Re: More in prison than in work....


"gingerbeer25" <gingerbeer25@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1143654656.402799.216420@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It is not simply about not having the desire to learn. First of all
innner city schools are ill equipped. People managing to get out of
the inner city school system and enter college site a lack of basic
skills. Inner city schools get less funding...you will have they have
less computers, older liabrary books, and outdated science labs. Do no
believe for one second that all schools are created equal. If that
lack of a proper school isn't enough to fail you there is always the
ever present fact of racism, both historiacal and present day. The
black community is suffering from a legacy of slavery, and
emasculation. The black community has never been given an adequate
chance to uplift itself. Understand that as you sit in your
comfortable home, that the benefits that the governement provides for
you today would not have been possible without the "free" labour of
black men and women.

Gingerbeer...inner city schools are *mismanaged!* Tons of money is thrown
at these schools to support hot-lunch programs, social support services,
special education, ESL, etc. Inner city schools get far more funding that
rural schools. Over and over again studies have indicated that students do
best when parents are involved in the public system. *Active* parents are
free to lobby local and state government for funds and programs. Admins and
teachers have to operate within whatever. *Active* parents also hold
admin's accountable for whatever happens at school. Admins, have to learn
to get parents on *their* side. More of than not, admins discourage
parental involvement...and therein lies part of the *mismanagement* problem.

At the same time, though, parents living in inner-cities tend to have their
own set of problems. The education of their children may not be top
priority for them when they're trying to cope with drug and alcohol
addiction, job losses, and crime within their communities, etc. It's a kind
of catch-22. But, things can be dealt with that would help those kinds of
school do better without actually spending a whole lot more money on
programs and services.

I'll give you an example. In my community, we've got one school that has
its share of social problems. It's by and large an "inner-city" school,
although the town is not particularly large. What the administration did
was invite social services and youth care providers to set up shop right
inside the school. It's a kind of "one-stop" shop to co-ordinate support
services for youth and their families. So, rather than have social services
located across town, and young offender support services located elsewhere,
and psychologists and counsillors still somewhere else, the admin created an
"integrated" resource centre within his own school. *Families* in need, get
the the support they need right within their very own neighbourhood and
within their own school and within walking distance. It also brings those
parents into the school, they learn to become familiar and comfortable
within that school, they get to know the staff, plus they end up involved!
The admin in this manner has shifted the parental focus back onto the child
and the child's need for an education! So, instead of the school merely
sending parents and children *away* from the school, the school is providing
services where it is needed...*inside* the school including parents! The
children and the parents then have access to help when needed! So, if
motivation is the problem...that is dealt with as a team
effort...councillor, parent, teacher, child. And it's working! The
drop-out rate was reduced dramatically.

So, I think much could be solved by merely *reorganizing* present resources,
and delivering services in a *different* way. It can also be done without
throwing more money at the system. But, you've got to get the *admins* on
board!

Heidi




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