think is true and right and what you believe in.And in this field you have to be strong and ready in order to be an innovater, keep thinking the way you do.
Love
