America, why did you stray,
parents unable to discipline,
fear children undisciplined, now rule,
school in chaos, students unruly,
guaranteed to pass, unprepared for their future,
parents unsure, wish for the past,
hope the next generation won't be like the last
Have we gone to the extreme or have we simply forgotten children require nurturing, love, and discipline? Discipline for the development of a well rounded, educationally sound individual to to go forth in society and become a asset to the community and family. What happened? Where did we go wrong? Was it caused by a bureaucracy that created a nightmare of fear in parents--fear so all encompassing--it has made the children the controlling force of our society.
Parents who now allow their children to do as they please. A society that is now complacent in providing discipline to a generation of children who have little or no respect for themselves, peers, parents, teachers, and other associates. Where crime is at an all time high and will continue to climb. Where civil disobedience is the norm that often escalates to more serious crime. Where a victim has fewer rights than the accused and prison is no longer a deterrent to crime.
Parents live in fear of children seeking revenge by informing authorities their parents physically abused them. The parents fear of being guilty by association. Parents fear the child is more believable and not always truthful in providing the facts. Teachers, administrators, hospital personnel,and child welfare advocates assume the parent is at fault. The parent is tasked with the responsibility of proving they did not do harm to their children. Parents who fear a bruise from a child's everyday rough play may cost them their reputation and freedom.
Many children, regardless of grade, are placed in honor programs, yet cannot pass their states standardized test. Are we creating a generation that will enter a technological workforce with reading and math skill deficits? Yet, I am encouraged by the students who do excel, but again am concerned by those who are being left behind. Usually these are children from poor neighborhoods, those who experience little supervision or love, and those who simply have no desire. I believe it is our responsibility--we the baby boom generation--we the hippie generation--we the free love generation-- we of all generations who have been fortunate to receive an education that included accountability and discipline--our responsibility to instill that standard of education we seldom see today.
I am always impressed we allow our children to be educated by some of the lowest paid professionals in the country. At a starting salary most of us would turn our noses, these are true hero's. You have to be insane or so committed to your profession you place yourself in a position to be assaulted, be required to perform your job with limited resources or tools, deal with a board that in most cases has no clue what is best for education, a state that awards contractors with enormous bonuses for completing a job on time, counties that have no problem spending thousands on useless consultants and huge bonuses for management, yet cannot find the money to spend on education or teacher raises. Is it a wonder our educational system is failing our children?
It is time for the majority to become actively involved by demanding to know where the lottery money is going, where the tax money is going, and demand accountability of all elected officials. It is no longer a republican or democrat issue--it is an American issue. Its time to revitalize volunteerism on country wide basis and get involved in helping our children succeed through tutoring, mentoring, friendship, and communication with those children who are being left behind, and those who are excelling, provide motivation and incentives for all children to succeed. Maybe if parents, grandparents, retirees, and peers come together in each community our children will have a much greater advantage in our competitive world and we will not have to fear the next generation will be like the last.
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