"Savage Inequalities"



I have been sheltered from disparity either by choice or by chance—I have not made this determination as yet, but there is a grim awareness that there are inequalities between the poor and the wealthy throughout the land.  I've heard my dad say, “Money begets money and poor begets poor.”  I believe this to be true, and the following statement goes without saying, “Money cannot buy lasting happiness,” although, without proper funding, things can go south very quickly.

Our educational system in the United States seems to be falling apart at the seams, because of the economic downturn in every state of the union.  This in itself affects the quality of education, while the wellbeing of students is at an all-time low.  Lack of money and affective leadership in high places equate to the lack of drive and vision on the part of children that have feelings of insecurity.  Hope is quickly being eroded.

Having been born to a middle class family; growing up in a middle class neighborhood in the small, bedroom community of Martinez, California; in my youth I attended public schools where money was never a problem.  I was shielded within a cocoon that provided me with self-esteem, coupled with a self-motivating desire to achieve whatever goal that was before me.

           

The only time I felt an atmosphere of strain in grade school was on the school playground when I competed for top recognition in sports that we played at recess, or spelling-bee competitions.  I enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship of my peers—I was happy and contented.

Thoughts of cutting school never entered my mind, because I felt secure and a part of the environment that I was in.  There were no feelings of being disconnected or detached.  Though I was athletic and above average in scholastics, there were always students just a little better, but I never felt the frustration of wanting to give up.  I only tried harder.

           

I was raised in a loving, Christian home with a paternal influence that helped mold and shape my direction in life.  Because of this godly influence, my foundation was never shaken.  As a child I was solid in my faith that centered upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  

(Proverbs 22:6), “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Who would think that in some other part of America that there might be a child less fortunate than me?  Wasn't every child in the U.S.A. given the same chances and opportunities that I was given?  I was somewhat spoiled and catered to while growing up, and knew only pluses and very few negatives.

Looking back, I remember while attending high school that my naïve thinking changed from closed mindedness to a responsive awareness.  I experienced a feeling of loneliness and separation.  Construction of another high school across town had just been completed.  Many of my school chums were transferred from the school I attended to the new one, because they lived closer to it.  My school was built decades prior and having some of the problems that accompany old age—disrepair and ugliness.    

           

I became very angry, not only because I was losing my friends, but that I was required to stay at this old, decapitating facility.  It was hard to accept this negative, because the world always revolved around my wants and desires, while growing up. 

Feelings of shame overshadowed the way that I allowed my attitude and demeanor to express itself concerning the matter.  A realization quickly hit me that I really didn’t know what true frustration and disappointment was, but now it was happening to me.  I had been housed in a ‘house of glass’, as it were; too busy within my own four walls of pleasantries to see the unseen truths of poverty and savage inequalities.  I was awakened from the slumber of childhood unawareness.   

There are savage inequalities in America's schools, but I am sure you are aware of this.  We need not take a trip via satellite to see children in other countries that are scorned and neglected.  We need only to look in our own backyard—it is that close.

I was fortunate that my parents had money; but if they were poor and lived in a less opportune location, what would my attitude, self esteem, and desires to achieve have been?  What would I be doing today if I had to endure schools in my youth where the negative environment was not conducive to a favorable learning atmosphere?    

           

If you combine poverty with black or olive colored skin, it only adds to the problems facing these innocent children.  They experience a sense of not belonging.  When they look at their world and see insurmountable walls surrounding them, the likelihood of escape is close to nil.  They give up before they get started, because of the lack of hope.

There is also an overwhelming sense of emptiness that accompanies this hopelessness.  These children often join gangs to try and fill the longing of wanting to belong, which gives them a false sense of importance and security—providing only camaraderie; not the love and affection that are so desperately needed.  It gives an illusion of satisfaction, but the influence is a counterfeit for parental guidance that they don’t have.
    

Many of these struggling children are from broken homes with no male influence to speak of.  The ones having a male figurehead are sometimes led astray, because of the unconstructive lifestyle that person is living.  Parents that are poor may be products of inferior education themselves; lacking the skills to help channel their children in a beneficial manner. 

Parents that have little or nothing sometimes waste what money they have on businesses that sell dreams in the form of lottery tickets.  These establishments sell false hope to people that have none.  Lottery proceeds are suppose to go toward educational programs that are designed to help bolster schools, but in many cases the money goes into state revenues, which fall short of their responsibilities concerning schools and the forgotten children that need a good education.

A quote from a book that I read entitled, “Savage Inequalities,” by Jonathan Kozol, says it very well:  "Look in the toilet if you want to see what life is like for students in the city."  The law requires public education for children, but refuses to upgrade below-standard facilities in poverty stricken schools.  If state leaders would follow through with plans to improve such facilities, this would encourage self-esteem in students and a desire to attend class.  Quality education could flourish. 

Unsanitary conditions prevail and disrepair is everywhere.  Science labs are outdated fifty-plus years, including text books—when text books are available.  There is a lack of needed materials, educational magazines, and the list goes on. 

Cities should be mandated by state or federal government to pump money into public schools when it is obvious that there is a lack of money to sustain a proper environment for learning.  Allocations of money should not depend upon land taxes for obvious reasons.  High land value with rich neighborhoods equals more money for schools, whereas, low land value with poor neighborhoods equals less money for schools.

No student should ever feel that they have been written off by society.  There are many gifted young people that cannot help the fact that they were born into a poor environment, or that their skin is a different color.  The less fortunate should be given the same opportunities to achieve in excellence as wealthy students.  If they are not, their talents and dreams will forever be lost to poverty.  The city and state in which they live should be held accountable for this gross neglect of social injustice.

           

The bottom line for success is education.  The competition for jobs is overwhelming, especially when you are the one looking for a job.  I am thankful for my education and the teachers that influenced my life.  There is no substitute for caring teachers that are concerned for the enlightenment of their students.  These are teachers with vision; helping students to catch the vision.  

I see the need for education like never before.  Without specialized training it is almost impossible for a person to expect advancements in life when the world around them is specialized and technologically advanced.

           

When positive changes in the education system are implemented through action and not just talked about, cities will begin to see fifth and sixth graders attending class, not staying out of school because of boredom.  Educators will no longer see students dropping out of school, because of the hopeless feelings of giving up. 

No longer will children in poor communities have a reputation of “survival of the fittest” or feeling second to the “most favored,” but will come to the forefront of higher academic achievement.  No longer will the diplomas from these poor schools mean nothing, because of the “no student left behind” nonsense.  The poor will be better educated, thus, experiencing break-through and success.

God is in the business of giving hope, free to all that want it.  The dream that He offers is one of reality—eternal life in heaven.  The promise of God is not like the pipedream presented by money hungry mongers that become rich off the misery of others.

Yes, there are savage inequalities everywhere you look, but God is no respecter of person.  He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross to enable all mankind the privilege of being saved from sin.  Jesus Christ is the hope of the world who gave His life that we might find a better way to enjoy this life, while on earth, and then live with Him in heaven after we die.

Satan prefers that we live in savage inequalities, whereas, God made a way that no person need surrender to the poverty that the devil promotes.

(John 3:16-18), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  vs.17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”  vs.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

(Jeremiah 29:11), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

Written by,

Papa Boyd