AN+Satirical+Essay


 * No More Dropouts!**

Within the United States kids are still struggling to get through school. In lower income areas all around the United States have surprisingly low dropout rates. How is it that Americans can be told that they live in one of the smartest and most advanced civilizations in the world when there are graduation rates around the 50% mark all around the country? How can you have only around half of your total student body graduating? How does America have around an estimated 100% literacy rate with these low numbers? It is the lack of equipment, gangs, and motivation. Most schools in these areas lack the necessary equipment to run a fully functional school such as textbooks, boards, and at some schools even teachers. Gang's also seem to be a large reason why many students dropout and give up their education and dreams. Also, many children in those areas lack motivation to attend and finish high school. Most cannot families cannot afford to send their children to college or any other education after high school. They also have very few role models and they probably do not pay attention to financial aid either. These areas could use some help.

There are several solutions to this issue. All of the solutions, however, need help from both the government and the general public. This is because it is not only the government keeping the people in the lower class areas; it is the people themselves also. The government will help by helping their foundations, the law enforcement and the school systems. The people then will have to do the rest.

The U.S. government has spent over 350 billion dollars on this seemingly never ending war in Iraq. If the government would add a small fraction of that much to the funding of the poorer schools then they would probably be in much better condition. $1,000,000,000 could pay for thousands of schools' equipment necessary to function properly. If the government would just give a bit more and give it to those schools in more need than others, then these areas would probably have much better graduation rates and most likely a better crime rate and much more. The government could also use a bit of money and put it towards a larger and better police force which would also improve the crime rates and it would most likely improve the graduation rates because fewer kids would want to leave school to join a gang.

Another way to get rid of the gangs would be instead of imprisoning them and just letting them sit in jail and waste taxpayers' dollars, they could be trained for war and then they could put their anger and skills with weapons to some good use. Let's put the criminals and the convicts on the front lines of the war instead of the more caring Americans. What else could be better? We are sending another 20,000+ troops into Iraq anyways; how about we leave some of the reserves and put the criminals in their place. Without most of the gangs and gang violence in these neighborhoods there would be a much steadier and peaceful area and it would allow for a more motivated and better learning experience.

Another more option to add upon the increased funding of schools would be to make more and better after school programs. These programs would help kids get their homework done and also to keep them off the streets. This would help them to think rationally and correctly for themselves. After school programs such as the Boy's and Girl's Club could be greatly spread throughout these areas and that would also help to instigate a better learning atmosphere.

Some may argue that these schools are already funded substantially and that more money would not help. More money would create a better learning environment and would motivate the children to stay at school much more than a broken down school without TV's or [|chalkboard]. Others would say the sending the convicts off to war would be harsh and cruel. Aren't the actions of stealing, threatening, and violence caused by these gangs cruel and harsh? They would now be put to use and they would gain a different perspective at life. This experience would help them both mentally and physically. Some would probably say that there are already after school programs, why put more if they do not do much already. There may be already some after school programs, but they are not well advertised nor are they well equipped. If they were better equipped; that alone would draw more kids and attention.

There are many possible solutions to the lack of education in the poorer neighborhoods in America. Both the government and the people need to come together and solve this problem. America has the resources, the main question is,"Can we pull it off?" The answer is yes!

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