Getting Involved

When Gary Wilson described internet pornography “as the fastest moving, most global experiment ever unconsciously conducted” he was spot on. Our school system, as it stands now, is unwittingly encouraging students to join the experiment! Hold on to your seat because it’s time for me to rant! Please imagine I am shouting this entire post though I will spare you the ALL CAPS! More and more research is confirming that porn tops the list of highly addictive substances. It has the ability to rewire the brain and deteriorate growth in the prefrontal cortex. Children are especially vulnerable. Yet, schools remain…

This Fall an article appeared in the National Post entitled A Distorted Picture by Joseph Brean. It caused me pause to reflect upon the ineffectiveness of the current child pornography laws in Canada and how important it is today for parents to be more engaged in their children’s online activities. Brean discusses the practice and subsequent consequences of young teens (predominantly girls) sending sexualized, nude selfies to other teens (typically boys).  The boys then share these images with their buddies as casually, if not more enthusiastically, as they would any other type of trading card. Unlike the foil-wrapped sports cards, I remember…

I started to feel a bit anxious as I sat waiting for the Principal in the school office—like I was a kid getting in trouble for something I didn’t do. Interestingly enough, when she opened her door and extended a welcoming hand, I sensed similar apprehensions on her part. For better or worse, I had managed until this moment to slip under the radar of our new Administration. Now here I was at our first face-to-face, ready to talk about pornography and its influence at school—Gulp! I knew, according to the letter that had come home on the first day…

For four days this week, I have had the privilege of hanging out with some of the coolest teens you will ever meet. I am at the University of Waterloo, Ontario attending what is called YLC (Youth Leadership Conference) for the LDS church. Nearly 600 youth are in attendance. In observing these kids I can see that individually they are each shy, anxious and worried about life in one way or another. But they are also exceptionally bright, fun, exuberant and strong. Together they are a force to be reckoned with. The combined creativity and imagination among these youth is…