Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 December 2001 — Page 8

PAGE A8

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2001

Student knows what’s wrong and how to correct it

“Self destruction, we’re headed for self destruction... Self destruction, we’re headed for self destruction.” Do you remember this original hip-hop rap song from the 1980s, featuring KRS One, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Public Enemy, and a few other rap heavy weights? This song can be played almost 20 years later and the lyrics could still ring true today. After listening to numerous “community oriented” radio shows and television shows, attending many similar and rallies, and reading a multitude of “Black oriented” press, the conclusion has been drawn that others outside of our community are responsible for all or most of our problems. Question: At what point do we, once we realize there is a problem, decide to actually address the problem ourselves? Or do we continue to blame others for the many social, political, and economic ills that plague our society? Without a doubt, there are those outside of our community that have played a hand in the demise of some of the fundamental principals that hold a community together. However, is it remotely possible that these very same people will ever join in with the uplifting and improving of a society that they once had a hand in dividing? We have to come to the realization that many problems that we face begin with the MIS-education of our young people. There are some very intelligent young Black males who walk the hallways of every single public/ private school in America. These young men have the intellect to succeed in every subject area and compete with the best that the majority community has to offer. Unfortunately, we have allowed a stigma to be placed on our young Black males. Words such as “tough,” “hard,” “cool,” “playa,” “star athlete,” and even “gangsta,” “ghetto,” and “bailer,” are all deemed expectable terms that can

Education Does Matter By Leroy Robinson

be used to describe even the best we have to offer. We have so many young Black boys caught in a position of trying to please their parents, while being a good ol’ mama’s boy and trying to please their peers, while being “one of the boys.” Continue to read the letter below. It comes from one of my middle school students, just a few days prior to me completing this article. Apology Letter: “My name is Kenny (last name omitted). 1 was bom in September 1988. The first school I ever went to is ABC PRESCHOOL. I never really liked school. I have always been short so I was picked on for that. 1 am still picked on today. The things I am telling you right (now) are things 1 have never told my parents. The only way they will find out is by reading this. When I was younger I told my mother everything. But as 1 got older I kept to myself and my mother kept me to her. “Right now I am at the edge and thinking about locking myself away from the world. Stop talking to people because all of the people I talk to get me in trouble. Well they don’t get me in trouble 1 get myself in trouble by hanging with those people. 1 think I am a good kid. It is the people I hang around that influence me. I have not had a true role model. “All the people I wanted to be like messed up. I try not to be like them but I always end up doing the things they did. I put a lot of my strength into sports and forget about other things. That is all I have done since 1994. When I was younger I

was not like normal children, sports was my life. I played basketball whenever I could. 1 had like 3 fisher price courts and one was in the house. “The reason my grades fell is because 1 was being a follower instead of a leader. I know I am a leader. 1 would tell you all of this (in person) but it is hard for me to talk to people. I could not tell my peers what I am telling you right now. I know I let lots of people down. I apologize for any trouble I have caused. I acted like someone else so I would not get picked on. So could you please not give up on me? Thank you.” This comes from a young brother who has tested above average on all of his prior standardized tests, starting quarterback for the school football team, starting point guard for the basketball team, and one of the most well liked and well behaved kids 1 have ever taught. He also just flunked off the basketball team. Speaking with the young man days after receiving this letter, two things became very apparent: Kenny knew deep down inside that he was capable of much more. Also, he was fully aware that he not only failed his parents, teachers, and teammates ... he had also failed himself. Little Kenny also makes it clear that, yes he has been let down by role models, but that he has also decided to “do whatever it takes to get back on top of where I need to be.” He has decided to personally take responsibility for what choices he has or has not made and turn all of his wrongs into “rights.” We can learn a lot from Kenny, by identifying the problem, addressing the underlying issues, and personally taking corrective action to make a positive change. For speaking engagements or education workshops, contact me at: [email protected], or write me at: 9701 E. 63rd St., Indianapolis, IN. 46236. Contact number: (317) 502-0272.

Your new life starts here. It doesn’t take much to start a new life. Simply call the Community College of Indiana, a partnership between Ivy Tech State College and Vincennes University. Enroll in a course in business, graphic design, elearonics or radiology. Get an associate’s degree from Ivy Tech State College to land your dream job or transfer credit to a four-year program. It’s all possible at the Community College of Indiana. So what’s stopping you? Go ahead.

Classes start January 14th • www t all ( reck and Meridian in Indiana/ndi\ anti / i tdher ( enlral Indiana Itmilinns. 317-921-4800

Juvenile Center has ‘Parent Focus Day’ The Alliance With Indiana Many parents and students cried (AWI) and the Marion County Ju- and wiped away tears as Hatchett

venile Detention Center assisted in funding the annual “Parent Focus Day” for the IPS 259 Ju veni le Center School. The theme of this year's program was “Choices and Consequences.” Charles Hatchett of Indianapolis was the keynote speaker. Hatchett shared with the students and their parents how at the age of 17 he was involved in a bank robbery, and by the age of 18 he had been sentenced to 120 years in a maximum-security prison. Through personal testimony, he told the students, awaiting adjudication, how his incarceration forfeited him the opportunity to attend the funerals of his mother, father, and grandmother.

described his past troubled life that led him to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and eventually onward to prison. He told the students that if their bad choices continue, the Detention Center is only the starting point on a road that leads to prison or death. He vividly described how wrong choices and decisions cost him 12 years of his youth. He held back tears, but with strong emotions, he told students that staying in school, respecting your parents, and making good choices are the keys to success. The program included a tour of the I PS 259 Juvenile Center School, refreshments, and door prizes.

education

Registration for ACT The postmark deadline for the ACT Assessment is Jan. 4, 2002. Late postmark registration is Jan. 18. The test will be Feb. 9. 2002. The test fee is $24. For more information contact your high school counselor or visit www.act.org. Sample tests and test preparation materials are also available on the site.

Freshman service scholarship The 1UPUI Center for Service and Learning sponsors Freshman Service Scholarships for students who made exemplary service contributions to the community/ and or their high school to support education expenses at IUPUI during the 2002-03 academic year. Students must meet regular admission standards at IUPUI. Applications are available at www.iupui.edu/ -scentral or call 278-2662. Priority deadline is March 1, 2002; however other applicants will be considered pending funding.

Think you’ve got something to say? Visit theRecorder Message Board Online!

Education First program to help working teens » Special to The Recorder

For many teens finding an employer who will help them balance the challenging demands of school and work can be a task. That’s why the Bureau of Child Labor and the Restaurant & Hospitality Association of Indiana (RHAI) have developed a partnership to help teens keep Education First. Education First is a program that places grades and attendance in school as the priority for working teen-agers. Under the Education First program, RHAI members pledge to coordinate teen’s schedules to accommodate their academic needs; to only work teens within the hours allowed by law; and to make sure that the work environment is safe and healthy. According to Pete Rimsans, deputy commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor and director of the Bureau of Child Labor, 51 percent of all teen workers in Indiana are employed in the restaurant industry. “This is a perfect partnership and a major step toward supporting our young people not only in the workplace but also with their academics.” Rimsans said over 60,000 teenagers working in Indiana are employed by businesses in the restaurant industry. John Livengood, president of RHAI, said his members want teen workers, and their parents, to know that as an Education First em : ployer, they will place education first for their teen workers. Livengood said “Education First” decals are posted in RHAI participating member’s windows identifying them as partners in this program and young people should look for these decals when looking for a job. The members have also pledged to work with parents and the school to ensure grades and attendance remain satisfactory. The Restaurant & Hospitality Association first developed the. Education First Program 10 years ago. RHAI and the Bureau of Child Labor will be using their Web sites to encourage teens and theif schools to seek out employers who have taken this pledge to put education first. All children between 14-if years of age must obtain a wot£ permit from the school he or sh& attends before they can begin work. IPS Superintendent P4| Pritchett said Education First is a step forward in helping working students academically. “Studies indicate that when full-time students are on the job more than 20 hours a week their grades and attendance tend to decrease. With the largest employ^ of teens in the state helping us monitor the numbers of hours a student works helps our issuing officers immensely and will probably increase the graduation rate for some schools. We are committed to providing students with the finest education and if we find that a student’s work schedule gets in the way of that education we will have no problem pulling the work permit, “ Dr. Pritchett said. Last year over 135,000 work permits were issued by Indiana schools. Indiana isoneof 15 states in the nation that requires teens ages 14 to 17 to obtain a permit to work. Indiana law allows each school district to set academic rei quirements for students obtaining a work permit. For students or parents wanj£ ing to know if there are Educatiort First employers in their local area, they should log ont<) www.teenwork.orgJ educationfirst and! www.indianarestaurants.org for ^ complete list of participating members. You can also log ontq www.teenworker.org for informa* tion regarding Indiana’s Child La* bor Laws. Or, call 1-888 TEEM WORK for additional informal tion. t