How The Youth Can Succeed In School
Tim Williams
November 29, 2008
What is an alternative to drugs in helping our children succeed in school and in life?
The year was 1959 and I was just a youngster; a rebellious hyper active kid, always getting into trouble. Sometimes I'd get caught but most times I did not. My parents knew I was the fastest kid around. Nobody could catch me. I was just that fast. One afternoon my father came home and pulled me aside and said" I have a present for us". He then proceeded to unwrap a small box and pulled out a stop watch. From that afternoon on my father and I went to the old high school track field where I was coached running 440's, half mile's or the mile. I didn't like it at first but gradual success at track and cross-country I not only succeeded in school but got into a major university.
A life long pursuit of fitness and a desire to succeed resulted because of my father's influence and help. Today most children aren't as fortunate as I was. A majority of elementary age children come from single parent homes. A whole spectrum of factors are involved now that weren't back in the 1950's. So the question is this! What can and should be done so that the children of today be able to lead a long, sucessfull, and productive life?
First: Education reform in elementary through high schools. A curriculum that puts major emphasis health, physical education and conditioning so that every child learns a life long activity that is directed toward disease prevention.
Second: All schools must provide the funding for all school athletics and activities and not the parents. The funds for most of these expenditures will come with the passsage of National Economic Reform.
Third: Re-establish the President's Health and fitness program that was started under John F. Kennedy back in the early 1960's. Every school whether they are private, public or charter has to be involved; with mandatory Physical Education classes from Kinder- garden through 12th grade for boys and girls one hour per day, every day.
Fourth: If a child is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder or any other emotional and physical issues reassess that child and find out what he or she excels at. They don't have to like it but if given more opportunities to develop an activity or sport like I did a long time ago, eventual success will bring about more desire to pursue that activity and eventually others as well.
When drugs are prescribed and administered such as Ritalin, it is more harmful and does the child and our society great harm. We have to take the time to encourage our youth to excel on their own rather than relay on drugs. If we continue to relay on drugs, which is the easy way, in dealing with the many problems of our youth today our society and the future of The United States is in serious jeopardy. Only through intervention and a williness to be more involved with our youth will America regain a more secure and healthy future.
The year was 1959 and I was just a youngster; a rebellious hyper active kid, always getting into trouble. Sometimes I'd get caught but most times I did not. My parents knew I was the fastest kid around. Nobody could catch me. I was just that fast. One afternoon my father came home and pulled me aside and said" I have a present for us". He then proceeded to unwrap a small box and pulled out a stop watch. From that afternoon on my father and I went to the old high school track field where I was coached running 440's, half mile's or the mile. I didn't like it at first but gradual success at track and cross-country I not only succeeded in school but got into a major university.
A life long pursuit of fitness and a desire to succeed resulted because of my father's influence and help. Today most children aren't as fortunate as I was. A majority of elementary age children come from single parent homes. A whole spectrum of factors are involved now that weren't back in the 1950's. So the question is this! What can and should be done so that the children of today be able to lead a long, sucessfull, and productive life?
First: Education reform in elementary through high schools. A curriculum that puts major emphasis health, physical education and conditioning so that every child learns a life long activity that is directed toward disease prevention.
Second: All schools must provide the funding for all school athletics and activities and not the parents. The funds for most of these expenditures will come with the passsage of National Economic Reform.
Third: Re-establish the President's Health and fitness program that was started under John F. Kennedy back in the early 1960's. Every school whether they are private, public or charter has to be involved; with mandatory Physical Education classes from Kinder- garden through 12th grade for boys and girls one hour per day, every day.
Fourth: If a child is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder or any other emotional and physical issues reassess that child and find out what he or she excels at. They don't have to like it but if given more opportunities to develop an activity or sport like I did a long time ago, eventual success will bring about more desire to pursue that activity and eventually others as well.
When drugs are prescribed and administered such as Ritalin, it is more harmful and does the child and our society great harm. We have to take the time to encourage our youth to excel on their own rather than relay on drugs. If we continue to relay on drugs, which is the easy way, in dealing with the many problems of our youth today our society and the future of The United States is in serious jeopardy. Only through intervention and a williness to be more involved with our youth will America regain a more secure and healthy future.
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