again: we will not improve schools until we help the communities

in which the children in those schools live.

For those who don't frequent the education forum - a student was arrested out of my classroom today for drug possession. This girl comes from an enormously troubled and impoverished family. She has a behavior disorder, but has decided that I'm pretty cool and so will come to me if she's having a bad day in another class. She just happened to bring three bags of marijuana with her today. The drugs became an issue when another student stole a bag, and I had to report it.

As it appears now, she may well have brought it with the intent to distribute, but, knowing her, I'm betting she was put up to it by someone older. Some punk who knows no other way of making money, preying on someone who isn't sure, at her age, what's going on.

We need to wake the fuck up. Think these kids aren't your problem? Think you're a Democrat and Dems support black kids (of course) and that that's enough? Think giving passing, vocal support to education and support for the poor are abstractions? Think again.

He also is amazed at the low levels of parental involvement. The only parents who are actively involved are those he really doesn't need to see, because the kids are not in trouble.

I wish I could offer more than empathy. God knows, the problems are enormous and no one seems to be serious about addressing any of them.

The only parents who are actively involved are those he really doesn't need to see, because the kids are not in trouble.

Yup.

Tell him I share his frustrations.

It's Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Intellectual activities like learning cannot succeed until physical and emotional needs are met.