Author: Sweat to Inspire

Educator and Parent

T.V.

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

Like it or not TV has a major influence on the youth of today. It is not the TV of my youth where we had 4 channels to choose from when picking something to watch. Today we have over 100 channels to choose from. When we still can’t find what we want we can stream from the internet or watch something we recorded on the DVR. I love all the options available. I can watch great content when ever I want. The scary thing about TV today is so can my children. What they want to watch is very different than what I want to watch. Often times their desires for viewing are not totally appropriate. Adults need to monitor what children are watching. In my opinion adults need to watch what the children are watching. This way there can be a discussion about content. Children often misunderstand what they see on TV. In my classroom student will say “I saw this on the History Channel last week” and proceed to explain the topic. In theory this is great. It helps “Flip” the classroom and gives students excellent prior knowledge. In reality, it often gives children a misconception because the student only understood a small portion of the material presented.

To sweat to inspire the youth in your life please watch TV with them. It might mean you won’t get to watch your favorite show now and again but it will create rich discussions about what is consumed.

Who or What inspires you?

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

To start the content off I want to ask a question: Who or What inspires you?

I have asked this question every year in my advisory class, most of my students state that their parents or older siblings are their inspirations. Of course they are parents and older siblings always have major influence on people’s lives. Influence and inspiration are similar concepts. Without my parental influence or that of my older brother I am sure I would be a different person.

But for me, there are two main people I think about when it comes to inspiration in my life as a young man. First, is Charles Radel, the father of a boyhood friend, Boy Scout Leader and 8th grade history teacher. He lead by example, he was firm and fair, and around more than my father (who was a doctor). The second person I think of is William H Armstrong. Most of you have heard his name since he is the author of “Sounder”. To me he was my 9th grade “general studies” teacher at Kent School in Ct. The class was a mix of how to study and ancient history. He was a master of the craft of teaching and knew how to motivate. They both lead by example. That is how they inspired me.

So Who or what has inspired your life?

New Inspiration Day 1

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

Welcome to Sweat to Inspire.

Our mission is to create a blog of ideas on how adults can help inspire today’s youth.

Our goal is for adults to become more aware of their actions and how these actions might influence the youth around them. With this awareness adults can become  a positive inspiration to all youth they come in contact with in their daily lives.

Our logic is that society (as reflected in the media) seems to feel that the majority of today’s youth are unmotivated and lazy. As has often been overheard “parenting doesn’t come with a handbook” and “becoming a parent is the one thing you don’t need a license but should”.   We hope to help all who come in contact with children: parents, students, teachers, coaches, church leaders, community group leaders, grandparents, etc.

Our focus is to be an agent of change not blame. Adults need to remain positive and focus on what is best for the children they influence. This is not always easy, this is why it takes sweat to inspire the youth of today.