'A TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS'

Aljazeera spent a day in the life of two U.S. high school students on both sides of the education divide. Here's their story in their own words.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Aljazeera
• education

[commonman80]

@Dabu641, I disagree, A child's Education begins AT HOME. Part of that Education is Values. Children having Children at ages 13, 14, is a Value Issue.. NOT a Political Issue. Children NOT going to school is a Values Issue.. NOT a Political Issue. If Parents are doing their part by correctly Raising/Educating their Children, Showing up at PTA Meetings, School Board Meetings, Parent Teachers Meetings, Then YES, I agree that more funding for better Education should be given to That School System...

[Dabu641]

@commonman80 Keep in mind that each of these kids parents and grandparents more than likely went to the same types of school that their kid is shown going to here. Its a perpetual cycle that needs to be fixed by first acknowledging (politically) that racial segregation still exists in our schools despite Brown vs. BOE and we need to integrate. .Then we need to find an equal way to fund our schools-property tax is not working! Plus we need quality teachers at the worst schools!

[Dabu641]

@scimmfive I agree, other paths aside from higher education exist. The problem with this is that those specific schools that are being built to promote trades and military are continuously built in minority and low income communities. We don't have 99% white high schools that have graduation rates near 20% like we do with Afro-American or Latino populated high schools, and we don't have 99% AA or Latino schools with 90% college bound seniors in major cities. You should read Kozol if interested.

[commonman80]

@LeonardAThomas, Continued: Not to mention, Random Drug and Alcohol testing,and if found to be using Or addicted, they should be placed into programs under the same condition as I spoke of earlier. However, if these "Parent" and or "Grand Parents" refuse to participate in Random Drug and Alcohol screening after they are found to be Abusing and or using, then and only then should the Child or Children be put into Foster Care. Until, they can prove themselves to be fit to care for children.

[commonman80]

@LeonardAThomas. That's the dilemma. What do you do? Statistically, The parents of these 12 and 14 year old "Parents, or in other words The "Grand Parents" May be no older than 29 or under 35 years of age themselves. With less than a High School Diploma. I think if these "Parents" and "Grand Parents" are receiving social services, to continue to receive them, they should also have to attend parenting classes and or complete GED Courses. Or, lose the ability to continue to receive the benefits..

[LeonardAThomas]

@commonman80 Given that all of what you said is true and the fact that children do not chose their parents, what do you recommend is done for these children? Pointing the finger at the parents solves nothing. Are you recommending that children born to young parents are put into foster care?

[commonman80]

People need to understand, Educating your children begins AT HOME. This so called "New Black Family" where as there is no father in the home, send their kids to school WITH OUT Educating them. The child then return home to a latch key environment. (If their lucky.) Or, to a home full of Stupid Under aged Parents. Where as The "Mother" is only 12 to 14 years older than the student. With nothing more than an 8th grade Education. Yet, Black America tolerates it. It's the "Parents" who are at fault.

[ZigZagzGoon]

@1wearytraveller Yeah this country blows but fuck you I'm white. 

[THEGLASSOFMILK2]

@scimmfive No I do know that but that should not be a part of high school. I totally agree there should be separate technical or trade schools. NOT art schools though. That shiz is pointless and you can pay for that.

[scimmfive]

@THEGLASSOFMILK2 You fail to consider that higher education is not the only path in life; far from. High schools can prepare students for trades, the military, for participation in democratic society, to enter the workforce, the business world, etc.