Kinsley High School

Kinsley, Kansas

Teacher:  Dr. Galen R. Boehme

 

 

Improving Life for the Children in My Community

Presented by:

Mr. Steven Hogan

 

Mentoring to young students in Kinsley can help by improving students’ grades, by lowering dropout rates, and by helping through a time of divorce.

           

The academic grades of young students need to be high and the young students need to learn how to keep their grades high.  Students need to learn how and when to study.  There are study programs in schools and in the open public.  One such program is Tom Lewis’ “Fishing School” which helps students after school by letting them ‘fish’ for what careers are right for them.  The program allows the student use of computers and other equipment that would not normally be available to these students.  This allows the child to use new devices to make learning easier and more enjoyable.¹  On a more local level is a service offered by the Kinsley High School National Honor Society to help students with subjects in school where the student may have problems.  Our program is currently tutoring four to five students and looking for time to help more.  The tutoring service is free and voluntary.  No one is forced to participate.  This program shows struggling students that someone can and will help them and teaches the student to use his study time wisely.  Both of these programs, “Fishing School” and tutoring, can be improved.  Both need to offer students an incentive to belong, making students want to do well in their classes.  A mandatory study program could do this very well.²  Start the school year off with a mandatory time during each day, a scheduled study hall hour to be devoted only to studying.  After a quarter or semester give the student the incentive of being able to play a game instead of studying, if a student’s grades remain at a C or higher average.  To keep free time while others are forced to study the student must learn how to work studying into his own schedule, or give up the free time and study with everyone else.  Both of these choices teach responsibility to the student.  The athletes’ study hall at Kinsley High School is the closest to mandatory study time we have now.  Any student athlete on the ineligibility list must come in at 7:30 a.m. every school day until all their assignments are turned in or they are off the ineligible list.  This program would be a great service if used on the entire student body and not only with the athletes.  Study and tutoring programs will help the students raise and maintain their grades.

           

Next we must work to decrease the dropout rates at our nation’s high schools.  The more people staying in school, the fewer students will be dependent on welfare. When a student drops out of Kinsley High School, the funding for our school goes down and a possible source of income for our city is lost.  One program that is in place that could be used to fight against dropouts is the company mentoring program.³  Having someone who realizes the importance of finishing high school urging a student to do his best and stay in school can have a positive effect. It may be received better than a stay-in-school-speech from a parent or a staff member of the school.  The different type of respect is the key here. Students respect parents and teachers because it is what the students have been taught. The students look up to a successful businessperson because of the power and influence. A talk with a businessperson could work better than the mandatory talk currently required between the student, the principal, the guidance counselor, and the parents of the student at Kinsley High School before a dropout is released.  Since the decision is ultimately up to the student, there is not a lot of ways to improve a high school dropout prevention program except try everything to persuade a student to stay.

            Divorce has a major impact on the young students in our community.  Children have trouble dealing with only having one parent at a time and not both.  Children too frequently learn to depend on other children and not adults.⁴  Money can be tight for a single parent and that is where scholarship money can help a student in need.  Scholarships for children from single parent homes need to be set up like Truett Cathy’s Chick-fil-A Scholarships.  He provides scholarship help for students wanting to go to college but are forced to help support their family with a job.⁵  One point could be implemented into these scholarship plans to make them more successful though, a scholarship house with a parental figure to live in the house.  This program would allow for certain scholarship winners who did not have a father or a mother growing up the chance to have someone to look up to.  The student can bring the importance of a parental figure back home with him after college and help younger students in our school system by being someone to model.

            Helping the children in the community with school activities takes individual effort that spreads to community involvement.

 

Footnotes

Groal, p.14.

Mayer, Interview.

“The Fishing School”

“The Impact of Divorce on the Family.”

Barry, p.21.

 

Selected Bibliography

 

Barry, John W.  “Doing Good by Eating Chicken.”  Philanthropy, September/October 1998, p. 5.  Singer Packet article, pp. 19-24.

 

Groal, N’Gai.  “Mentoring Makes a Difference.”  Newsweek, November 2, 1998, p. 20.  Singer Packet article, pp. 14.

 

Mayer, Kevin.  Interview on college study obligations at the AGR house.  AGR house, Manhattan, Kansas, February 18, 2000

 

“The Fishing School.”  Philanthropy, September/October 1998, n.p.  Singer Packet article pp. 24-25.

 

The Impact of Divorce on the Family.  the Meridian Education Corporation, 1990.

 

Responses to Questions for Required Reading

 

Question #1-How does society invest in marriage in the USA and in Manus?

 

People born in the United States and Manus invest in marriages in many different ways.

In the United States the tradition is to give gifts and money to the newly married couple.  These gifts represent good wishes and a trust that the marriage will last.  People in the United States tend to bring fewer gifts to the couple who has been married before and did not work their previous marriage out, or a couple who does not show signs of the ability to make this marriage last. The responsibility level of both the bride and the groom affects the way people look at the likelihood of a lasting marriage.  The more likely a couple is to stay together, the more likely the public will be willing to invest gifts into the new married life together.

In Manus the tradition differs slightly from that practiced in the United States.  In Manus the gifts and money are a payment from the groom’s family to members of the bride’s family who are willing to invest in the marriage.  If the marriage works the money is paid back to the other family.  In Manus the families of both sides are less likely to find a partner to invest with if one member of the new marriage has been divorced from a previous marriage. 

Investors in both the United States and Manus want their gifts and funds to go to a marriage that shows signs of being able to stand the tests of time. 

 

Question #2- Interview 10 married people. (No names.) State the length and number of each one’s marriages and a line or two of advice from each on how to maintain a long, happy relationship.

 

            The couples interviewed all show great keys to succeeding in making a marriage long-lasting.

            The first couple interviewed has been married once for 20 years.  Their keys for a long lasting marriage include love for each other and their children, and happiness with where they are and what they have become together.  Couple number two has been married once for 19 years.  Emotional followed by financial security has been their strong points. 

The third couple interviewed has been married for 45 years and it is their only marriage.  They state an ability to work through each other’s faults and a growing friendship as the points behind their marriage’s longevity.  Couple number four states trust and faithfulness as the keys to a long successful marriage.  They have been married once for eight years. 

The fifth couple has the woman’s first marriage and the man’s second.  A sense of humor about each other and caring for the children from the man’s previous marriage are their success points.  The sixth interviewed couple has been married for eight years to the same person.  They separated for a short while and are now back together.  Working out differences and love through hard times are their tips for a lasting marriage. 

Sharing the household and child-raising responsibilities have helped couple number seven.  Their single marriage has lasted 11 years.  Couple number eight has had their only marriage lasting 37 years.  They have learned to give and take, and agree to disagree when needed to keep their marriage going. 

The young couple number nine in the second year of their first marriage states that the energy that they gain from being together is what drives their marriage.  The tenth couple has been married only once and is in their 53^rd year together.  They show that growing closer over time and the ability to admit mistakes are the keys to a long marriage.

 

Question #3- According to Richard Eckersley, what should our collective goal be?

 

            Richard Eckersley shows a collective goal of stopping the placement of a monetary value on life and well being in our country.  Money being the most important factor in life is a misconception that needs to be changed.

            Eckersley tells society to ask itself, “…whether ‘more’ is better.”  Not everyone has the same view on what is good and what is bad for their own life.  There needs to be a common measure of how well society is doing.  Unfortunately, society often confuses the ‘standard of living’ with ‘quality of life.’  Too frequently, money is confused with happiness.  This allows for a great difference in ‘well being’ by differing wealth and poverty regions.  Eckersley shows that a better indicator of happiness in monetary situations is not average income levels but income distribution.  Living in an unequal society affects psychological and social health more than living in an area of relatively equal income, rich or poor.  Since being ‘rich’ is a relative term, society’s health, wealth, and happiness are all different with every individual.

            Eckersley’s Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) is his way of measuring whether life really is getting better.  Not only does his GPI show the “…exchange of monetized goods and services, but adds in non-monetized activities.”  These activities include volunteer service and domestic work.  GPI also counts pollution and crime as a deterrent from well being.

            With the wellness of the public, a state of mind relative to surroundings, and a progress indicator, that measures money and volunteer activity, our society can view its well being the correct way.  When more people decide to look beyond the monetary value of life, our society will be a better place.

 

Question #4- Write a worthy goal for your local community?

 

            In the small community of Kinsley a major goal could be to work together to improve living conditions for everyone.

            First, everyone must get to know each other.  Even in a small town there are people moving in and out all the time.  Time must be taken to become familiar with a new neighbor, a new face in town, or a new business moving to the community.  The more information everyone knows the easier it is to help a friend in need.  Most importantly a helping hand will more likely than not receive help in return.  Getting to know people in town helps to improve living conditions.

            Second, follow the rules in the community.  People are more trusting of a new community when the people already there are lawful and honest.  Rules are in place to raise levels of safety and protect those who abide by them.  Let the system work and allow punishment that is fair to those who live outside the law.  One point that might help is to set up praise for those who show quality of life abiding by the rules.

            Finally, to make living in the community better start projects.  The way to begin is not to sit and wait but to stand up and show the way.  By knowing those in the community living inside the law, and starting projects the goal of safe living conditions for everyone’s living conditions can be improved.

 

Question #5- Comment on the excerpts from “Tomorrow’s Child.”

 

            The excerpts from “Tomorrow’s Child” show a lack of parental support and a gap among children from a different socioeconomic background. It is a shame that the parents in our society cannot be there for their children as much as the parents should be.  Our family values are in the wrong areas when toy companies can make money by rescuing lonely children with a mother-like doll. Children are suffering from a lack of ‘human connection’ when they are forced to carry their motherly figure around in the form of a doll.

A gap is growing between those who have and those who have not. This growth is caused by a ‘winner take all’ society.  The place to start changes is in the minority groups, since the minority groups are slowly growing in numbers.  They must establish themselves as haves and not have-nots. Social and economic gaps must be closed in order for the United States to fare well in this century. 

This end can be met only through equal opportunities for children and parents to get an education and a job.  Better jobs will allow more time for parents to spend with their children and a start in closing the socioeconomic gap.

 

Question #6- How does the fact the USA is a democracy make lawyers particularly helpful, according to Kathleen Sullivan?  How does our diversity, wealth and size make lawyers particularly helpful?

 

            Lawyers help in the United States’ democratic system due to public distrust of big government and large companies.

            The distrust of big government allows for individualism, the ability to move and not be set in a social status that we do not like.  The “tyranny of the majority” is what lawyers protect the public from.  Lawyers allow for the start up of individual business rather than settle for centralized big business. Suits against tobacco and gun companies are proof that lawyers are working toward individualism rather than centralization.

            Lawyers help by bridging gaps in diversity, wealth, and size in the United States.  Diversity in the United States allows more room for conflicting views to be brought forth.  Different customs make for different views on local and national issues. Lawyers help to start laws that “mediate across diversity.”

            The wealth of this nation allows lawyers to draw their focus away from providing basic needs for Americans and shifting the focus toward luxuries and health concerns.  Wealth allows for action to be taken on clean air and water, health care, and longevity of life. With the United States, a vast territory, lawyers can help a person find his place in society. Working on a large scale provides options and competition in business, to allow a focus on the individual rather than a dependency on a single business.

            The democratic government, along with the diversity, wealth, and size of the United States allows lawyers to help Americans to become individuals.

 

Question #7- Ms. Sullivan claims bad practices are changed either by regulations or punitive damages.  Which do you prefer and why?  Can you think of an alternative?

 

            Regulations are a good way to start a change in bad business practices. Time will be needed to set up regulations but once in place they will save a lot of headaches.  Regulations will set up not only a standard of safe practice but also a fining system for individual offenses.  Punitive damages would only help one consumer who has received the pains of bad practices whereas regulations will benefit all those effected or could be effected.  Once the safe practice regulations are in place, the business will be the one who decides whether the smaller fines will be cheaper or more expensive in the long run than punitive damages.

 

Question # 8- Briefly describe three ways society would benefit from the coming retirement of baby boomers, according to the required reading.

 

            Benefits shown from the retirement of baby boomers include time to work for volunteer organizations, knowledge to start a new business, and opportunities for teenage employment.

            Many newly retired people have problems with adjusting from a busy business schedule to a slow retired schedule. Newly retired baby boomers do not want to sit and play golf or do work around the house all day.  Non-profit organizations can benefit from the large amounts of time and effort a retired person is willing to give. Retirees work with everything from land conservation and efforts to save Social Security to church and neighborhood betterment.

            Baby boomers have learned from experience how to operate and maintain a new business. With their education and former business contacts, baby boomers are a good risk for starting a new business. The hiring of other retired people will make the new businesses competitive in the market place.

            Another alternative is for teenage employment caused by aging baby boomers.  The newly retired may hire teenagers to provide “adult day care” for their aging parents.  This service from teenagers will allow the retired person to pursue possibilities in volunteer work and new businesses.

 

Question #9- Evaluate the likelihood of President Clinton’s anti-poverty program making a real impact.  Give at least three reasons to back up your conclusions.

           

            With hard work President Clinton’s anti-poverty program can greatly impact the poverty rich areas of the United States.  Poverty can be eliminated because the economy is ripe, because work and money provide home markets, and because policies are better now than in the past. 

            The current number of people below the poverty line and those on welfare is falling.  Economic expansion is affecting our country. Unlike other times of expansion in our economy this expansion is affecting the poor, not only the rich. The thought that money will work its way down to the poverty line from the rich is what we are dealing with, and the idea of helping now has a future. 

            New jobs for poverty-stricken people will allow for more buying power in poverty areas and an increased domestic market. The unemployed are the perfect people for companies to start looking for new workers. Minority companies need workers due to the companies’ recent fast growth and trouble with the attitude of banks in finding loans.  With more people employed, more people are able to buy. This growth in employment and buying power will allow for American business to stay ahead of foreign markets.  Working for and buying American products can help pull the American people out of poverty.

            The government has also given up their complete control over how money given to poverty areas is spent. Investment decisions are now made from inside the poverty areas.  The government has slightly lowered interest rates and made risk guarantees to prevent market failure.  The government has begun to treat poverty pockets the same as developing countries and the effects are positive.

            The ability of the American people to help each other will determine whether or not President Clinton’s anti-poverty program works.

 

Question #10- Name three things Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis have in common.

 

            Both Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis have shown some amazing qualities.

            One quality that both men share is the ability to start something new in their community. Cathy started a new restaurant with his brother after World War II.  His new ideas included serving only items that could be cooked on a grill. Cathy’s idea of only being closed on Sunday and open 24 hours the rest of the week was also a new idea in restaurants. Lewis’ new idea was for an after school program.  This after school program helps inner-city children receive benefits from computer resources, homework assistance and find a hot meal.  Both men are innovators in their respected fields.

            A second characteristic shown by both Cathy and Lewis is courage.  Cathy shows courage by overcoming the death of two brothers, one a business partner.  He also shows courage by rebuilding after a fire while working through a colon problem. Cathy also made a bold change in his restaurant’s menu to meet the demands of the consumer market. Lewis set up his after school program in a very dangerous part of Washington D.C.  Even though it meant being laughed at and losing some of his volunteer support Lewis pressed on courageously.

            Finally both men strive to help children in need. Cathy saw a need for education growing in his young workers and set up a scholarship to help young employees attend college. He also cared enough to turn a failing college into a boarding house for poor students giving scholarships and a parental figure to rely on.  Lewis provides for children by giving them help with their education and a hot meal.  He helps young students “fish” for the career that they feel right for.  He has helped students become the first in their families to attend college and realize a dream right for each individual.

            By working with new ideas, showing courage, and working with children in the community, both Cathy and Lewis have shown similar outstanding traits.