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What in the world is going on in schools? With Drop Our rates at an all
time high (50-60% in some states), students fighting teachers, teachers
fighting students, teachers fighting teachers, teachers marrying
students (2 cases actually) - what is the deal? Then, I am hearing
rumbles of states outlawing home schooling. You can't educate them
effectively and you don't want the parents to take control. Something
has to be done about our schools, and it's not the schools full
responsibility. The biggest part of the responsibility lies with the
parents. I was reminded the other day of when I was doing some
mentoring in a school in Savannah Ga., and I mentioned to the Assistant
Principal how some of the kids seem so angry. He then, shared with me
that this one particular kid had a mother who was hooked on crack, and
every night, he went out looking for her in the streets near their
home. His mother was selling sex, and not in the house, and the son
would go searching for her every night. Well, I'm sure I probably
wouldn't have my homework and would be just a little bit peeved if I
grew up in an environment like that.
Then, parenting isn't easy at all. I know I am personally walking my son
through some (at times) difficult developmental years. There was an
incident at his school last week (a fight) that I am in the middle of
handling, as we speak. This aint easy, and I am Saved, healthy,
financially stable man with a wife and other family support working
along with me. I could only imagine being a single mother struggling to
make ends meet. Wow - thanks Mama.
So, with all of the issues that
kids have, we drop them off on teachers for 6 to 8 hours a day, and
expect everything to work out just right. And then, have the audacity
to put the entire blame on the teachers and the administration when
things happen. Not excusing the teachers, cause there are some slack
teachers and slack administrators out there - who don't expect much,
don't demand much, don't teach much, and then are surprised when the
kids don't do much. But then, they are some teachers with slack
parents, and there are some good parents with slack teachers.
One
thing (and I know we've heard it before) but I truly believe a big
mistake was made when they took Jesus and prayer out of school. I had
an administrator tell me that she needs help, and has reached out to
organizations, but have gotten no response. I think churches would have
been the first alliance for schools, but with the separation of church
and state, the state has been left to fin for itself. But then again,
churches have their issues with the lack of men and parental
involvement also.
I don't know - one thing for sure, this is a cycle that must be broken
and will not be solved in a simple blog. Kids who drop out make a $1
Million less than those who graduate. States with poor education can't
draw companies to their states because of a poorly prepared employee
pool. No jobs, more crime. The rich gets richer and the poor gets
poorer and more desperate. This is all of our problem.
So,
what do we do? What's next? What is our responsibility? We better do
something, and we better do it quick. If we don't do something, we are
all going to pay for it. Like my Pastor always says, "We better get off
our do nothing, and do something".
Sincerely, Akintunde
Always fighting the good fight of faith...and winning.
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