If you've missed the terrible cheating scandal in the Atlanta Public Schools and the court drama that followed, you've missed something that's a travesty. Alleged educators were breaking rules for the sake of grades. Full story here from CNN.
In his sentencing (all were found guilty of one crime or another), Judge Baxter noted that many of the kids in APS, because of their family situation and/or living conditions, had no chance for a better life except for the public education system, which failed them miserably.
First, he's right from a societal perspective. Too many kids are stuck in tough situations with a pathetically narrow escape hatch. I just read a statistic that 71% of African-American children are born out of wedlock! When you consider the statistics that testify to the struggle of single moms, that's awful.
Second, there's more to it than their family, their living situation, and the failure of school administrators who loved bonuses more than they loved kids. There's also the church, the hope of earth.
What if every church in metro Atlanta took responsibility for one school, it's welfare, it's teachers, it's "What do you need, Mrs. Counselor?" What about your church?
If the church is the greatest institution in the world, then we can be about the greatest good in the world. It's true that the church has been and done great good in the world at multiple times and in multiple places. Atlanta seems like a great opportunity (and so is your neighborhood).
But that's just me thinking thoughts...
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