The High-Risk Job of Raising Kids in the 21st Century

It can be really hard to raise kids (or be a kid) today.

Teen suicides, crime at schools, school shootings, lots of opportunities on the Internet to get into even more trouble.

And with both parents working, sometimes multiple jobs, and more single-parent families than ever before, there's less time to spend with kids and more opportunity for them to get into serious trouble.

Are there guidelines parents can use to help their kids avoid the minefields and come out safe, well-balanced young adults who can be happy and live up to their potential?

There's one point of philosophy I apply that steers me through the rough times and helps me have more good times. It's something I learned from the Scientology Handbook by L. Ron Hubbard."Children are not dogs. They can't be trained like dogs are trained. They are not controllable items. They are, and let's not overlook the point, men and women. A child is not a special species of animal distinct from man. A child is a man or a woman who has not attained full growth." Okay. This may seem pretty obvious. But if you're like me you've seen an awful lot of kids whose parents don't seem to know this. And maybe you've failed to treat kids like this a couple of times yourself?

What does this have to do with kids getting into trouble? Well, when kids are brought up like this, they are more self-determined. And that means they will take more responsibility for themselves, their friends, and yes, even their parents.

In this same article, Hubbard wrote "The sweetness and love of a child is preserved only so long as he can exert his own self-determinism. You interrupt that and to a degree you interrupt his life."

"Aw honey, you don't really want that" (yank).

"Shut up!"

"If you don't knock it off right now we're leaving."

Of course moms and dads say and do that. What choice do they have?

Plenty.

Here an example of how this gets out of hand––witnessed one overstressed evening last week at Targets.

A mom in her mid-thirties was having a bad day. She had two kids with her. They were fighting over who should push the shopping cart. Then the fun began, with more fights, tantrums, and the inevitable smack across the bottom to one of them (and from what I could tell it was a classic case of injustice with the wrong kid getting nailed for it) followed by loud wailing and a quick exit from the store.

But what mom missed was that before this got out of control the younger kid had picked up a toy and was playing with it and having a great time and mom grabbed the toy put it back on the shelf, grabbed the kid's hand and pulled her out of the isle and over to another section of the store.

Hello? Last time someone treated me that way I hate to tell you what happened to him!

It's not necessarily easy to apply this guideline. But it's worth it, because it really works!

My advice? Treat kids the way you'd treat anyone else. See if it doesn't make your life (and theirs) a lot more livable. Read on how Scientology kids and parents mastered this part of their life. Click next

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Scientology Kids

At the Freewinds this summer, David Miscavige announced a whole new series of courses anyone of any religion can take to bolster up those aspects of their lives giving them the most trouble. One who series of these courses deals with helping kids. There is a course on how to raise happy babies, one on raising happy children and another one on surviving as a parent of a tween or teen. As I said anyone can go into a Scientology Church or Mission and ask to take one of these courses. At the end of a couple of days of study (part time) you will have a new perspective and attitude and practical skills to get you through the rough spots and help you help your kids, which is the whole point anyway, isnt' it?

For more information on LRH technology on kids go to the Scientology Kids website.

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Scientology Anti-Drug Campaign Helps Kids

Every 12 seconds another school-age child experiments with illicit drugs for the first time—a grim reminder of just how pervasive drug abuse is among young people.

To combat this epidemic, the Church of Scientology sponsors the largest nongovernmental anti-drug information and prevention campaign on Earth. It has been conclusively proven that when young people are provided with the truth about drugs—factual information on what drugs are and what they do—usage rates drop commensurately. By statistical survey, the Drug-Free World Campaign has thus far prevented some 500,000 young people from recreational drug use…or worse.

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Anti-Drug Public Service Announcements

There are really excellent anti-drug public service announcements on Scientology.org. They are great for kids. Really communicate.

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Truth About Drugs Real People, Real Stories

There is a very hard hitting video on Scientology.org about the Truth about Drugs. It was rough to watch it, frankly--so many people who wrecked their lives on drugs. But I think we have to be straight with kids and tell them what drugs are really about. If they know the truth, it will protect them against the lies they hear. One of the kids interviewed ended up dealing drugs himself, and he says how he would say anything to talk a kid into taking a drug. Outright lies. I think it's really important to show this to kids.


A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Scientologists Gear Up for United Nations Day Against Drugs

Churches of Scientology around the world will host community drug education activities June 26 in recognition of the United Nations International Day Against Illicit Drugs and Trafficking. Steadfast drug education advocates for more than 20 years, Scientology Churches are inviting local police, officials, community leaders, parents and teens to toughen up their neighborhoods with youth-oriented drug education activities for both young and old.

“To bring about real demand reduction, people need facts they know are real and that’s been missing from most drug education programs,” says Rev. Bob Adams, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International and a former National Football League player. “To resist a drug pusher, a peer or anyone else encouraging drug abuse, one’s knowledge about drugs has to be certain and firm.”

The Church’s community drug education programs have been conducted at a grass-roots level by both Scientologists and non-Scientologists since the mid-1980s. Adams says toughening up neighborhoods against drugs benefits everybody. “Today we are all affected by drug abuse in some way or another and it’s not just illegal street drugs and youth. Prescription drug abuse is also a huge problem. All of it directly relates to health, crime, and safety, and things people don’t immediately think of in relation to drugs, like success and economics. The truth is that today, if you’re not well educated about drugs, you are at risk.”

In addition to its anti-drug advocacy and community activation, the Church sponsors the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the international provider of The Truth About Drugs education materials available in 20 languages. Based on authoritative surveys and studies, The Truth About Drugs series includes abundant first hand testimonials in a youth-friendly format: 13 pocket-sized booklets and short videos covering the most commonly abused drugs, a new documentary based on interviews with over 200 former addicts, which can be seen and ordered free, at www.drugfreeworld.org.

“The Truth About Drugs Documentary and booklets are upfront, poignant and real,” says Adams. “They empower youth, parents, educators, law enforcement, social workers and anyone else concerned because it’s not about scare tactics—it’s true life experiences with facts.”

The United Nations International Day Against Illicit Drugs and Trafficking was established in 1987 by UN resolution 42/112 to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving an international society free of drug abuse.

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

What Does L. Ron Hubbard Say About Raising Children?

This is from the new Scientology web site. I thought it made a very good presentation of how LRH views the subject of childhood. The Scientologists I know raise their kids this way, and it makes a huge difference.

L. Ron Hubbard has written a great deal about raising children. In Scientology, children are recognized as people who should be given all the respect and love granted to adults.

Scientologists believe children should be encouraged to contribute to family life and not just be “seen and not heard” as the old saying goes. Children are spiritual beings and, as such, they need to exchange with those around them in order to thrive and live productive, happy lives.

Children need respect, love, help and education. They want to help others from a very early age and it is important that adults allow them to do so, within the realms of safety. Children have to know they have a place in life, that they are important and that their contributions are meaningful in a real way.

Education is an important part of this. A child needs to understand the workings of his family and society to be able to contribute to them in meaningful ways and in this he can be greatly assisted by his parents and other family members.

Some of the basic principles Scientologists apply to parenting are summed up in the following by L. Ron Hubbard:

“Today’s children will become tomorrow’s civilization.”

“…try to be the child’s friend. It is certainly true that a child needs friends. Try to find out what a child’s problem really is and, without crushing their own solutions, try to help solve them.”

“A child factually does not do well without love. Most children have an abundance of it to return.” The Way to Happiness

“The spoiled child is the child whose decisions have been interrupted continuously and who is robbed of his independence. Affection could no more spoil a child than the sun could be put out by a bucket of gasoline.” Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health

Children raised in Scientology homes have the following to say about how the experience enhanced their outlook on life:

“I was born and raised in Scientology. My daughter (12) and son (4 months) are third-generation Scientologists. Being a Scientologist helped me to be brave, alert, competent and aware and most of all it has made me want to help any and all who need help. I see this as well in my daughter who is now 12.” K.R.

”As a kid, growing up in a Scientology family was fun, mainly because of my parents and the stable environment they provided. I had the experience most children are lacking today, of working in the family business. My parents believed it was good for children to earn their own way and exchange something with the family and so did I. I loved the feeling of independence it gave me to be earning my own money from a young age. I worked hard on my education too, but I still had plenty of time to play. When I left my parents’ house to go into the world on my own, I just kept on enjoying life, due to knowledge of Scientology and the supportive environment my family had fostered. That stability and sincere and correct application of Scientology made all the difference in the world when I was growing up and it still does to this day.” M.W.



A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Scientology Volunteers Gather Signatures on Human Rights Petitions in 21 Countries

On United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Scientologists call for mandatory human rights education to promote peace and tolerance

LOS ANGELES—Volunteers from Churches of Scientology in 21 countries including Denmark, France, Australia, South Africa and Canada gathered signatures on human rights petitions March 21, on United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination. The petition drives were done to gain support for mandatory human rights education, and to bring about realization of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights statement that “…recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

The Declaration was ratified by the UN General Assembly more than 60 years ago, yet racial and ethnic conflicts fuel wars throughout the world. The Scientologists say the answer is in human rights education.

The United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is held each year on the anniversary of the day in 1960 when police opened fire in Sharpeville, South Africa, on a crowd of unarmed Black South Africans, killing 69 civilians who were protesting the repressive apartheid laws.

In a speech marking the 50 years since the Sharpeville tragedy, UN Secretary General Ban Kid-moon said, “The United Nations marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on this solemn anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to guard against a repeat of the horrors rooted in racism - from slavery to the Holocaust, from apartheid to ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

In addition to petition drives, Churches of Scientology partner with Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) to carry out a human rights awareness campaign to educate people of all ages on human rights.

“Most people don’t know the rights covered in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Tracie Morrow, Youth Coordinator for the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology International Human Rights Office.

“Without an understanding of these rights as covered in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights people will not demand their own rights, let alone defend the rights of others. Through human rights education we have found young people become much more tolerant and understanding and many are inspired to become human rights advocates,” said Morrow.

The Church of Scientology has championed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for more than 50 years and sponsors the largest non-governmental information campaign to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights known the world over. The Church’s human rights initiative sponsors groups and activities and provides its materials to individuals, groups and government agencies in 82 nations. For more information on the human rights initiative of the Church of Scientology visit the Scientology website.

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Scientology Volunteer Minsiters help Haiti Orphans

Felix Kunze is a seriously good photographer. He just got back from his second trip to Haiti where he worked alongside the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, documenting their work. One of the worst horrors of Haiti is the orphans. Even before the earthquake the UN estimated there were nearly 400,000 orphans in that country. Of course there, as in other poverty areas, that is a loose term. How many of them are really children whose parents simply couldn't provide for them and sent them to orphanages where they might hope to eat.

But with some 300,000 estimated killed by the earthquake, the orphan problem is nearly inestimable. Just another of the many situations Haiti needs to deal with.

The Scientology Disaster Relief Team provides food, water and trauma relief to kids in orphanages in and around Port-au-Prince.

To keep updated visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Blog.



A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Scientologists in the Tampa Bay Community

In 1961, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “…a being is only as valuable as he can serve others.” This is a precept that inspires the work of Scientologists around the world including those in the Tampa Bay area. The following is a brief description of some of the community outreach groups and organizations local Scientologists have founded and participate in. Membership is not limited to Scientologists and people of all faiths are welcome to volunteer to provide needed services to the people of the community.

Say No to Drugs Race

Twenty years ago, Clearwater resident and world-class runner Sandra Johnson started the Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic to promote an anti-drug message. Now under the direction of local resident, Chris Alexander, a team of 200 volunteers ensure the race comes off each year without a hitch. It has become one of the premier races in the Tampa Bay area, drawing up to 1,000 runners with athletes competing from all over the world.

The Community Learning Center (CLC)

Holly and Brendan Haggerty, parents of four, founded the Community Learning Center in 1998 to provide a safe place for kids for afterschool arts and sports programs. The Haggertys have now expanded their program to include literacy tutoring for adults. Based near downtown Clearwater, their afterschool tutoring programs also run in Pinellas, Dade, Hillsborough, Alachua, Broward-Deerfield and Broward-Ft. Lauderdale counties. Their 89 volunteers have tutored some 500 students in the past year alone.

Criminon—Florida

Clearwater resident Susan Broughton runs Criminon Florida, a chapter of Criminon International that offers character-building criminal-rehabilitation programs through correspondence courses to more than 2000 inmates in 85 percent of the 75 Florida state prisons. Courses address a wide range of subjects from character building and drug education to study and communication skills. This activity is 100 percent volunteer-based.

Narconon—Florida

Narconon provides substance abuse education and rehabilitation in three Florida locations: Clearwater-based Narconon Florida, Narconon Destin and Narconon Spring Hill on the Florida Panhandle. Spring Hill and Destin are residential facilities, and the Clearwater operation offers help to addicts who can carry on with their work and their day-to-day lives while participating in the program. At each of these centers the addicts not only withdraw from drugs, they also address the underlying cause of their addiction by working out and resolving the problems they were trying to “solve” with drugs. Life skills courses are key to the success of the program. Narconon Florida is a part of Narconon International, a world-wide network of 188 drug education and rehabilitation facilities in 46 countries.

The Way to Happiness

Written by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, The Way to Happiness is a non-religious, common-sense moral code designed to help young and old alike make decisions that enable them to live happier and more productive lives. In Tampa Bay, the Way to Happiness Club, led by Clearwater resident Betsy Cramb, distributed 62,800 free booklets and held 52 events last year to educate children in the application of this non-religious moral code to improve their survival and the survival of those around them.

The Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV)

What originally started as the Women’s Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology, the Clearwater Community Volunteers holds fundraisers and events throughout the year to benefit local charities. These include Winter Wonderland in downtown Clearwater, the Easter Egg Hunt in Coachman Park, and Fashions-with-Flair fashion show at the Belleair Country Club. With the funds raised from these events, CCV contributes tens of thousands of dollars each year to worthwhile local charitable organizations. Pamela Ryan Anderson now heads a team of more than 800 CCV volunteers.

Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Florida

Led by Julietta Gil, this group was founded to educate people about the dangers of abusing harmful drugs. A chapter of the international Foundation for a Drug-Free World, members of the local group gave 30 drug education lectures in schools throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough County to about 3,500 people last year. They also distributed 75,000 drug education booklets over the last two years. They partner with many local groups including the Dunedin Blue Jays, the Clearwater Downtown Partnership and the Sunscreen Film Festival. The program includes a local chapter of the “Drug Free Marshals,” youth who pledge to be drug-free and encourage others to do the same.

Human Rights Awareness

The protection of basic human rights has been a hallmark of the Church of Scientology since its earliest days. In Tampa Bay, Scientologists participate in two groups that educate people about their rights—the Tampa Bay Chapter of Youth for Human Rights and the Human Rights Group. Members of Youth for Human Rights give presentations on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in schools throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. They pass out thousands of booklets and arrange the airing of public service announcements depicting the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Headed by Linda Drazkowski, the Human Rights Group held its third annual Human Rights Walk-a-Thon in March at St. Petersburg’s Straub Park. More than 1,000 local residents from many different faiths and backgrounds marched in support of human rights.

A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion