america's parent problem...

As most of you know, I'm a teacher in a Title I school, which means about 90% of the kids are on free or reduced lunch. The area is low income, actually one of the poorest elementary schools in the district. That means I have kids who's parents are in jail, kids who don't eat dinner at night, kids who share a couch at night with two other siblings, kids who's parents are drug addicts, kids who's parents are really young and uneducated, and kids who are accustomed to abuse. The list could go on. I love my job as a teacher, everyday is never the same. Talk about a challenge. In addition to actually teaching the children, I'm also there to provide a safe and loving environment. Sometimes, school is the only place these kids can feel safe.

Anyhoo, I read an editorial in the local newspaper, written by Leonard Pitts Jr. I truly enjoy his editorials and he always hits the topic right on. I find him a bit inspiring. I found something in his editorial today that hit close to home for me. I quote Tony Hopson Sr., founder of SEI...

"At-risk kids go home to at-risk parents. We do not have a youth problem in America; we have an adult problem in America. So unless you also begin to follow kids home and impact what's happening in the home site, you can't arrest the problem."

In this job, I find myself asking all of the time. How come you have to have a license to drive and to fish, but ANYBODY can be a parent?