Ankle Bracelets, Are They for Real?
My passion (or at least trying to make it my passion) for keeping up with the news and what's going on in the world has lead me to an article on Blackamericaweb.com about making students wear ankle bracelets if they are continuously late for school. I don't really see a problem with that, but then again I do. What I agree with is at least trying to save students from destroying their future, but then again just because you make students go to school doesn’t mean they will be mentally in the game.
Truant Students to Be Tracked by GPS Anklets, the article based on a school in San Antonio, Texas has some valid points, but I don't think the answer is ankle bracelets at all. I think this school district in San Antonio (really every single school district in America) needs to implement a plan of action to help students become more involved in school. Statistics show that students in college's and universities who participate in extra-curricular activities make better grades. While there are many clubs and organizations in schools that students can join, how many of them really know about it and are encouraged to join? When I was in high school none of my friends (and I had many) were encouraged to join any clubs at school (accept of course for the steppers club which was implemented around the time of my graduation). While attending a Community Wide Dialogue (an organization committed to race relations) a guy asked me "how come so many African American's enter school, but don't graduate?" I answered him with "Good question, why don't you ask the principle of the school." Of course this guy had nothing to say because it was the truth. Why ask someone who has no connections with the school about something so detrimental to school.
Working with Social Justice Task Force, a Human Rights Organization in Auburn, NY, I had the pleasure of Co-Chairing a committee to make a proposal to the school board to make diversity training mandatory for teachers. Working on this committee gave me great joys because I did research on the beneficial effects on why a teacher should learn about other students’ cultures and backgrounds. It's beneficial to understand different students because in America today there are so many different ethnicities and cultures that students have different customs that are foreign to Americans. Undergoing diversity training gives teachers an upper-hand on how to encourage students to do their best. When I was in high school I was very observant of things going on around me. I realized that students were not connected to their education, which made them seek out other entertainments outside of school. I skipped school quite a few times, and I did so with the intent of finding something to do (I can really speak for other students).
While this ankle bracelet idea is a good one, it just won't solve the problem. It's like giving someone who is emotionally depressed a pill in hopes of a quick fix; when the prescribee stops taking the pill the those same emotions return. I suggest that the U.S. Board of Education get on their jobs and figure out ways to encourage students instead of forcing them. Maybe if they got creative with education it may interest students. Think about it, those ankle bracelets will turn into a big joke among friends just like it's a big joke to them when they get a 'D'.
I know by me writing this won't get much done, I have heard many times from professors that I should become a teacher, but that's not my thing. I think it's better that I am on the outside looking in so I can assess it more, maybe I'm wrong, but I have no hopes in becoming a teacher in a class room (for I am already a teacher to those who want to listen). This is a never ending discussion but I'm afraid I will have to end for now peace, love, and live blyssful!