ED Corner
Tonya V. Wingfield
ARE WE NEGLECTING THE CHILDREN?
THINGS THAT MAKE ME GO HMMM.
I used to love watching a segment of a former talk show host called Things That Make You Go Hmmm. The points introduced in that segment were not only mind-boggling, but quite funny. As I look at the many things that are having a negative impact on our youth, I still find myself saying Hmmm, but I can’t find anything funny. Here is my list of Things That Make You Go Hmmm.
1. You every wonder how is it that room and building capacity limitations can be established and enforced for commercial and government building, but not for public schools? You can always find a room capacity notice nicely framed and placed conspicuously on the walls of a conference room or banquet hall of a building letting you know this limit is being enforced for fire safety reason. Does this mean that a building of students at 115% capacity is safer then a building of adults at 101%? Hmmm
2. When I was instructor at a technical school we had to adhere to an instructor/student ratio of 12/1. If a thirteenth student was enrolled in my class, the school was required to give me an assistant. If the governing powers of adult learning institutions can establish an instructor/student ratio that is strictly enforced to ensure the quality of instruction, why can’t our school boards, local government and local and state legislatures come together to do the same for our public schools. Hmmm.
3. Local governments can negotiate commercial construction to include roads and specific structures to attract certain retailers, but can’t negotiate residential construction to include schools and community centers that are paramount to a child’s educational growth. Hmmm.
4. Medical reports indicate that childhood obesity is increasing, while physical education programs in schools are continually being cut. Hmmm.
5. Driver’s education has been taken out of most schools yet we ponder why so many teenagers are involved in serious car accidents. Hmmm.
6. Adults that struggle with reading are offered reading classes. Students that struggle with reading are placed in special education. Hmmm.
7. The state of Maryland considers a child emancipated from their parents at the age of 18 and therefore the non-custodial parent’s obligation to pay court-ordered child support has been fulfilled.
The federal government considers a child dependent when applying for financial aid unless they are 24 years of age or older, has a dependent, is married, in the military, is enrolled as a graduate student or are orphaned or a ward of the state, which generally means the custodial parent is responsible for the child's college tuition. The financial aid changes have been in effect for over ten years so it’s baffling why state legislators have not amended child support laws to allow the custodial parent to request a waiver for child support to continue during the child’s undergraduate years in college. Hmmm.
8. A bill two months delinquent remains delinquent until paid in full. During that period interest can be charged on the unpaid balance.
A non-custodial parent can refuse to pay court-ordered child support for months and sometimes years with no penalty for paying late or affecting the life of an innocent child. Even more sad is some custodial parents do not get their child support until the non-custodial parent retires. Imagine our tax dollars being spent to collect child support for children now 30 year old or over. Hmmm.
9. Teachers are required to teach by a script governed by an unrealistic deadline and be creative and flexible so students can learn. Hmmm.
10. Students are given 180 days to master learning goals outlined by the state, but tested approximately 110 days into the year to demonstrate they have mastered those goals. Hmmm.
11. If America has not properly educated children for the past 40 years than how can we trust the research of the experts that were educated under the same flawed system? Hmmm.
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Issues affecting the education of our children don’t always start and stop at their school or home. All stakeholders must come together and demand that our children receive quality services from all levels of government.