I Speak of Dreams

Spanking in the USA: A sad state of affairs and why spanking is never ok. - Child Psychology and Parenting Blog: Child-Psych.org

In the background, Dr. Phil is replaying the video of the Texas judge beating his child.  I want to direct you to an editorial from Nestor Lopez Duran:

Spanking in the USA: A sad state of affairs and why spanking is never ok. - Child Psychology and Parenting Blog: Child-Psych.org.

Yes, the American Academy of Pediatrics unequivocally recommends against the use of aggression as a discipline method. Why? Because the research on physical punishment is clear: it is unnecessary and is associated with a long list of NEGATIVE consequences. For example, although proponents of “spanking” argue that if you don’t spank, the child will not learn to behave properly, the research actually suggests the opposite.

The Neighbors From Hell: Sarah Fisher, Danielle Harway, and Kelly Plaster

corrected the spelling of the Trussells' last name

update #2 -- all comments have been moderated. 

Five months ago, Gary and Marla Trussell, bought a house on a cul-de-sac in the Venzano development in San Marcos, CA.  Gary is a pilot for Continental Airlines, and the Trussles have two children, Olivia and Spencer, who is four and has autism.

Somewhere along the way, Spencer was being bullied by a neighbor's child.  Gary Trussell had words with the child's father.  One neighbor, Sarah Fisher, responded by reporting

the Trussells to Child Protective Services. She called Gary Trussell's employer, Continental Airlines, where he's a captain. She also made a call to 911, claiming he couldn't control his young children.

Subsequently, Fisher and two other neighbors,  Danielle Harway and Kelly Plaster filed suits. Each suit asked that the Trussell family "be restricted to their own home and driveway."

Fortunately, the suits were thrown out and the three litigants were " ordered to reimburse the Trussells' legal fees, which top $12,000."

I'd like to send Fisher, Harway, and Plaster to autism awareness training.

Sources
KGTV San Diego April 27, 2009

Update March 8, 2010. Following a vile attack on Shannon, her son, and the rest of her family at a blog I will not name or link to, Shannon has given me permission to post this. It is hardly a secret that Squid is Shannon Rosa.  Shannon Rosa is an autism advocate not only for her son and her family, but for all parents of children with autism and all people with autism.  Read her blog at  BlogHer: Shannon Rosa's Blog

Silver Lining to Recession: Age Compression Reduction

Via Bryan Vartabedian's Parenting Solved, I learned that Club Libby Lu has closed and that Bratz dolls will be taken off the market.

Club Libby Lu was founded by Mary Drolet and sold to Saks. 

Saks booked an after-tax charge of $10.6 million in the quarter primarily to shut down Club Libby Lu, a chain that caters to pre-teen girls.

The company said Nov. 5 that it will probably incur $18 million to $27 million of expenses related to the closures in the fourth quarter. It plans to finish closing its 78 free-standing Club Libby Lu stores and 20 more within department stores by May 2.

Backstory:

Dressing Your Child Like a Slut (March 29, 2006)

Guilty: Lori Drew

Update Apophenia

It doesn't bring Megan Meier back to her family.  But maybe the verdict will give others pause.

"Lori Drew decided to humiliate a child," U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien, chief federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, told the jury during closing arguments. "The only way she could harm this pretty little girl was with a computer. She chose to use a computer to hurt a little girl, and for four weeks she enjoyed it."

O'Brien, who pronounced the case the nation's first cyberbullying trial, said the jury's decision sent a worthy message: "If you have children who are on the Internet and you are not watching what they are doing, you better be."

Update:

The New York Times, Nov. 26, 2008

Backstory:

• Nordette, November 2007:  When Should Cyberbullying be A Crime?
• danah boyd, December 2007: Who Is To Blame for Megan Meier's Suicide
• Karoli, November 2007: Charge Lori Drew with Child Abuse
• Karoli, December 2007: Lori Drew Poses as Victim
• I Speak of Dreams: Lori Drew: A Disgusting Mother

Tied To A Tree By Father, Tyler Gene McMillan, 13, Dies

Macclesfield, NC: Tyler Gene McMillan was reportedly 13 years old when he died.   On June 11, 2008, his father, Brice Brian McMillan, 41, tied Tyler to a tree, with his hands and feet restrained with zipties, because Tyler was "being disobedient".  McMillan left him outside and restrained until the following morning, when Tyler was released.  In the afternoon of June 12, Tyler was again restrained and tied to the tree, and left there for as long as 24 hours.

Edgecombe County Sheriff James L. Knight told the News Observer that although the teen was found tied with plastic ties that were similar to handcuffs, that "there were other things on the body that led us to believe" the parents had used other restraints as well.

(left--mugshots of Brice McMillan and Sandra Mcmillan)

Late in the aftenoon of June 13, his stepmother, Sandra Elizabeth McMillan, 36, found Tyler unconscious.  According to the local paper, "Temperatures in the area rose to above 90 degrees on Thursday afternoon, with a low of 73."  According to another local report,  Tyler was tied up  "while the area was blanketed in dense, acrid smoke from the Pocosin Lakes wildfire to the east. State officials had warned residents to stay indoors because of the smoke's health threat."

The crime took place in a relatively rural area, and Tyler reportedly was in the backyard, so it is perhaps not surprising that no passersby came to his aid. 

Tyler's birth mother, Michelle "Mickey" Sasser McMillan, is reported to have died several years ago.  In a news story at a local television station, WITN-TV,  Mickey McMillan was remembered:

She once worked at WITN-TV and was a school teacher in Pitt County. Mickey is remembered as a delight to be around, always cheerful and a great mother. Those who knew Mickey well say she was loved and took great care of her family and co-workers.

Sandra Elizabeth McMillan was previously married to Dwayne "Scott" Wilburn of Rockledge, FL, who died in 2002 .  There was a child from that marriage,   Brynana Shay Wilburn.

Mr. and Mrs. McMillan have been charged with murder and felony child abuse. Two younger children  in the house, ages 7 and 9, have been placed with child protective services.  It is not clear from news reports if the two surviving children are Mickey McMillan's children or Sandra Elizabeth McMillan's.

Sources:
Wilson Times
WRAL
Gant Daily News
WITN-TV

The NewsObserver

 

Kassi Leatherman, 19, Saved from Death by Alcohol Poisoning. But Wait--Her Mother Bought The Booze

Kassie's mother,        Karen Simpson Leatherman, is accused of supplying her daughter's party with 40 six-backs of beer and 5 "bottles of vodka". 

Ms. Leatherman was found in front of her parent's home, near death from alcohol poisoning.  Fortunately, she survived.  There were over forty other underaged teens at the party.

       Karen Simpson Leatherman, 47, was charged with 15 counts of providing        alcohol to minors.

Another Round of Protesting Against Age Compression and the Sexualization of Young Girls

From my pal Karoli I learn there's something new (in Philadelphia, anyway): bikini waxes for  pre-pubescent girls.  Mir is incredulous as is Moe at Jezebel: How Many 8-Year-Olds Have To Get Bikini Waxes Before We All Agree The Terrorists Have Won?

It's not just salon treatments, it is marketing:

But today, cosmetic companies and retailers increasingly aim their sophisticated products and service packages squarely at 6- to 9-year-olds, who are being transformed into savvy beauty consumers before they’re out of elementary school.

There's even an acronym for the phenomenon: KGOY, “kids getting older younger.”

Really, if there's a Club Libby Lu for "pretend makeovers",  how short of a step is it to a full-scale spa treatment for the under-10 set?   

California Homeschooling Parents May Not Need A Credential After All

On February 28, 2008, in the Rachel L. case, the Second District of the Appeals Court ruled  that California parents wishing to homeschool their children must have a valid California teaching credential.  There are about 166,000 homeschooled children in California, and the decision was highly unpopular.  Yesterday, the court announced it would rehear the case.

It is not unusual for appeals courts to reconsider decisions, and the result is often a minor revision that leaves the original conclusion unchanged. But the three-judge panel in the homeschooling case hinted at a re-evaluation of its entire Feb. 28 ruling by inviting written arguments from state and local education officials and teachers' unions.

The court said it would rehear the case in June.  Stand by for developments.

Yikes! Bad Cases Make Bad Law: Homeschooling in California: Teaching Credential Required

Update  March 27, 2008: the court announced that it would rehear the case in June 2008.  More here. 

Justice H. Walter Croskey found that parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children. "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program."

The only way parents may now legally homeschool in CA is if the teaching parent has a valid teaching credential or hires a tutor with a valid teaching credential.

This is a somewhat messy case, as it originated from several reports of physical and emotional abuse by the father against two or more of his eight children.  All eight of the children were enrolled in an independent-study program, and homeschooled by the mother, who doesn't even have a high school diploma.  Through  Children and Family Services, two of the children were assigned an attorney, who asked the court to rule that the children must be enrolled in a public or private school.  The lower court denied that ruling, and the attorney appealed the ruling.  The appeals court made the findings reported above.

The news reports have been casting homeschoolers as primarily fundamentalist Christians.  Most of the homeschoolers I know do it because their public school doesn't fit their children's needs (gifted, 2e, or heavily involved in music or sport, etc.)

I wonder what effect (if any) this ruling will have on  private schools who routinely hire teachers without credentials.

More details below the fold.

Poor Little Rich Girl Alicia Guastaferro

I'm speechless.  The episode is the Guastaferro-Boss families from the "reality" show (the quotes are for irony) called Wife Swap.   

Yes, it is all scripted ...but the Guastaferros had to feel that it was ok to read the script.

You'll have to watch the video at the  Huffington Post. I was hustled over to HufPo by BoingBoing

Also see Right Celebrity