| There is no panacea for all the ills facing society today. | | | | educational development beyond high school. Financial |
| However, the successful implementation of one | | | | aids such as grants, scholarships and loans are |
| community effort would do much to ease the pains | | | | available to help students finance their education. If |
| caused by today's social ills. The answer-successfully | | | | there is a will, there is a way to complete your |
| educating every individual. | | | | education. |
| What is education? One important element of being | | | | Unfortunately, some students don't want to work hard |
| educated means possessing sufficient skills to stay | | | | to educate themselves. They lack the will, drive, desire, |
| employed. In today's increasingly competitive | | | | and determination to improve. Then, when the job |
| technological work environment, strong job skills are | | | | market closes, they become frustrated and blame |
| imperative. The minimum standard requires at least a | | | | others for their plight. In some cases, that frustration |
| high school diploma. Critical thinking skills, computer | | | | leads to a life of crime to finance their lifestyle. |
| literacy and manipulation of high tech equipment are | | | | I strongly believe the genesis of a good education |
| important skills. If one can add strong reading, | | | | begins in the home. Parents must insist that their |
| reasoning, problem-solving, basic math and writing skills, | | | | children study. They have a responsibility to do all in |
| they have a winning combination. Without mastery of | | | | their power to prepare their child for success. And, |
| these skills, one can only expect to get minimum wage | | | | there lies the irony of this situation. Parents who don't |
| jobs. | | | | appreciate the value of a good education don't |
| Let me not infer that only college educated individuals | | | | encourage their children. When children don't recognize |
| can be successful in the job market. There are many | | | | this value on their own, they perpetuate the cycle of |
| important and needed jobs that don't require a college | | | | ignorance and lack of job skills. Some become |
| education. In the housing industry, electricians, air | | | | dependent upon government for their livelihood. The |
| conditioner installation and repair, carpenters, plumbers, | | | | result is a lifetime of enslavement to others and a lost |
| painters, brick-layers, and wall paper hangers are all | | | | opportunity to reach their potential. This is the greatest |
| respectable crafts. These are vital and necessary but | | | | of human tragedies. |
| don't require a college education. Highly skilled individuals | | | | How can we break this cycle? One idea is for those in |
| in these fields can make a very respectful living. For | | | | the community who have developed themselves to |
| individuals who own their own businesses in these | | | | counsel students. Volunteer your time to speak to |
| fields, skills in good customer relations, time | | | | students. Bring them into your business. Spread the |
| management, budgeting, and people management are | | | | word that possessing good job skills is the passport to |
| additional requirements. | | | | a better life. Teach them the value of commitment. |
| There are few excuses to prevent someone from | | | | Why not commit to changing the life of one child by |
| achieving a strong high school education if that is their | | | | serving as a role model and mentor. It's a fine thought, |
| strong desire. We have vocational/technical schools, | | | | a worthwhile commitment, and a life-changing |
| community colleges and universities that offer more | | | | experience for student and mentor. |