Number of homeless students surges, putting strain on schools (Chicago)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | January 6, 2012 | Adeshina Emmanuel

[yldstrk]

This is a travesty

A huge majority of the “poor” is kids and it is not their fault.

Can’t we at least do something

For Heaven’s sake, this really galls me.

These kids will grow up into dangerous damaged people if something isn’t done

[yldstrk]

Thank Heaven someone has all the answers

Listen Johnny, if you have all the answers, DO SOMETHING

[JRandomFreeper]

I do what one man can. What do you do?

/johnny

[Graybeard58]

I asked my collectors once what their pay was. They told me $22. per hour plus time and a half for over time, that was a couple of years ago and they are not union.

I always tip the two of them around Christmas time. If a raccoon gets in my garbage, they pick it up off the street for me, that’s not part of their job. That alone is worth the tip.

[yldstrk]

All I can do is tithe and give dollars to the people standing with cardboard signs which I do

But then I don’t have all the answers

[JRandomFreeper]

Down here, you have to speak Spanish to talk to the garbage guys.

They actually like their job, and like doing a good job at it.

Everybody puts their trashcans higglety-piggelty up and down the street. But when the guys some pick up our trash... the cans are left aligned in a military kind of straight line. Upside down, to drain.

They know I'll feel the truck coming by, and be out there to pick up my container. I do appreciate them.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

Sorry to hear that. I have family with nieces/nephews ranging from 30-21 to my most recent grandbaby that's not quite one year old.

I have lots of opportunity to teach (and learn).

And hero, I don't have all the answers, but I have enough for most situations.

BTW, feeding the homeless is good. Giving them cash is probably causing the problems that you want solved.

/johnny

[MamaB]

We are teaching my 2 great granddaughters to read, make right choices in games, etc on their own ipads. One will be 3 on the 19th and the other one will be 4 on Feb. 29. We can not get over how smart these toddlers are and how eager they are to learn. Their ipads have books, games, etc on them and each iPad has a plastic carrying case with handles on it. They know how to turn it on, find whatever they want to do at the time and turn it off when they are done. They know how to take care of each one, too. That is very important and my daughter taught them how to do that on hers. They would want hers every time she had it out. They have been around them for about 2 years.

[bruinbirdman]

"not, college material"

It just makes him qualified under students with disabilities act.

In UK you can't include any qualifications for a job in advertisements. That would discriminate against anyone who doesn't have those qualifications.

yitbos

[JRandomFreeper]

Technically (remember... I'm just a cook, with recipes that work).. their brains are very plastic at this time. The magic years are before 7. They just absorb information and integrate it in a way that takes your breath away.

And good for you. Keep giving them the training they can take and want. It will last a lifetime.

MIT has a bunch of on-line lectures on this kind of stuff under AI (of all things). It's on YouTube(tm). They get into dendritic structures &ct.... but bottom line is kids are plastic early, and everything you can teach them sticks, and either integrates now, or later.

/johnny

[riri]

15 and in 7th grade? Interesting.

[MamaB]

They have great genes. My late husband majored in physics and never went to class. We have never met anyone like him who had common sense. My daughter took over our company after his death and has done a fantastic job. Look up aztechnology and be sure to click on the logos link. We are the only company in the world that does coatings and paint jobs the right way. Think my daughter said 60% of the business were exports. It is a fascinating company and I do not pretend to understand everything that is done.

[MamaB]

Forgot to say that their friends have children about the same age and the parents will not let them anywhere near a computer or iPad. Such a shame since they want to learn.

[JRandomFreeper]

Forgot to say that their friends have children about the same age and the parents will not let them anywhere near a computer or iPad.

It was the early '60s and dad (and I, unofficially) were going through a DeVry electonics course.

Mom didn't want me handling a soldering iron. But dad said I had better eyes and a steadier hand than he did.

So I soldered most of the detailed work on the amplifier, receiver, and some of the rest. Before I got my first ham radio licence, at age 11.

It's sad that parents restict their children from learning opportunities. But being respectful of the rights of parents to raise their children... All I can do is bitch about it.

I do know that giving children learning opportunities works well, and makes them hungry for learning more.

/johnny

[ladyjane]

A while back NPR did a story about the old conservations camps of the 30’s. The young men who attended these camps were thrilled at the opportunity. They worked hard cutting trails and cutting trees during the day but were able to eat as much as they wanted, most of them for the first time. They sent half their small paycheck home to their families.

If they tried offering this opportunity to young kids today they’d laugh.

[MamaB]

Hubby was a ham. K4ZYP. He built his first rig when he was very, very young. He sold all his gear when he got interested in bass fishing. He could fix anything. I told my daughter and other relatives that it is amazing what I have had to learn about fixing things around the house. I can fix internet problems, took the bath sink drain apart to get melted candle wax out of it, etc. I never had to do any of that but I do what has to be done. I amaze myself sometimes! I am smarter than I thought! : )

[JRandomFreeper]

They worked hard cutting trails and cutting trees during the day but were able to eat as much as they wanted,

'Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might'.

I'm big on that concept. Even if it's dumping trash. I'm commanded to, actually.

And I'm ok with feeding kids or hired hands, or cows treading grain as much as they want. Kcals in = Kcals out, minus the biological overhead.

/johnny

[MamaB]

I like to watch House Hunters. I am constantly amazed at the young couples who want things in a million+ house on a $150,000 budget. Don’t they know any better?

[JRandomFreeper]

I'll dig through my log books and qsl cards to see if I've talked with K4ZYP. It doesn't ring a bell. I got very few from 4 territory.

We're just who we are. Regardless of how anyone wants to catagorize us.

Standing up and doing what has to be done does make some lawyer types uncomfortable. But they get over it. Eventually. Or not.

But I can teach lawyers to shoot as well as 10 year olds. Well.. it takes longer for the lawyers.. but besides that....

/johnny

[ladyjane]

That is such a wonderful saying:

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

What has happened to the work ethic? what has happened to the joy in accomplishment?