No Child Left Behind: Douglass HS (BMORE) Documentary (HBO NOW)

[Jackdog]

Re: No Child Left Behind: Douglass HS (BMORE) Documentary (HBO NOW)

You should check out a movie called The Boys of Baraka (http://theboysofbaraka.com). They sent a group of troubled inner city kids to Africa to experience true poverty and struggle. I'd say every one of them came back changed but the lack of support had pretty much every one of them back where they started only years later. It's a shame. I saw this in the theater and a few of the boys were there to answer questions after. It was sad hearing how they were now doing... even sadder the ignorance in the audience from people who clearly wanted to be helpful.

On the surface it appears this country offers us all a chance, but I hate that expression b/c it makes it sound so easy and it's just not for everyone. Hell it may not have been as easy for you as you may be remembering. Some of us have had good people around us in the midst of the same horrible environment. It'd be unfair to say that I came from that environment and made it so there's no excuse for everyone else and that kinda sounds like what you're sayin.

Thanks for the heads up on the movie. I will check it out.

As far as me thinking I had it easy. I never said that at all. My whole family had it very rough.Some of us made it and some didn't. That's about as real as I can get. I used to believe I had an excuse to fail becuse of the community I was raised in and the color of my skin until I spent a few years in Africa. That was a wake up call. I can't tell you how much I matured and learned there.

I always thought I was from the "Ghetto". I ain't. We had electic,running water and trash removal. A house with goverment assisted heat in the winter. I went to a school that had a roof and windows. I had three squares and a couple of snacks a day. Hell we had a public library two blocks from the house.

What we didn't have was a dictator forcing me or my brothers to kill as teenagers. No one made me hack the heads off of a neighbor because of his political or religious beliefs. My own family didn't sell any of us into slavery.Yet many of the young brothers and sisters that come to our country from Africa for an education had to endure all that plus a language and culture barrier. They do it. They feel lucky to be here and I agree.

And your right. I am saying that there is no excuse in this country not have at the very least a high school education. Not because I made it out,but because they made it out. If they can do it,we can as well. If you think that's an unfair statement so be it. It's what I feel. I am the father of a young man that will not have an excuse to do wrong. If he takes that path he will not be able to blame it on anyone but himself and his own stupity. I hope you understand my points. I am not looking down on anyone. I just don't have the mentality to accept excuses to fail. Nothing worth having comes easy.

Thanks again for that movie info.

[wwharton]

Re: No Child Left Behind: Douglass HS (BMORE) Documentary (HBO NOW)

Thanks for the heads up on the movie. I will check it out.

As far as me thinking I had it easy. I never said that at all. My whole family had it very rough.Some of us made it and some didn't. That's about as real as I can get. I used to believe I had an excuse to fail becuse of the community I was raised in and the color of my skin until I spent a few years in Africa. That was a wake up call. I can't tell you how much I matured and learned there.

I always thought I was from the "Ghetto". I ain't. We had electic,running water and trash removal. A house with goverment assisted heat in the winter. I went to a school that had a roof and windows. I had three squares and a couple of snacks a day. Hell we had a public library two blocks from the house.

What we didn't have was a dictator forcing me or my brothers to kill as teenagers. No one made me hack the heads off of a neighbor because of his political or religious beliefs. My own family didn't sell any of us into slavery.Yet many of the young brothers and sisters that come to our country from Africa for an education had to endure all that plus a language and culture barrier. They do it. They feel lucky to be here and I agree.

And your right. I am saying that there is no excuse in this country not have at the very least a high school education. Not because I made it out,but because they made it out. If they can do it,we can as well. If you think that's an unfair statement so be it. It's what I feel. I am the father of a young man that will not have an excuse to do wrong. If he takes that path he will not be able to blame it on anyone but himself and his own stupity. I hope you understand my points. I am not looking down on anyone. I just don't have the mentality to accept excuses to fail. Nothing worth having comes easy.

Thanks again for that movie info.

I think the way I put it came across more harsh than it was meant. I didn't mean that you may have had it easy at all, actually. I meant that because it was easy for you to realize what should be obvious to everyone, it doesn't mean that it is. In fact, I think you just explained yourself what made you take the blinders off. Unfortunately we can't force every inner city kid to spend a month or so in Africa. If we could, I'd definitely be all for it.

I guess in short, we're definitely on the same page. I agree with EVERYTHING you say, but am a bit more understanding as to why these kids may not see it. I'm positive your son won't follow the same paths as the kids we're talking about b/c he has you as a guide. Again, he's lucky in that sense... these kids we're talking about aren't so lucky.

Hope you feel me. I'm not really giving any one an excuse to fail... just not coming down on them so hard for failing b/c of all the factors that are contributing to it beyond what's under their control.