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OPINIONS
Cabell Midland's child care class speaks out on children's issues
Editor's note: The following letters are samples of those submitted by the child care class at Cabell Midland High School.
One issue relating to children that really gets me worked up is when a pregnant woman smokes. If the woman's own health isn't enough to make her quit, then her unborn baby should be.
Smoking during pregnancy affects your baby before, during and after your child is born. Smoking increases your baby's heart rate, causing high blood pressure. Also, it can increase the risk of your child developing respiratory problems.
There is no "safe" level of smoking. Just smoking 10 cigarettes a day can increase your chance of a miscarriage and stillbirth and the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or with a low birth weight. Secondhand smoke isn't any better. Pregnant women who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke increase their baby's risk of developing lung cancer, allergies and asthma in the future and are at a higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome.
There are many ways to quit smoking, such as joining a support group, although you should always ask your doctor what the safest method is.
Courtney Fleming
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I am writing in regard to the behavior of children in public places, such as the mall. I am an employee of the Huntington Mall and have witnessed on numerous occasions the misbehavior of children and the blatant disregard of parents to control the situation. These children act in a manner that reflects poorly on the adults' parenting skills and demonstrates the naiveté of these people to control their children.
On numerous occasions while working, I have intervened to prevent children from not only hurting themselves, but destroying store merchandise as well. I receive in return a reprimand from the parent to "come to them" if there are any problems with their child, but that solution is not always possible. On more than one occasion, small children have been left to play on the escalators while the parent goes off to shop in a separate part of the store.
These parents seem to place little value on their children's lives, and I ask frequently for these people to take better care of their children. Not only are these children showing disrespect for me, as an employee, but to the parents as well. Make an effort to control your children.
Emily Terry
One issue relating to children that gets me worked up is when parents curse at their children. It is infuriating to see a mother curse and yell at her 3-year-old for something that is not his or her fault. Most of the time, it is the parent's fault, and they make the situation worse.
Not only is it a horrid example of parenting, but it is also a form of verbal abuse. It hurts the child's feelings and self-esteem. If parents would just take a moment to collect themselves and then explain the proper behavior to their young children, they would save themselves the embarrassment and save the children's feelings.
The cursing does not teach the child a lesson; it only encourages outrageous and inappropriate behaviors. When a parent curses at a child, he or she causes the child to think negative thoughts and, therefore, brings about a negative reaction from the child. This abuse also hampers a child's ability to trust others and form relationships.
There are better ways to teach young children lessons then to yell and curse.
Jordan Jobe
I know this is a touchy subject, but I see it as one that needs to be discussed. I have chosen to discuss abortion. I feel it is murder. I believe the unborn child is human and life begins at conception.
Abortion to me is killing a child who cannot talk. It would be like killing a mentally challenged child. I know you have to make a decision to the best of your ability, but the unborn children need to have a voice, too. I believe rape and incest are horrible crimes and should be punished, but I don't believe a child conceived from either should be killed.
There are people who cannot have children, and others conceive accidentally and then decide, "I don't want this, so I will just throw it away like a piece of garbage." If you are old enough to know what you are doing, then you are old enough to step up to your responsibilities. If you are going to have sex, face the consequences of your actions.
Amanda McKinney
