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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Grainne who wrote (99309)	3/23/2005 9:53:49 AM
From: Augustus Gloop	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

<<I never argued that welfare was helpful in getting children through school>> I know you didn't. I was citing an example where just writing a check did nothing. Actually it did something - it enslaved people to handouts and poverty. What needs to be strengthened first in the educational process is the family unit. There must be a foundation and sanctuary that is solid and responsible for kids to come home to. It has to foster values, responsibilities, good behavior and academics. Only when this is in place will kids have a chance to flourish in school. Now, thats not to say that food isn't needed - I view that as a given. But what I see in education today is that kids who come from homes that have the money to feed them and give them the basics aren't turning out good product for the schools to work with. This changes the landscape - a lot! It means a much higher percentage of kids than just the poor and it gets us closer to the real issue of bad parenting. Personally I think quality parenting started to decline before education results started slipping. Like anything else the cycle was handed down to the next generation and now we have a problem. So what I'm saying is lets not waste money on a tune-up when the engine needs to be rebuilt. <<Bush cutting food stamps funding certainly doesn't send a feel-good message to me about his intent for children.>> I'm not going to argue about the food stamp issue. I doubt it was a single issue bill but regardless I don't want people going hungry. What I will address is the "feel good" aspect. Ever had a root canal? It doesn't feel good right away. What we don't need are "fee' good" approaches that are nothing more than a quick pain killer with no long lasting benefit. To fix this will be painful and it will take time but good things don't come easy. <<And if you think the voucher program will pay for poor children to go to the same schools rich children go to, you are sadly mistaken>> Thats not true. We do it in Milwaukee and kids that would probably not have made it through school are graduating and going on to college. Now it may not be enough to get poor kids into some private schools but it will get them out of schools where their peer group is going nowhere and into schools with smaller class sizes. I've always found it ironic that the democrats in Washington who scream education are against a voucher program that could send poor kids to some of the very schools they send their children to. <<Explain the ways you are involved with children, and your experiences with the YMCA, instead of writing posts with lots of generalizations. Then I think people would understand where you are coming from better.>> I know what you're saying. By the same token I don't think that I should have to prepare a list of experiences and charitable donations for people to think my viewpoint has merit. It's only when I get really pissed that I even discuss those things. I know who I am and what I do when it comes to giving. I shouldn't have to list the donation checks for people to think I have both some good points and a brain. Restore the family unit, values, discipline and expectations and you'll see the results you want except in the very poor. Only then will we, as a nation, be able to tackle the issue of education as it relates to poverty. Right now there are too God Damn many people who have the means but refuse to take on the responsibility that comes with kids and thats dragging us under on the educational front.