It is the easiest answer but the parent themselves need some help i think some more Education. We so ready to Say PARENTS and leave it there We offer NO assistance to the parents except . . telling them their responsibilities OH and we also constantly meddling in how they raise their kids Telling them what they cannot do and extending that more and more [CPS, Etc] We handcuff them . . then tell them to raise the kids they way we say they should . . then blame only them for the outcome some of the blame is elsewhere but placing blame ain't gonna help If a kid has the crappiest parents in the world we should not just look at the kid and say . . TOUGH LUCK KID You just pulled the wrong card. . . maybe next life time Society is suppose to supplement the individual Society is suppose to stronger than its component parts [only as strong as its weakest link] We cannot afford to keep blaming out weaker links for being weaker links we all weak at some point .. and strong in others a good society makes it so my weaknesses are covered by your strengths and vice versa but the question is. . IS THAT AMERICAN SOCIETY? Rocket River
what i was saying is that a parent can (or should) teach sex ed. i understand the "it takes village" approach but bottom line is better parents is the best place to start. Because ultimately sex ed doesnt prevent pregnancy, its having a kid that realizes the consequences of his actions is what prevents pregnancy. Unfortunately, consequences of ones actions is something thats been dwindling for a while.
parents need to be empowered to guide their children in the best way they can. people who struggle to make ends meet may not have much energy left, or too deflated by their own plight, to give their children all the guidance they need and deserve. RR is right that we have to do a better job of helping the less fortunate in this society.
I completely agree with Rocket River. Uneducated parents create more uneducated parents and so on. I also agree with not telling them how we should raise their kids but offering them guidance / assistance / support. When I "work" down at the shelter I work with some women that live in the city and my approach to dealing with kids and theirs are different. Rather than jump in and act like I knew it all I sat back and watched. Part of how they "parent" is harsher then me but these kids are also being forced to make hard decisions and more critical decisions on their own quicker then other kids I've come in contact with -- just one example of how I could have been judgemental of their parenting where over time I see I didn't really know it all.
and equitable funded education....... We (our taxes) pay to send pre-schoolers to Head Start then send them to underfunded schools.
I completely agree with you there but it won't get done in this country. Maybe universal health care have a shot but not education system.
The wealthy (and middle class) need to care enough to change the funding from the local district to a higher level and then disperse the funds based upon the number of kids (equally).
the problem is that the middle class is getting squeezed. soon the less fortunate will have to really on the wealthy for progress as regards social equity. we're doomed if we don't right the ship pretty soon.
The problem is a Republican led state government in Texas that refuses to raise revenue enough to keep up with population growth and inflation. They would rather have children get inadequate health care then (gasp!) raise enough revenue to pay for the most basic services. They would rather cut taxes for the wealthy and for business. They cut taxes, and then wonder why there isn't enough revenue. Actually, the GOP leadership knows why there isn't enough revenue... they just don't give a damn. How States Rank on Health Care Here is the list of how the states and Washington, D.C., ranked overall. States with the same ranking are listed together. 1. Hawaii 2. Iowa 3. New Hampshire, Vermont 4. Maine 5. Rhode Island 6. Connecticut 7. Massachusetts 8. Wisconsin 9. South Dakota 10. Minnesota 11. Nebraska 12. North Dakota 13. Delaware 14. Pennsylvania 15. Michigan 16. Montana, Washington 17. Maryland 18. Kansas 19. Wyoming 20. Colorado, New York 21. Ohio, Utah 22. Alaska, Arizona, New Jersey 23. Virginia 24. Idaho, North Carolina 25. Washington, D.C. 26. South Carolina 27. Oregon 28. New Mexico 29. Illinois 30. Missouri 31. Indiana 32. California 33. Tennessee 34. Alabama 35. Georgia 36. Florida 37. West Virginia 38. Kentucky 39. Louisiana, Nevada 40. Arkansas 41. Texas 42. Mississippi, Oklahoma http://www.webmd.com/news/20070613/how-states-rank-on-health-care D&D. Impeach Bush and Cheney.