[teforde23]

I kinda agree with Oprah. I grew up in an inner city Brooklyn neighborhood and went to a so called gifted school and we had a graduation rate of about 60%. A lot of kids just didn't care even though they were getting an almost free ride on everything. All anyone cared about were sneakers and designer jeans or who could hook up with what guy or girl. Even now when I ride the subway I can honestly say that I have never once heard a teenager discuss a book or even what they learned in school. And that is the honest to goodness truth. Every kid has a cellphone and expensive ipods. When I was young the police would question you if they spotted you walking the streets during school hours. I agree with you mshovito, if Oprah had come to me at that age and asked me what I wanted I would say an ipod too. I never really appreciated education until I graduated high school and saw how some of my friends struggled to get their GED.
Can I just add that one of the reasons that kids don't repect getting an education is that they were taught from an early age that the gov't would always be there to take care of them. When I worked as a recruiter I can't tell you how many 18 and 19 year olds came in looking for a job. And they would always tell me that they can only work part time because that way thy could still collect public assistance. And these were women with 2 or 3 kids. And I can assure you that their parents (usually mom) tell them at an early age how to fill out the public assistance paperwork and how to get around the system. So why should school matter.

Sorry about the long rant.