Vicodan the undiscovered country

In this day and age it would seem that everyone from the mail man to your grandmother is on something for one disorder or another. For all those little aches and pains, everyone gets from time to time. However, your truly has had to pleasure of experiencing the V drug this week, do to some tooth pain. I have been taking a drug called Darvocet. This little pain killer is like Vicodan’s little sister. How easy it would be to start taking this drug not just for pain, but to feel “better” all the time. On this and other types of painkillers, it is possible to function.
Are we all becoming the undiscovered addicts thanks to our doctors? I have not mentioned drugs for depression. With the drugs out now who wouldn’t want to be depressed. Now they are working on a pill to erase bad memories, how nice is that?
Drugged out, numbs out, and checked out. Don’t misunderstand me, of course there those who could not get through the day without them. That’s not whom I speak of, drugs can’t replace parenting or bad relationships.
But wait, now you can cut out the middle man and buy your drugs from over sea suppliers with a prescription. Now we all can dose and dose. All a kid has to do is use him mom’s or dad’s credit card, and presto he’s a dealer of scrip drugs. Don’t need dope or cocaine when there’ s Vicodan. According to www.drugabusehelp.com, Vicodin is a semisynthetic narcotic analgesic and antitussive with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of codeine. Most of these involve the central nervous system and smooth muscle.
The precise mechanism of action of hydrocodone and other opiates is not known, although it is believed to relate to the existence of opiate receptors in the central nervous system. In addition to analgesia, narcotics may produce euphoria; drowsiness; lethargy; relaxation; difficulty in concentrating; decreased physical activity in some users and increased physical activity in others; mild anxiety or fear, and pupillary constriction.
This was the good, fun part, this is the bad part. Vicodin may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or perform any other potentially dangerous activities until you know how this drug affects you. Narcotics such as Vicodin may interfere with the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal conditions. Vicodin suppresses the cough reflex; therefore, be careful using Vicodin after an operation or if you have a lung disease. High doses of Vicodin may produce slowed breathing; if you are sensitive to this drug, you are more likely to experience this effect. Vicodin slows the nervous system. Alcohol can intensify this effect.
This website went on to discuss other symptoms. For regular Vicodin user abruptly stops taking Vicodin, withdrawal should begin within six to twelve hours. The intensity of withdrawal depends on the degree of the addiction, and symptoms are usually not life threatening. Typically,Vicodin withdrawal symptoms may intensify for twenty-four to seventy-two hours and then gradually decline over a period of seven to fourteen days. The symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal include but are not limited to:
restlessness, muscle pain, bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, goose bumps, involuntary leg movements, watery eyes, runny nose loss of appetite, irritability, panic, nausea, chills, and sweating.
In preparing this piece, I was unable to get a real number of how many people are addicted to vics in the U.S, but I can tell you it’s a lot. The recovery of drugged out America is we all of us.

Home Schooling ; is it for everyone?

Home schooling; providing a child’s main education program at home. Home schooling takes the place of full-time public education.

The argument over the best methods for teaching has raged for a long time. With each new generation come new arguments and ideas of what is best for our children. This is a complicated subject with valid points to be made by both sides of the education aisle.
Home schooling vs. Public schooling, it sounds like two heavyweight boxing champs squaring off for a big fight and that is exactly what it is. In one corner we have years of teaching experience with the public school teachers and faculty and some of the best resources for our children that money can buy. To the tune of six-thousand dollars on average per-student.

In the other corner we have dedicated parents that have for whatever reason found fault and dissatisfaction with the public school system and are fed up with what they feel to be a catalyzed approach to addressing their concerns about what is going on in the schools. To get a true picture of these two champions of education we must consider all the facts. Take into account the way we are dealing with the future of these children. We can’t lose sight of this fact, once we do and the politics of education and money takeover we’ve reduced the children to nothing more than pawns in a bad divorce.

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In fact, dissatisfaction with academic instruction makes up sixteen percent of home schooled students (N. C. Statistics). While others for religious reasons have chosen to avoid the system altogether and teach their children in a setting that supports their beliefs without ridicule. Religious reasons making up thirty percent of home schooled students. (N. C. Statistics, 1.1 Million Home schooled Students in the United States in 2003)
With others cited being concerns about the environment of the schools, thirty one percent. Physical and mental health problems at seven percent. Other reasons at nine percent and special needs children at seven percent. I must note that home schooling is legal in all fifty states, not attempting to educate your children is not. Keeping children home for the sake of having available labor on the farm is illegal without a foundation of education. In some cases, parents under the suspicion of neglect pull their children out of public schools under the falsehood of home schooling. Away from the prying eyes of the school authorities without ever intending to educate their children. Knowing or having suspicions about a person’s dishonest intentions is one thing, but proving it is another. The hardest thing to do is second guess a person’s sincerity and motives about their children. Just because a person’s ideals may not be inline with the “norm” doesn’t by it’s self constitute neglect. There is a fine line between action and intention.

While the public educators haven’t made it easy for families to home school with many obstacles in place. Such as in California, teachers of home-instruction programs must meet state certification requirements. State or local permission is required annually for home study. Home study must be monitored by local school administrative personnel knowledgeable about excellence in a learning environment. Students participate in state or locally mandated testing programs in suitable settings and in other assessments conducted by the school district.

Students have the option of attending public school for part-time instruction. Which allows the school district to claim full per-pupil funding with minimal attendance and overhead. (Education)

School policies and state laws overseeing truancy are getting stiffer along these lines. In addition, with the crack down by state authorities on schools lacking in their absenteeism are putting local schools at the mercy of a state medical excuse audit. Motivating school authorities to get more aggressive on unexcused abuses and hooky players. But public educators don’t always resort to intimidation tactics to defuse the rising home schooling movement, in some incidences they bribe families to return to the public schools with cash incentives. (Education)

However, this doesn’t tell the whole story, according to NHES, not all home schooled children are entirely home schooled. In 2003 eighteen percent of home schooled children were enrolled in a school part time. Twelve and half percent of the children were enrolled less than nine hours a week. Five percent were enrolled nine to twenty hours a week. The report did not state whether or not home schooled children were being taught exclusively by their parents or guardians or if a tutor was involved.

The evidence that home schooling works for some families (H. Statistics) are in the numbers. The average home schooled 8th grade student performs four grade levels above the national average. One in four home schooled students (24.5%) are enrolled one or more grades above age level. Students who have been home schooled their entire lives have the highest scholastic achievement. In every subject and at every grade level of the ITBS and TAP batteries, home schooled students scored significantly higher than their counterparts in public and private schools.

However, as home schooling becomes more popular with the availability of free online tutors, free computer equipment, and free educational material there are some things to consider before making a decision that may have an impact on your child for the rest of their life.

The first point to consider is a complete lifestyle change. Home schooling is a time consuming task. Remember, unless you can afford to hire a full-time tutor to help. You the parent accept the entire responsibility and work load for educating. If both parents work, that makes things even harder especially if your children are young. If you’re planning on leaving your job, be prepared for the financial sacrifice that comes with it. Home schooling will leave little personal time for yourself. Between homework, field trips and housework. Tutoring your child at home becomes your “new” full-time job. (Hernandez)
A well organized schedule is a good place to start, before you become overwhelmed with it all. Another important point is that both parents are in agreement with this decision. If parents are in disagreement, the problems caused by this friction only stands in the way of the child’s progress. If both parents are excited about home schooling the next question is: Will your child be as excited about it as you are? A willing student is helpful and avoids having to nail him or her to their desk and taking drastic measures to get the child to do their work. (Hernandez)

Time and time again people argue about the negative effect home schooling has on a child’s social development and learning social skills with other children their own age. These kids are not “shut off” from the rest of the world. Home schooled children and parents can stay active by joining associations of other home schooled parents. This is the ideal way to set up field trips and other social events with your children. Remembering to take it one day at a time and that home schooling isn’t a life time permanent commitment. Another point to consider is your own abilities, having the confidence that you can do well at teaching.

If after all the considerations, time, money and sacrifice you still would like to have a chance to make a difference in your child’s life there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started, stay out of trouble and to make your child’s home schooling the best it can be. There is even a legal website established for defending the rights of students and parents.

In the author’s experience with home schooling , there have been mailings sent out to Ohio residents about and encouraging parents to enroll their kids in the state program. I personally know a few families that have enrolled in home schooling. I have mixed feelings about this. In one case a single mother enrolled her teenage daughter, the mother worked all day and didn’t pay enough attention to her daughters activities. Soon the daughter hadn’t done any of the work and now will be returning to public school to redo the year. The second case involves another teenage girl who’s parents work all day. They too are having a hard time getting their daughter to do her work. And this family plans on having their thirteen year old son enroll in home schooling next year. Their son has a hard time in school and may even have certain learning disabilities.

In the final case of home schooled children I’ve seen personally involves a pair of brothers who are being taught by their mother. After spending some time in their home, it was plain to see that the boys were depressed. By their situation of home schooling or by something else it was unclear. What I did see was that there was no clear instructor for learning. The mother barked orders to the boys to do their work all through the day. Leaving no lines for the boys between work time and non work time. It all blended together.
The pro’s and con’s of public schools and home schools alike must be weighed carefully by the parents with their children’s best interest in mind. For my wife and I, we did consider home schooling for our son after a very bad year in elementary school. My son being only twelve
is a little young to be leaving him at home by himself. And we couldn’t afford to pay a babysitter/ tutor. But just ten miles down the road was a public school that was a breath of fresh air. With open enrollment in our area we moved my son there and couldn’t be happier.

Works Cited
Education, Foundation for Economic. Foundation for Economic Education. March 1998. 29 Nov 2007 .
Hernandez, Beverly. About.com. 3 Dec 2007 .
Statistics, Homeschooling. Homeschooling Statistics. 29 Nov 2007 .
Statistics, National Center for Education. 1.1 Million Home schooled Students in the United States in 2003. July 2004. 29 Nov 2007 .
. “1.1 Million Home schooled Students in the United States in 2003.” 2007.