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A Lost Generation of Youth
The Department of Labor funds a number of youth-oriented programs age range 12- to 25- year-old. The purpose of these programs involves the development of youth and employability and occupational skills training in a number of different forums. However, it is my recommendation that the U.S. federal government do a better job with auditing their programs and analyzing the needs of the community. Programs that are needed and those that prove to be successful are not being funded or refunded because of budget cuts and allocations to other federal programs. I suggest that the federal government provide more support to youth programs and schools that are in an economically disadvantage areas.
Secretary Chao announced a $20 million grant to the National Urban League to continue and expand its Urban Youth Empowerment Program. “The income and self-respect that come with succeeding in a job is critical for young people trying to turn their lives around,” said Chao. “With this $20 million grant, we are tripling the commitment to the President’s Urban Youth Empowerment Program to help at-risk youth prepare for full-time employment. A significant portion of this grant will help young people in New Orleans and other areas that were affected by last year’s hurricanes.”
In 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration awarded $9.2 million to the National Urban League to design and implement a national model program for at-risk, out-of-school, and adjudicated youth between the ages of 16-24. In partnership with faith-and community-based organizations, Urban League affiliate sites are providing youth career-focused employability skills, paid internships, and on-the-job training to help participants enter full-time, private sector employment. I applaud Secretary Chao and the First Lady Laura Bush to make this initiative a priority however there is still a greater need.
Our Youth Need a Comprehensive Mentoring Program
We must challenge our youth to go beyond and excel in all they do, help them when they fall and guide them to the traits we will need when it is their turn to lead. There are many great programs for youth, sports, band, student government, Scouts, etc and we have so many dedicated servants to the cause of this public good. We have done so much, but it is time to take it up a notch, integrate the technologies we have for teaching and press on to the highest possible level of mentoring. We know mentoring works and we must use that innate social interaction of our species to the best of our abilities. If we fail to mentor our kids there can be some serious consequences, for instance the School Shootings in Columbine or this incident;
Will this work, considering what we think we know about the human brain? After all; How does the human mind really work? Some say it is a random organic devise? Each brain is a little different just like no two people have the same DNA. Once we have increased thought, educated our populations, taught people to think and exercise their brains then have we accomplished our task of fixing the flow of thought? Will this provide us with the tools we need to mentor each youth approaching adulthood? No, this is simply the beginning, the thought flow must be open to advance a civilization, culture or country. Teaching kids is not simply getting them to recite back to us a series of non-related skewed facts, dates and names. We need to teach them to reason, adapt and over come in activities which make their minds work and problem solve. This is not and cannot be simply bombardment of facts or repeating the desired thought on a multiple choice test where teachers study questions and teach the answers to kids so that the kids do well, but teaching kids and adults to think. An original thought is of supreme value. What do we do with these original thoughts? We use these thoughts to help advance mankind. Unfortunately there are barriers to thought.
Home Based After School Programs for Your Children
Are you concerned about the lack of after school activities at your child’s school? Are you worried that he or she is being deprived of much extra knowledge and stimulation that these programs can provide? There are some things you can do.
An after school activity does not mean that it needs to happen at school or in a school environment. There are lost of things you can do to promote your child’s development physically, academically, and socially. It doesn’t need to be a formal program; in fact, many children involved in formal programs end up overscheduled and frustrated.
Because school is the highest priority–and much time is spend out of school developing those skills taught during the day through homework and outside preparation. Often your child will develop special interests and preferences for academic subjects. If so, you can usually find a program nearby in the community or in a college that will offer extra stimulation and activity in that subject. This helps encourage independent learning and self-motivation, something that a school can’t teach to any appreciable degree.
