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raeanna74 · 08-15-2005, 06:18 PM

Rules have multiple uses. They are not just for empowering certain people. It's true that rules are abused by crooked men in power. This is when I believe that people need to use common sense and discernment to decide what rules or WHO to obey. Personally I use the basic rules of the Ten Commandments as a good blueprint for rules. If I were to have a leader that told me I SHOULD take things from others at will - that is stealing and it goes against my basic rules.

Rules SHOULD in an utopia be simply to protect the people and maintain order. It's a general rule that we learn in elementary school - to stand in line. It's polite, it maintains order, it shows respect, and it helps things run more smoothly when we wait out turn anywhere.

I have a rule that my daughter is not to ride her bike in the road. My neighbor has no such rule for her son who is of the same age. Who is right? Our road is not frequently traveled BUT I know my daughter, She gets busy doing things and does not pay attention. It would not surprise me if she were riding down the road, a car came around the corner, she did not see it and got hit. Perhaps my neighbor believes her son will be more observant OR perhaps my neighbor is not as responsible. Either way my rule may seem somewhat arbitrary - especially to my daughter - but I don't change it because I care about my daughter and I do not want her hurt. On the other hand - she LOVES to climb things and is very agile - the neighbor boy is a clutz. My neighbor does not let him climb on her hammock because he has fallen off before. My daughter climbs all over her swingset and I let her. I try hard not to make too many rules or overprotect my daughter. Sometimes I will have no rule concerning an issue until something comes to my attention as a danger.

As for punishment - If perchance my daughter DOES go out in the road though, even if she does not get hurt or a car does not pass I will still punish her because it teaches her to obey my rules even when she does not comprehend their purpose fully. Also I hope that the punishment may help remind her the next time she is tempted to go in the road. Punishment is not just to make myself more powerful. It is because I care and because I want to teach.

Rules in our government, there are good ones and there are poor ones. As people we need to appeal to our leaders or work to place ourself in a place of leadership in order to change the poorly chosen laws. My daughter is able to appeal to me, my students were allowed to appeal to me as well. If they present a reason that is justified for not following a particular rule - I WILL bend it. My students were not allowed to go to the bathroom in the middle of a lesson - they were given opportunities frequently during the day. BUT I did allow a few children at times when they were feeling ill. The other students knew why I changed the rule temporarily. Discretion in a leader is an extremely valuable asset.

08-15-2005, 06:18 PM	#41 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Rules have multiple uses. They are not just for empowering certain people. It's true that rules are abused by crooked men in power. This is when I believe that people need to use common sense and discernment to decide what rules or WHO to obey. Personally I use the basic rules of the Ten Commandments as a good blueprint for rules. If I were to have a leader that told me I SHOULD take things from others at will - that is stealing and it goes against my basic rules. Rules SHOULD in an utopia be simply to protect the people and maintain order. It's a general rule that we learn in elementary school - to stand in line. It's polite, it maintains order, it shows respect, and it helps things run more smoothly when we wait out turn anywhere. I have a rule that my daughter is not to ride her bike in the road. My neighbor has no such rule for her son who is of the same age. Who is right? Our road is not frequently traveled BUT I know my daughter, She gets busy doing things and does not pay attention. It would not surprise me if she were riding down the road, a car came around the corner, she did not see it and got hit. Perhaps my neighbor believes her son will be more observant OR perhaps my neighbor is not as responsible. Either way my rule may seem somewhat arbitrary - especially to my daughter - but I don't change it because I care about my daughter and I do not want her hurt. On the other hand - she LOVES to climb things and is very agile - the neighbor boy is a clutz. My neighbor does not let him climb on her hammock because he has fallen off before. My daughter climbs all over her swingset and I let her. I try hard not to make too many rules or overprotect my daughter. Sometimes I will have no rule concerning an issue until something comes to my attention as a danger. As for punishment - If perchance my daughter DOES go out in the road though, even if she does not get hurt or a car does not pass I will still punish her because it teaches her to obey my rules even when she does not comprehend their purpose fully. Also I hope that the punishment may help remind her the next time she is tempted to go in the road. Punishment is not just to make myself more powerful. It is because I care and because I want to teach. Rules in our government, there are good ones and there are poor ones. As people we need to appeal to our leaders or work to place ourself in a place of leadership in order to change the poorly chosen laws. My daughter is able to appeal to me, my students were allowed to appeal to me as well. If they present a reason that is justified for not following a particular rule - I WILL bend it. My students were not allowed to go to the bathroom in the middle of a lesson - they were given opportunities frequently during the day. BUT I did allow a few children at times when they were feeling ill. The other students knew why I changed the rule temporarily. Discretion in a leader is an extremely valuable asset. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.