Tv And School

Ever heard of the term "bad apple?" Some people hear this a lot in school where one kid is teaching others to misbehave. I have a fruit bowl at home full of apples. When one goes bad and is left unchecked, the mold that grows on that apple can spread to the others, making them bad apples too. This is what's happening to our society. Right now, kids come home from school and can't wait to watch iCarly, Hannah Montana, or Drake and Josh. All of these shows are a household name. But as a parent, or a guardian, or just someone who cares about children, have you watched the shows yourself and looked at how the characters treat each other? Have you noticed any sort of difference in your child before and after he/she started watching those shows?

Well let me tell you now, I have a younger sister who is an example of media-induced anti-social behavior. She's right at that age where one would be blessed to not have custody of her. She watches Hannah Montana, Drake and Josh, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and I don't how many other similar shows. What I've noticed on Zack and Cody is that the twins think they know better than their mom and that the mom is portrayed as a complete idiot who doesn't know how to manage her kids. On Drake and Josh, a sly, manipulative little girl called Miranda makes life a living hell for these two, while the two brothers won't do anything mature about it and just treat it like a game. They also act like they have an IQ of a football player who mixed alcohol and cociane together and drank it in a Truth or Dare game. Even in Hannah Montana, the father is unable to deal with troublesome kids. And who is the target audience for these kind of shows? Kids.

The truth is, society stinks, partly because of the smell that the bad apples are giving off. People complain all the time about how violent video games make kids violent. Well, what about these TV shows that are basically teaching the kids that watch it to be anti-social, and disregard any restrictions on their behavior. Nobody pays any attention to that. I don't know why, but it needs to be addressed. My sister has no hope of a job with the way she's acting right now. She talks back to my parents and doesn't even try to be respectful. If she doesn't get her way, you'll more than likely hear the loud slam of a door. I don't do that when I'm in real trouble, let alone when I don't get my way. She steals money from mom's purse and the savings jar. She also plays her music so loud that my chair vibrates when I'm on the computer. I can hear it from the other end of the house. One night she had been drinking, telling us that she was sick and threw up all over the kitchen floor. Mom found a bottle of Vodka and two glasses in her room, where her friend had spent the night. Whenever I try to explain something to her that she doesn't like, I hear a "OKAAY!" or "Yeah, whatever!" and a hand held up to my face like a stop sign to top if all off.

Even today, she walked right into my room without knocking and lectured me on "common courtesy." All I did was eat a couple of Reeses cups I didn't know were hers. They were just lying there, and I had permission from mom to eat them. It might sound sad that being 18, I still ask permission from my parents to do things, but I feel it's the right thing to do, don't you agree? I ask before I do something I'm not sure about. That is common courtesy.

Now, if any of you have children, or know someone who has children, tell them about the situation. Don't let your sweet, innocent kids grow up to be like the girl my parents have to deal with on a daily basis. Middle school is usually when the trouble starts. When that time comes around, give your child special attention and warn him/her about what can happen. They go to school to learn, not play around and goof off with their obligations as a student. Reward them for any kind act they make. Make it feel to them that being a good child is worth the hardship in today's society. Discourage them from learning what other kids have learned from TV and middle-school. If your child is a high school student, then he/she should be mature enough to understand the situation as I present it right now. If not, then something's wrong.

I hope that parents and kids alike read the message I'm trying to spread. All is not lost yet. I am what you would call a "good" kid. :) You can do it.

P.S. I am a victim of bullying and assault in middle school. It pains me to think that kids can be so low and so bored with their lives as to ruin the lives of others.