Prisons vs. Education: What’s Wrong with this Picture
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Posted By: Stephen Jones on September 22, 2009 The other day I picked up my local Philadelphia newspaper and I read an article which stated that Pennsylvania intends to build four new prisons for 800 million dollars. Did you know that it also takes $50,000 a year to house a prisoner? When I read this I was upset that it was so easy to build four new prisons. I knew that Governor Rendell had spent 3 months trying to get the state budget passed because he refused to put education on the chopping block. The State of Pennsylvania could educate 5 children rather than put one man or women in prison. It seems like our country’s priorities are all twisted. Other countries are investing in education and they are experiencing expansion while America is in a state of decline. Pennsylvania was not the only state to assess its commitment to education. Students in California and other states are experiencing overcrowded classes and bus services have been cut. Students don’t vote so they are an easy target for budget cuts. The majority of children in the United States need a better education than they are experiencing right know. Filling prisons is not the solution to our problem. Too many prisoners are high school drop out. In fact they need an education if they are to change their circumstances and not return to prison after they are released. When is this country going to face the reality that a major solution to our economic crisis is right in our own communities? There are children who need access to better instruction and they need parents who are not in a prison cell. Too many grandparents are raising children because they have no choice. It is difficult for grandparents to provide the resources and guidance that growing teenagers need. Parents need to play an active role in their child’s education at all K12 levels. Expanding prisons is not the solution to the economic crisis. A prison my generate jobs but it does not compare to what a well educated entrepreneur can do. We need to choose business development and job creation in areas where jobs have been depleted. Why not build new schools with modern technology that will lead to more sophisticated instruction and students who are prepared to succeed in college. Many of the schools in Philadelphia are over 50 years old and the maintenance expenses are unreasonable. These old buildings are not the best places for students to learn. It’s time to make education a priority in every state. If we continue to fill our prisons with perfectly healthy young men and women we are becoming our own worst enemy. There is a tremendous amount of talent that is sitting in a cell and wasting away. Changing a young person’s potential to end up in prison starts at birth. Children need to develop an early passion for reading and learning. Parents can be a major part of the solution. The future is within our grasp and we need to say no to prisons and yes to education. Dr Stephen Jones is an education coach and author of Seven Secrets of How to Study, Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide available at www.studyskills2u.com If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Stephen Jones
Associate Dean College of Engineering Villanova Un, SAJ Publishing, www.studyskills2u.com Howard University class of 1983 Member Since May 2005 |
Comments
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Hello to everyone, Why is any one of you baffled about prison versus education? Does not statistics show Black Americans to have the lowest educational level of all other ethnicities in White America? Have not Black Americans been wrestling with White America for a White education long before immigrants arrived in this country? If you all are rational thinkers, you have only to two conclusions. Firstly, White America has no interest to better their former slaves, Black Americans, or perhaps we are still slaves but a different kind of slave today. Secondly, based on the first conclusion it should be obvious that the prisons are for Black Americans. Black Americans already have the highest rate of incarceration. Consequentially, Blacks are all ready a custom to being in jail. Then, perhaps the prisons will be the new manufacturing factories to replace the factories that have went overseas since factory jobs will never return to this country. I told you all before and I will tell you again that Black America’s only permanent solution is to desire to become a sovereign people or have complete independence from White America on a portion of this continent that we could call a very own country with borders. I am the away, and besides me, there is no other way. What say you? Wednesday, September 23rd 2009 at 1:53AM |
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Brother Jones, I was always told to follow the money and if I recall correctly...prisons are big $$. It's a very sad reality, but people are sold out on greed and capitalism at the expense our young children more times than not. God help us all. Wednesday, September 23rd 2009 at 10:58AM |
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Hello Jones, Did you delete my comment? I responded to Ms. Fad’s comment on this blog and now it is not there. What say you? Thursday, September 24th 2009 at 7:00PM |
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