Education - A Fundamental Answer
The right to a free education is a central tenet of the democracy upon which our nation was founded. It is so fundamental to the foundation on which all free societies are built that the United Nations has named it a universal human right. They have specified that education is the key to social and economic empowerment. Yet here in the United States, where education is free to everyone, 22 percent of American 18-22-year-olds don't have a high school diploma. This is particularly alarming given the great impact that a college education can have on class and status, and the positive connection between education and income.
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Why then, if education is the means to leave behind a life of poverty, is it so easily discarded? The reasons are legion. Our consumer-driven society has inculcated entire generations in the lure of instant gratification and extrinsic rewards. The joy with which societies historically greeted education has been overwhelmed by the demand for quick fixes and glittering baubles. Why stay in school when the future pay-off for expanding your mind is years away? For children living in poverty, there is an abiding lack of hope in that future—or that any positive future awaits.
The social context in which schools operate can be worlds apart from the real world of a poor child's home life, creating an insurmountable disconnect. The promise of quick, hard cash is easily a more powerful enticement than the tired mantra of staying in school. And for children whose lives are seeded on crumbling foundations, the value of self is more extrinsically rewarded by the bonds of group membership than by the lonely, isolated effort to make good by hard work and study.
Education is the one thing that can't be taken in bankruptcy. Encourage all the kids around you to stay in school, and encourage everyone to send the message 'it's ok to achieve beyond me!' National Dropout Prevention Center tells you more.
If education has lost its relevance in the opinions of large swaths of our population, then we must ask ourselves, how can we make it otherwise? By challenging the prevailing expectation of failure, reviving stay-in-school programs, winning back the hearts and minds of children and parents alike, ensuring access for gifted students with financial need, and providing enrichment activities which prepare our next generation to be successful in the 21st century, we can make a start. Perhaps the biggest challenge in the effort against poverty in this country hinges on education and educational opportunity. It's a challenge that, as a society, we simply can't afford to ignore.
What You Can Do
You can support teachers far across the country one-on-one from your livingroom. DonorsChoose lists thousands of teacher requests for funding, showing in teachers' own words why they are asking for support. Local schools? Organize a book drive. Learn how at The Heart of America Foundation or iamfoundation.org.
At Elfenworks, we believe that together we can change the direction of our country, mitigate the historic levels of poverty and inequality that we are seeing, and get this country back on track. Do not underestimate the power of your efforts and your voice - they are just exactly what is needed.
Whether you teach, mentor, or support schools... your support is crucial. From organizing a book drive to lobbying for more college bills and grants [see DOE, icanaffordcollege.com, collegeforall.com, and geds-to-phds.org], to supporting free online knowledge resources like wikimedia and the One Laptop Per Child initiative to get powerful learning tools into children's hands. there are many ways in which your involvement can make a difference. Finally, check out our RESOURCES page for ideas and our LINKS page for links specific to education, volunteering, and donating.
