Dishing out spicy liberal social commentary and critical thinking news analysis on America, world politics, the news, fun political humor, cartoons - and a little poetry by Independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon.
From Denny: Oh, that we had the national will to do this for every school across America! We could lower the number of drop-outs if we kept kids engaged with programs like this one. Gangs? No one would have the time - or be in the wrong place - to join a gang. Building self-esteem is yet another way to reduce the demand for drugs, helping to wipe out the drug trade in America.
"After School Matters" was founded in 1991 by Chicago's First Lady, Maggie Daley. This program combines culinary arts, photography, science and sports as a diverse approach to continue the teaching process: mentoring. What's wonderful about it is that these same kids go on to mentor younger kids, building their self-esteem and status in their community.
I view these kinds of programs as a way to bridge the gap from childhood to adulthood since they teach responsibility and mentoring. These are skills they will require in the adult world and it's easier to learn them while still in school. Take a look:
From Denny: I just love these Making a Difference segments that Brian Williams does on NBC Nightly News. Viewers send in emails about people doing wonderful things in their area of the country and NBC does a report on them.
Having worked with troubled teens from the school system, I know only too well how important it is to give these kids hope and proper mentoring to impact their lives to the positive. I tried to get to the kids while they were still young, ages 7 to 13, before they ended up an issue for the court system.
This story is about helping troubled teens - who have often been jailed - gain new purpose near Washington, D.C., in Alexandria, Virginia through a mentoring program of teaching small ship building.
This is what real teaching is all about: taking unproductive unruly people and giving them a hands-on approach in a job situation to turn them into productive people who will know how to behave and succeed in a normal job situation in the adult world. It costs less money to care about someone and teach them than it does to be punitive and treat them as society's throw-aways. Take a look at this success story:
These teens are referred from the judges and police officers in the court systems in Virginia. It costs over $100,000 to house one juvenile for a year. This program of teaching them a trade only costs $15,000 a year - and half of that money goes to paying the teen after they have finished the program! Many return to the program as teachers; it built their confidence so much they wanted to give back. Now that's what I call inspiring people!
