OT My letter about the Pearls' book /child abuse
[email protected]
I sent this to the Tennessee Commissioner of human and social services where
their company is based, and where they live. I also sent the same letter to
20/20, Primetime Live, and other news stations.
Elaine
Dear Commissioner,
I would to bring attention to a publication that is offered by a company by
name of
No Greater Joy Ministries, Inc. 1000 Pearl RD Pleasantville, TN 37033, and
authored by this company's owners, Michael & Debi Pearl. The name of this book
is "To Train Up A Child", and is nothing more than a guide on how to severely
abuse a child. The contents of this book is shocking and disturbing. I can't
believe that it's been in publication for 10 years, and is available to
impressionable parents around the world. I beg you to read this book and see for
yourself. To get an idea of the horrific advice given in this book I have included
some examples from the pages of the book below:
Examples:
1) The Pearls recommend whipping infants only a few months old on their bare
skin. They whip their own 4 month old (p.9). They recommend whipping the bare
skin of "every child" (p.2) for "Christians and non-Christians" (p.5) and for
"every transgression" (p.1). Parents who don't whip their babies into complete
submission are portrayed as indifferemt, lazy, careless and neglectful (p.19)
and are "creating a Nazi" (p.45).
2) On p.60 they recommend whipping babies who cannot sleep and are crying,
and to never allow them "to get up." On p.61 they recommend whipping a 12 month
old girl for crying. On p.79 they recommend whipping a 7 month old for
screaming.
3) On p.65 co-author Debi Pearl whips the bare leg of a 15 month old she is
babysitting, 10 separate times, for not playing with something she tells him
to play with. On p.56 Debi Pearl hits a 2 your old so hard "a karate chop like
wheeze came from somewhere deep inside" him.
4) On p.59 they recommend whipping a 3 year old until he is "totally
broken."
5) On p.44 they say not to let the child's crying while being hit to "cause
you to lighten up on the intensity or duration of the spanking."
6) On p.55 the Pearls say a mother should hit her child if he cries for her.
7) On p.80 they recommend giving a child having a tantrum "a swift
*forceful* spanking." On the same page they say to whip small children on their bare
skin until they stop screaming. "Don't be bullied. Give him more of the same."
They say to continue whipping until their crying turns into a "wounded,
submissive whimper."
8) On p.46 the Pearls say that if a child does obey before being whipped,
whip them anyway. And "if you have to sit on him to spank him,then do not
hesitate. And hold him there until he is surrendered. Prove that you are bigger,
tougher." "Defeat him totally."
9) On p.47 they recommend their various whips, including "a belt or larger
tree branch" to hit children.
10) The Pearls also recommend ignoring an infant's bumped head when he falls
to the floor, and ignoring skinned knees (p.86). They also say "if your child
is roughed-up by peers, rejoice." (p.81)
11) They recommend pulling a nursing infant's hair (p.7), tripping a
non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep water (p.67) and to make children go
hungry if they don't "like what is on the table" (p.103). Also on p.103 they say
that if children lose their shoes, "let them go without until they (the
children) can make the money to buy more."
I can only hope that you will look into this publication and the company and
owners/authors who provide this piece of hateful and abusive propaganda, and
have it removed from the hands of our society. If these examples are not enough
then you can always go to amazon.com and read the hundreds of reviews from
people who are equally as disturbed as I am.
I have sent copies of this same letter to many new organizations including
20/20 and Primetime Live, and can only hope to shed as much light as possible on
this book and it's authors.
Sincerely,
Elaine Nichols
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
their company is based, and where they live. I also sent the same letter to
20/20, Primetime Live, and other news stations.
Elaine
Dear Commissioner,
I would to bring attention to a publication that is offered by a company by
name of
No Greater Joy Ministries, Inc. 1000 Pearl RD Pleasantville, TN 37033, and
authored by this company's owners, Michael & Debi Pearl. The name of this book
is "To Train Up A Child", and is nothing more than a guide on how to severely
abuse a child. The contents of this book is shocking and disturbing. I can't
believe that it's been in publication for 10 years, and is available to
impressionable parents around the world. I beg you to read this book and see for
yourself. To get an idea of the horrific advice given in this book I have included
some examples from the pages of the book below:
Examples:
1) The Pearls recommend whipping infants only a few months old on their bare
skin. They whip their own 4 month old (p.9). They recommend whipping the bare
skin of "every child" (p.2) for "Christians and non-Christians" (p.5) and for
"every transgression" (p.1). Parents who don't whip their babies into complete
submission are portrayed as indifferemt, lazy, careless and neglectful (p.19)
and are "creating a Nazi" (p.45).
2) On p.60 they recommend whipping babies who cannot sleep and are crying,
and to never allow them "to get up." On p.61 they recommend whipping a 12 month
old girl for crying. On p.79 they recommend whipping a 7 month old for
screaming.
3) On p.65 co-author Debi Pearl whips the bare leg of a 15 month old she is
babysitting, 10 separate times, for not playing with something she tells him
to play with. On p.56 Debi Pearl hits a 2 your old so hard "a karate chop like
wheeze came from somewhere deep inside" him.
4) On p.59 they recommend whipping a 3 year old until he is "totally
broken."
5) On p.44 they say not to let the child's crying while being hit to "cause
you to lighten up on the intensity or duration of the spanking."
6) On p.55 the Pearls say a mother should hit her child if he cries for her.
7) On p.80 they recommend giving a child having a tantrum "a swift
*forceful* spanking." On the same page they say to whip small children on their bare
skin until they stop screaming. "Don't be bullied. Give him more of the same."
They say to continue whipping until their crying turns into a "wounded,
submissive whimper."
8) On p.46 the Pearls say that if a child does obey before being whipped,
whip them anyway. And "if you have to sit on him to spank him,then do not
hesitate. And hold him there until he is surrendered. Prove that you are bigger,
tougher." "Defeat him totally."
9) On p.47 they recommend their various whips, including "a belt or larger
tree branch" to hit children.
10) The Pearls also recommend ignoring an infant's bumped head when he falls
to the floor, and ignoring skinned knees (p.86). They also say "if your child
is roughed-up by peers, rejoice." (p.81)
11) They recommend pulling a nursing infant's hair (p.7), tripping a
non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep water (p.67) and to make children go
hungry if they don't "like what is on the table" (p.103). Also on p.103 they say
that if children lose their shoes, "let them go without until they (the
children) can make the money to buy more."
I can only hope that you will look into this publication and the company and
owners/authors who provide this piece of hateful and abusive propaganda, and
have it removed from the hands of our society. If these examples are not enough
then you can always go to amazon.com and read the hundreds of reviews from
people who are equally as disturbed as I am.
I have sent copies of this same letter to many new organizations including
20/20 and Primetime Live, and can only hope to shed as much light as possible on
this book and it's authors.
Sincerely,
Elaine Nichols
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Julie Bogart
Good for you Elaine! I hope you succeed. I was a part of a campaign to expose the Ezzos
many years ago including the production of a booklet showing why their parenting
techniques were dangerous and not biblical. Christianity Today and the Christian Research
Institute finally responded to the hundreds of complaints and exposed them as frauds.
One quick question: Do the Pearls use the word "whipping" in their book? I've heard of the
"spanking through" technique of spanking until the child is "broken." But I hadn't known
that they actually used the term "whipping.
Ugh.
Julie B
many years ago including the production of a booklet showing why their parenting
techniques were dangerous and not biblical. Christianity Today and the Christian Research
Institute finally responded to the hundreds of complaints and exposed them as frauds.
One quick question: Do the Pearls use the word "whipping" in their book? I've heard of the
"spanking through" technique of spanking until the child is "broken." But I hadn't known
that they actually used the term "whipping.
Ugh.
Julie B
--- In [email protected], Moondancermom@a... wrote:
> I sent this to the Tennessee Commissioner of human and social services where
> their company is based, and where they live. I also sent the same letter to
> 20/20, Primetime Live, and other news stations.
>
> Elaine
>
>
> Dear Commissioner,
>
> I would to bring attention to a publication that is offered by a company by
> name of
> No Greater Joy Ministries, Inc. 1000 Pearl RD Pleasantville, TN 37033, and
> authored by this company's owners, Michael & Debi Pearl. The name of this book
> is "To Train Up A Child", and is nothing more than a guide on how to severely
> abuse a child. The contents of this book is shocking and disturbing. I can't
> believe that it's been in publication for 10 years, and is available to
> impressionable parents around the world. I beg you to read this book and see for
> yourself. To get an idea of the horrific advice given in this book I have included
> some examples from the pages of the book below:
>
>
> Examples:
>
> 1) The Pearls recommend whipping infants only a few months old on their bare
> skin. They whip their own 4 month old (p.9). They recommend whipping the bare
> skin of "every child" (p.2) for "Christians and non-Christians" (p.5) and for
> "every transgression" (p.1). Parents who don't whip their babies into complete
> submission are portrayed as indifferemt, lazy, careless and neglectful (p.19)
> and are "creating a Nazi" (p.45).
>
> 2) On p.60 they recommend whipping babies who cannot sleep and are crying,
> and to never allow them "to get up." On p.61 they recommend whipping a 12 month
> old girl for crying. On p.79 they recommend whipping a 7 month old for
> screaming.
>
> 3) On p.65 co-author Debi Pearl whips the bare leg of a 15 month old she is
> babysitting, 10 separate times, for not playing with something she tells him
> to play with. On p.56 Debi Pearl hits a 2 your old so hard "a karate chop like
> wheeze came from somewhere deep inside" him.
>
> 4) On p.59 they recommend whipping a 3 year old until he is "totally
> broken."
>
> 5) On p.44 they say not to let the child's crying while being hit to "cause
> you to lighten up on the intensity or duration of the spanking."
>
> 6) On p.55 the Pearls say a mother should hit her child if he cries for her.
>
> 7) On p.80 they recommend giving a child having a tantrum "a swift
> *forceful* spanking." On the same page they say to whip small children on their bare
> skin until they stop screaming. "Don't be bullied. Give him more of the same."
> They say to continue whipping until their crying turns into a "wounded,
> submissive whimper."
>
> 8) On p.46 the Pearls say that if a child does obey before being whipped,
> whip them anyway. And "if you have to sit on him to spank him,then do not
> hesitate. And hold him there until he is surrendered. Prove that you are bigger,
> tougher." "Defeat him totally."
>
> 9) On p.47 they recommend their various whips, including "a belt or larger
> tree branch" to hit children.
>
> 10) The Pearls also recommend ignoring an infant's bumped head when he falls
> to the floor, and ignoring skinned knees (p.86). They also say "if your child
> is roughed-up by peers, rejoice." (p.81)
>
> 11) They recommend pulling a nursing infant's hair (p.7), tripping a
> non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep water (p.67) and to make children go
> hungry if they don't "like what is on the table" (p.103). Also on p.103 they say
> that if children lose their shoes, "let them go without until they (the
> children) can make the money to buy more."
>
> I can only hope that you will look into this publication and the company and
> owners/authors who provide this piece of hateful and abusive propaganda, and
> have it removed from the hands of our society. If these examples are not enough
> then you can always go to amazon.com and read the hundreds of reviews from
> people who are equally as disturbed as I am.
> I have sent copies of this same letter to many new organizations including
> 20/20 and Primetime Live, and can only hope to shed as much light as possible on
> this book and it's authors.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Elaine Nichols
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
J. Stauffer
<<<<I've heard of the
spanking, even a single swap to a padded diaper area with an open hand might
be called "getting a whipping".
Julie S.
> "spanking through" technique of spanking until the child is "broken." ButI hadn't known
> that they actually used the term "whipping.>>>>>May be a regionalism. Around here people use the term "whipping" to mean
spanking, even a single swap to a padded diaper area with an open hand might
be called "getting a whipping".
Julie S.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Bogart" <julie@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 6:41 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: OT My letter about the Pearls' book
/child abuse
> Good for you Elaine! I hope you succeed. I was a part of a campaign to
expose the Ezzos
> many years ago including the production of a booklet showing why their
parenting
> techniques were dangerous and not biblical. Christianity Today and the
Christian Research
> Institute finally responded to the hundreds of complaints and exposed them
as frauds.
>
> One quick question: Do the Pearls use the word "whipping" in their book?
I've heard of the
> "spanking through" technique of spanking until the child is "broken." But
I hadn't known
> that they actually used the term "whipping.
>
> Ugh.
>
> Julie B
>
> --- In [email protected], Moondancermom@a... wrote:
> > I sent this to the Tennessee Commissioner of human and social services
where
> > their company is based, and where they live. I also sent the same letter
to
> > 20/20, Primetime Live, and other news stations.
> >
> > Elaine
> >
> >
> > Dear Commissioner,
> >
> > I would to bring attention to a publication that is offered by a company
by
> > name of
> > No Greater Joy Ministries, Inc. 1000 Pearl RD Pleasantville, TN 37033,
and
> > authored by this company's owners, Michael & Debi Pearl. The name of
this book
> > is "To Train Up A Child", and is nothing more than a guide on how to
severely
> > abuse a child. The contents of this book is shocking and disturbing. I
can't
> > believe that it's been in publication for 10 years, and is available to
> > impressionable parents around the world. I beg you to read this book and
see for
> > yourself. To get an idea of the horrific advice given in this book I
have included
> > some examples from the pages of the book below:
> >
> >
> > Examples:
> >
> > 1) The Pearls recommend whipping infants only a few months old on their
bare
> > skin. They whip their own 4 month old (p.9). They recommend whipping the
bare
> > skin of "every child" (p.2) for "Christians and non-Christians" (p.5)
and for
> > "every transgression" (p.1). Parents who don't whip their babies into
complete
> > submission are portrayed as indifferemt, lazy, careless and neglectful
(p.19)
> > and are "creating a Nazi" (p.45).
> >
> > 2) On p.60 they recommend whipping babies who cannot sleep and are
crying,
> > and to never allow them "to get up." On p.61 they recommend whipping a
12 month
> > old girl for crying. On p.79 they recommend whipping a 7 month old for
> > screaming.
> >
> > 3) On p.65 co-author Debi Pearl whips the bare leg of a 15 month old
she is
> > babysitting, 10 separate times, for not playing with something she tells
him
> > to play with. On p.56 Debi Pearl hits a 2 your old so hard "a karate
chop like
> > wheeze came from somewhere deep inside" him.
> >
> > 4) On p.59 they recommend whipping a 3 year old until he is "totally
> > broken."
> >
> > 5) On p.44 they say not to let the child's crying while being hit to
"cause
> > you to lighten up on the intensity or duration of the spanking."
> >
> > 6) On p.55 the Pearls say a mother should hit her child if he cries for
her.
> >
> > 7) On p.80 they recommend giving a child having a tantrum "a swift
> > *forceful* spanking." On the same page they say to whip small children
on their bare
> > skin until they stop screaming. "Don't be bullied. Give him more of the
same."
> > They say to continue whipping until their crying turns into a "wounded,
> > submissive whimper."
> >
> > 8) On p.46 the Pearls say that if a child does obey before being
whipped,
> > whip them anyway. And "if you have to sit on him to spank him,then do
not
> > hesitate. And hold him there until he is surrendered. Prove that you are
bigger,
> > tougher." "Defeat him totally."
> >
> > 9) On p.47 they recommend their various whips, including "a belt or
larger
> > tree branch" to hit children.
> >
> > 10) The Pearls also recommend ignoring an infant's bumped head when he
falls
> > to the floor, and ignoring skinned knees (p.86). They also say "if your
child
> > is roughed-up by peers, rejoice." (p.81)
> >
> > 11) They recommend pulling a nursing infant's hair (p.7), tripping a
> > non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep water (p.67) and to make
children go
> > hungry if they don't "like what is on the table" (p.103). Also on p.103
they say
> > that if children lose their shoes, "let them go without until they (the
> > children) can make the money to buy more."
> >
> > I can only hope that you will look into this publication and the company
and
> > owners/authors who provide this piece of hateful and abusive propaganda,
and
> > have it removed from the hands of our society. If these examples are not
enough
> > then you can always go to amazon.com and read the hundreds of reviews
from
> > people who are equally as disturbed as I am.
> > I have sent copies of this same letter to many new organizations
including
> > 20/20 and Primetime Live, and can only hope to shed as much light as
possible on
> > this book and it's authors.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Elaine Nichols
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
http://www.unschooling.com
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
[email protected]
**I sent this to the Tennessee Commissioner of human and social services
where
their company is based, and where they live. I also sent the same letter to
20/20, Primetime Live, and other news stations.**
**I can only hope that you will look into this publication and the company
and
owners/authors who provide this piece of hateful and abusive propaganda, and
have it removed from the hands of our society.**
Well... much as I hate this book and everything this author stands for, I'm
pretty grateful that the laws of our country won't allow the state of Tennessee
or any other government to "have it removed from the hands of our society".
Free speech is only really free if it applies to everyone, especially to speech
we hate.
On the other hand, exposing hateful speech to the light of day as much as
possible is a good thing, or at least we can hope so, and hope that if any news
organization does decide to pick up on the story they leave homeschooling out
of it.
Deborah in IL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
where
their company is based, and where they live. I also sent the same letter to
20/20, Primetime Live, and other news stations.**
**I can only hope that you will look into this publication and the company
and
owners/authors who provide this piece of hateful and abusive propaganda, and
have it removed from the hands of our society.**
Well... much as I hate this book and everything this author stands for, I'm
pretty grateful that the laws of our country won't allow the state of Tennessee
or any other government to "have it removed from the hands of our society".
Free speech is only really free if it applies to everyone, especially to speech
we hate.
On the other hand, exposing hateful speech to the light of day as much as
possible is a good thing, or at least we can hope so, and hope that if any news
organization does decide to pick up on the story they leave homeschooling out
of it.
Deborah in IL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]