Chris Jenkins
English Argument
December 9, 1995The role of schools is to prepare the youth for their futures. However we have lost site of that objective. Today schooling is a constant struggle to stay alive. It is not by fault of the school alone, parents and the community, as a whole, effect the school. In California, the South Central Los Angeles community is crumbling. It is a crime ridden, drug infested community. There are an estimated 250,000 young people with only one parent. Most of these young people only see the gang violence and drug selling role models. (Davis, 17) There are very few options for these young people. A study in Alberta, Canada was performed to try and solve these problems that exist in urban communities. It would take a collective community effort to provide a school environment where kids can learn and be prepared to become adults. Each student, parent, teacher, principal, and other community leaders will have to put out their full effort in helping this cause. Operation Resurrection
Problems in the school system such as violence and overall student attitude need to be corrected. Students in these schools often become defensive and aggressive.(Alberta, 12) They have problems with drugs and alcohol or bringing weapons to school. They often use abusive language and intimidation to prove their adulthood. Such acts should not be necessary for teenagers. Some schools are failing to provide an atmosphere of mutual respect. Consequently students are losing respect for themselves and all authority. Once you lose respect for yourself you cannot expect them to respect some one else. Most problems with student conduct and violence are related to gang activity. Teenagers are often swayed by peer pressure.(Alberta, 13) They are afraid of being isolated from certain "clicks". Therefore these young adults follow the crowd and get involved in dangerous actions.
In South Central Los Angeles, these young adults face countless problems within school hours and few have to do with education. The Los Angeles police department organized a plan to create a more academic atmosphere. Youthful looking cops would entrap a student into selling drugs.(Davis, 17) Programs like these only effect the ignorant low level drug dealers. The big time drug dealers don't fall for such tricks.(Davis, 17) A more productive program would be to expel all of the students that are not going to class or causing a disturbance when they do attend. Then immediate results would be made. And if a student feels that he or she was unfairly dismissed he could enroll again on a probational basis.
The development of a positive school climate is very important. It is important to stress the fact that the school is for learning. Teachers today seem to have a tough time controlling the aggression of their students.(Alberta, 12) The school staff must find a way to administer "tough love and not abandoning students who have serious emotional and social problems."(Alberta, 12) Once the non students are removed from the school a clear, consistent, and fair student code of conduct should be developed. Students, along with the professionals should develop a code of conduct. If you develop something on your own you would tend to respect it more. Just as there is a strong peer support system in the gangs, students could show the same camaraderie to each other. Each student would know the consequences of their own actions. High expectations would be set for themselves and as they are met the self esteem of the students would rise. It is important to teach the students skills that will effect them as they become older. Community leaders should have an influence on the students. Employers could offer the students jobs.(Alberta, 17) This is another creative way to have the students gain more respect for themselves. This respect would spread throughout the schools. Schools could create a curriculum that meets the needs of various racial and religious backgrounds. There is a need for community caring in the schools even if it is not established outside the community.
Other social groups that need to contribute to making the school system better are the parents. Families need to support the schools. Parents must start taking more responsibility for the way their children behave.(Hawk, 1) Often when a student misbehaves the parents blame the school for their own wrongful actions. However the truth that the parents are the primary educators they are suppose to do the major work in teaching their children. Positive values and attitudes.(Alberta, 15) The parents need to go to school and show interest in how their child is doing. Parents can also be a part of the cooperative leadership of the school. They could add their views about the curriculum, which is relevant to the students' needs.
I do not believe that every kid has to go to high school. It would be a good idea to create a technical school for those who do not believe in the school's expectations. Students could learn a trade such as plumbing or automotive repair. Today students need to be taught how to become involved parents to prevent a repeat of history. As the people involved apply a large effort to make some changes the school system will once again be effective. But everyone must work together for the common goal.
Chris Jenkins is a freshman at Carnegie Mellon, in the school of Humanities and Social Sciences cbj +@andrew.cmu.edu>.Click here to return to the class's home page.