Today, parents seem to believe that the schools have complete responsibility for educating the children in knowledge and self-discipline. When Johnny brings his report card home, the modern parent’s reaction to his bad grades is to blame the teacher or simply ignore the problem. If anyone ever asks Johnny if he has done his homework, it is easy for him to lie, stating he didn’t have any or he already finished it at school, on the bus, etc. When his parents don’t show any appreciation for education or actively care if he’s learned anything today, Johnny won’t care about his schoolwork either.

I’ve seen in my own family and in the places I’ve lived how parents, coming home from tired and disgruntled with dinner to make and house chores still to accomplish, treat their children as nuisances or creatures to be ignored. No one is going to sit down with Johnny to discuss his day at school, because Mom and Dad are more worried about their own problems. Johnny needs their interest, attention, and support that will not be forth coming. In the world today, children are left to raise themselves.

A law of Isaac Newton’s can be applied to humans. The Law of Motion implies that, if you don’t apply force to an object, it will remain inert. So, if you don’t push and prod a human, that human will grow lazy. People need reasons to try, to work, and to do his/her best: goals, rewards, accolades, etc. Without these, our children are ceasing to appreciate the educational opportunities they have.

With more broken homes, children are tossed between dwelling and dwelling: Mom’s house with the new boyfriend-of-the-moment; Dad’s apartment where the children he has had with other women often come too; Grandma’s home, where Johnny stays overnight more than he is supposed to, because one parent or another keeps forgetting to pick him up from; Aunt Kristi lives in a very bad neighborhood, but she’ll babysit for free when Grandma has had enough of watching after children day after day. Where have ethics, morals, values, and our sense of responsibility gone? Johnny’s Mom is going out partying with the boyfriend tonight, leaving him to watch the new baby. Dad has to work two jobs in order to make the child support payments for all his kids, so he is never at the apartment to watch Johnny, make Johnny meals, or spend time with Johnny. Grandma watches the stray children of all her own children, nieces, and nephews with forbearance and without appreciation. Aunt Kristi does drugs while Johnny plays video games nonstop and the baby crawls on the floor strewn with cigarette butts. Johnny and the baby have little chance of growing up to be much different than their parents.

Raising children to grow up with manners, a good personality, respect for others, morals, an a good education takes lots of time and effort. Someone needs to be there to use addition and then multiplication flash cards with Johnny. Someone needs to be there to help edit his book report for his eighth grade teacher. Someone needs to be there to watch him practice for the football team and try out for the debate club. I hope there will be a “someone” for the Johnnys of the world soon.