Comments on: Examiner - City Students Rally at “Die-in”

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Heber Brown, III — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:19:45 +0000

Golden Lady - I agree with you about the interconnectedness of societal problems and most people’s appetite for quick “solutions” as opposed to real solutions.

Opal - While I believe that there is somewhat of a bone to pick regarding equitable funding in public education; I also agree with you that the main problem is management. There are forces in our community that are happy with the mismanagement of Baltimore City funds and they will fight to keep it that way. Also, of course I agree with you that MENTORING is a viable, cost-effective, research supported mechanism to buttress academic achievement given our fragmented communities’ impact on our youth.

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Opal — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 06:40:46 +0000

I forgot to add I don’t think the answer is more funding since I think that will get used by those that won’t benefit, the children. The money needs to be managed better. Third world countries achieve higher academic scores than the USA in education on much less money per student. In fact when I worked at United Way there was a program started in a state. I forget the state but there students scores rose sigificantly based on community involvement. They didn’t receive extra funding but the children did have a strong support system.

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Opal — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 06:31:42 +0000

Even more reasons for people to step up to the plate and pick up the slack when our officials choose to ignore the issue. Volunteering as a mentor at an inner city school has given a new meaning to “thinking outside the box”. The program I’m involved with provides mentors and tutors.

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Golden Lady — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:13:17 +0000

I was talking with a friend about this very sort of thing not long ago. I was saying that it seems the city’s stance on crime is short sighted - yes, more and better police can help, but what about the other things that effect crime in the long term, such as education or fostering strong communities? Her point was that most tax-paying citizens don’t want to hear it. They want their solutions quick and decisive, and if our current leaders don’t do that, then they elect people who will. Even when the evidence - our murder rate, or crime rate, the escalation of gang violence in the city - says that the “zero tolerance” policy doesn’t work, they’re still into willing to look at alternatives.

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tae2918 — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:19:56 +0000

I read about this in the paper this morning.. I was waiting for you to blog about it…

As long as we got some kids willing to take a stand this generation aint totally lost…