How to make U.S. greater
What comes to mind when you hear "America?" You think of the land of opportunity, a nation that was ahead of its time when it gave its citizens the right to decide their own government, a place where a hardworking person is able to improve his life, a place where the population is well off. The country represented a new hope to the oppressed, the poor, the needy. It was even said to have streets paved with gold by those who saw it as an opportunity for a new life. It has become the leading nation of the world; America has come to symbolize liberty, equality and prosperity.
This is a wonderful picture to the man who has nothing and has decided to leave behind his country in search of a second chance. The reality, however, is much further from the tales that have been spun than such a man would imagine. We are not all equal; we are by no means free. Certainly not all Americans are prosperous. There are many, many American citizens who fall below the "poverty line," unable to provide adequately for themselves and their families. Many of these citizens are parents who work long hours, entrusting their children to day-care providers because they can't spare the time to spend at home. It's a vicious cycle: men and women must work their lives away, and thus their children don't receive the attention necessary to do well in school and beyond. As a result, these children end up similar to their parents, held captive by their need to provide for their families, unable to equip their children to break free. This cycle can be broken, but it requires education. Without education, impoverished children will only continue in their parents' footsteps. But with it, they can break free and become successful. They can fulfill their potential as Americans.
Education is the means by which our nation can overcome poverty, and yet it is not equally available to all. Because of poverty, young students do not receive the educations available to more well-off families. This problem is due in a large part to the parents' need to provide for their families; because they spend the majority of their time working, they don't have much time left to invest in their children's educations. Students' grades, as well as overall performance, decline when they don't have someone at home to enforce the idea that education is important. While working parents can't necessarily be replaced when it comes to a child's education, others can certainly fill the role of mentor to students and encourage them to excel where their parents cannot.
The public school system doesn't fulfill this need, but an unlikely group is able to do so. Community members must volunteer to help students within their cities or towns. A simple program is all it would take to give disadvantaged children some of the resources their wealthier peers have. Small programs avoid any inefficient bureaucracy that larger corporations usually entail, and citizens are able to help local students. Helping the financially disadvantaged is a worthwhile cause, and in order to do so, programs have to be set up and funded. But programs such as these are possible, and even necessary. If the community doesn't help students give our nation a better future, no one will. So get involved! Talk to your local elementary schools. Find out if there are young students who are struggling with their grades, or even parents who must work long hours away from home. Inquire whether there would be any interest in after-school tutoring for these children - something as simple as offering to help them with their homework and encouraging them to do better in school makes a big difference. It may seem like a small thing to do, but you can contribute to overcoming poverty in the United States.
London Smalldridge is a North Idaho resident.