Budget Cuts & a Boring Summer ?

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Empty summer in the city awaits urban youths facing cutbacks to camps, pools, libraries, jobs
By Associated Press, Published: May 29

NEW YORK — A rising number of children can look forward to excruciatingly boring school breaks this year as budget crises in places such as New York, Washington, D.C., Houston and Detroit rob them of the activities and programs that have long defined summer in the city for urban youngsters.

Swimming pools are being closed. Recreation centers are locking their doors. Library summer reading programs are suffering. Openings for short-term jobs have evaporated.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/empty-summer-in-the-city-awaits-urban-youth-facing-cutbacks-to-camps-pools-libraries-jobs/2011/05/26/AGgXgFCH_print.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...I'm not I feeling very sympathetic... are you?

[swamp]

Yes, I am. I live in a very poor area, but there is an extensive summer program including lots and lots of "sports camps," a municipal pool, a day camp, day trips, arts and crafts, and various other programs. The counselors/teachers/coaches are high school and college kids. For many of the kids, this is the only "culture" and encouragement they get. Programs like this are what I like to see my taxes supporting.

[DVM gone riding]

Actually I see this as a problem: a) bored youth get into trouble b) this programs gave some a hope for a future and a glimpse into a different world c) they were educational and we all know education is a way out for lots of people!

[createmyown]

While I agree that fewer children fall into criminal activity if they are involved in extra curricular activities, I think I understand where you're coming from.

I'm least sympathetic to the programs geared towards race-specific kids (Ethiopian and Asian American were mentioned) as well as the program that one parent credited with causing his child to love reading.

The love of reading was instilled into me by my parents. I would hope that parents are not expecting a librarian or schoolteacher to fill that role.

And the end of the day, I feel like people don't understand the connection between more social programs and the increase in their own taxes payable.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Just a typical political tactic, to get the sheeple into a rage and agree to increased taxes. Cuts are being made in the wrong areas.
All these summer activities, jobs, etc., can easily be funded.

[swamp]

May 30, 2011 12:00:08 GMT -5 createmyown said:

While I agree that fewer children fall into criminal activity if they are involved in extra curricular activities, I think I understand where you're coming from.

I'm least sympathetic to the programs geared towards race-specific kids (Ethiopian and Asian American were mentioned) as well as the program that one parent credited with causing his child to love reading.

The love of reading was instilled into me by my parents. I would hope that parents are not expecting a librarian or schoolteacher to fill that role.
And the end of the day, I feel like people don't understand the connection between more social programs and the increase in their own taxes payable.

Some kids are lucky like you. Others aren't so lucky. Let's give them a chance too.

[Nazgul Girl]

I feel very bad about the cutbacks to these types of programs, considering the amount of corruption and waste by the administrations of the large city in my metro area. Crucifixion is a good punishment for those employees selling the students' toilet paper and plundering the retiree funds of the city. I'd like to see a row of them as you drive into ________. It would give some of our more "entrepreneurial" types pause. And guess what; I'm serious. The Romans did have some pluses to their system.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

May 30, 2011 12:01:00 GMT -5 Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ said:

Just a typical political tactic, to get the sheeple into a rage and agree to increased taxes. Cuts are being made in the wrong areas.
All these summer activities, jobs, etc., can easily be funded.

...agreed... but I'm still not overly sympathetic about a disruption in these particular services... do we have an icy heart emoticon?

[Deleted]

I think it's good for communities to offer children something to do during the summer. Bored children with nothing constructive to do often end up doing something destructive.

That's exactly how my son is, which is why I call him Dennis the Menace. I try to keep him busy to keep him out of trouble, but not every parent does. I'd rather Lil Johnny be able to go down to the public pool and tire himself out swimming, or go down to the community center and see what's going on there, than be sitting around full of energy coming up with strange ideas.

[Deleted]

My mom and dad taught me to love reading. But it was my local library that made reading magical for me. I remember how proud I was the day I got my very own library card (note to the librarian with the watermelon earrings - I still have that card - you did an excellent job impressing on me the duties of a library patron and the penalties for losing one's card).

I am the product of summers spent at a municipal pool and enrolled in the reading program.

My community is working to restore and enhance library services, but I was saddened to see another local pool closed. While it is cheaper and safer for the city to install "spraygrounds" than hire lifeguards for the pools, it is scary to consider how many kids aren't getting swim lessons anymore because of all the pool closings.

I understand that cuts need to be made, but swimming isn't just another childhood past time, it is a skill that can save your life.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< I think it's good for communities to offer children something to do during the summer. >>>

...agreed... so when communities put these services on the chopping block and then put a sob story in a newspaper, I'm thinking, "well, ...?"

[lurkyloo]

Agree with SF. I don't like seeing these programs cut, but this is the government equivalent of selling your foodstamps for pennies on the dollar to buy beer and cigarettes, and then complaining you're hungry. We keep hearing about how CA can't afford to educate children, but they can afford to give the prison guard union huge concessions. The minute we approve tax extensions, that money's going to be diverted to something else and the kids are STILL going to be screwed. Last year we paid 22K in state income tax, 6K in property tax, God knows how much in 8.75% sales tax, 1K each in SUI/SD whatever tax, and a huge number of ticky-tack fees. Agreeing to pay more is like believing your drug-addict daughter when she promises she'll get off meth if you just give her $50 right now--think of the grandkids!

I think the appropriate answer to this kind of emotional manipulation is to set up a private nonprofit organization. People can donate directly in a tax-deductible manner; politicians don't get to divert the funds to their own special-interest causes.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

It would be nice to see local churches and non-profit groups take up the slack and provide some summertime activities and opportunities if the government is no longer able to fund such things.

[dragonfly7]

Too many of my classmates worked the those type of seasonal jobs to fund their educations or support their families for me to advocate eliminating them.

Additionally, I was a GT kid in a community that generally lacked funding and commitment to actually challenge its GT students. I fully credit the local library, 4-H clubs, and teenagers and parents who volunteered there for saving some of us from mentally checking out, wreaking havoc, and, in a couple cases, giving up on life.

[Deleted]

I'm sympathetic too. I'm lucky to live in a great recreation district with lots of activities and support for families. My local library system runs free literacy seminars (with childcare!) to help teach parents how to encourage literacy and choose books. I support them through taxes and donations.

Until parental licensing becomes an option we have to help kids whose parents are unable or unwilling to provide those opportunities. I think these programs are especially important since low income kids tend to lose academic ground in the summer.

[cronewitch]

What is a GT kid?

Churches might have some activities but they are probably going to push religion so some kids can't go unless it is a religion the parents aren't afraid will be a bad influence on the kids.

[cronewitch]

I learned to read in a library the year I was allowed a library card. I was a very slow learner, changing schools every year and always way behind. Starting 6th grade I could read about a 2nd grade level I would guess. But then I got a library card and was allowed to walk to the library over a mile away and get 6 books at a time.
I checked out books for younger kids and read about 6 a day until the librarian stopped me. She said I wasn't to take those books and told me which shelves were for me and even picked out a few for me. By the end of a year I had read whole series of books and in 7th grade was tested in reading. One teacher thought I couldn't read so had me tested. I was up to grade level and with good comprehension so it turned out I only didn't read text books. Not one single teacher before 7th grade seemed to care if I could read or not as far as I could tell. Mom tells me one tried to flunk me but she told them she wouldn't let them. I must have just never had a decent teacher or one who cared.

I think libraries are very important to kids who don't have teachers who care. I don't like the trend away from books. Computer labs and DVD loans are nice but books are what it was about.

[whoisjohngalt]

I think it's good for communities to offer children something to do during the summer. Bored children with nothing constructive to do often end up doing something destructive.

That might be true, but once again I just don't get it. When did it become the responsibility of the "community" to entertain children.? And better yet, when did the children begin to require soooo much entertainment??

Yes, I understand that I grew up in a different country and might not understand everything here, but still.......

Lena

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

May 30, 2011 18:22:31 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

I think it's good for communities to offer children something to do during the summer. Bored children with nothing constructive to do often end up doing something destructive.

That might be true, but once again I just don't get it. When did it become the responsibility of the "community" to entertain children.? And better yet, when did the children begin to require soooo much entertainment??

Yes, I understand that I grew up in a different country and might not understand everything here, but still.......

Lena

...I grew up here, and share in your questions...

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

May 30, 2011 18:22:31 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

I think it's good for communities to offer children something to do during the summer. Bored children with nothing constructive to do often end up doing something destructive.

That might be true, but once again I just don't get it. When did it become the responsibility of the "community" to entertain children.? And better yet, when did the children begin to require soooo much entertainment??

Yes, I understand that I grew up in a different country and might not understand everything here, but still.......

Lena

Lena, I grew up here and totally agree with you. I remember telling my stepmom I was bored as a kid... Then I got hit with a fat chore list. We quickly learned not to expect her to entertain us or complain that we were bored. We did get to access the library during the summer but didn't go much (It was about a 3 mile bike ride and it was about 100 degrees out). We would go once every few weeks and pick a few books. Add to that chores, cable tv, baseball in the street, and the occasional walk to Walmart and we were entertained. I was a kid in the 1980s and 1990s and we didn't expect the community to entertain us

[Deleted]

I wouldn't put soccer games and reading books on the same level as empty entertainment. A lot of these kids probably have lower income working parents - which means they'll be shut in with the tv during the summer or out running around in gangs. In urban areas the kids who are running around, doing their own thing unsupervised are probably not the kids you'd want your child to hang out with. Where I live the local parks and schools team together to provide meals for the kids in the summer - who would go hungry otherwise.

"All kids love summer vacation, but apparently not all benefit from it. While children with privileged parents are able to afford summer getaways and camp where they "keep exercising their minds" children whose summer activities are limited to a city block or watching TV lose out on learning, writes David von Drehle in TIME.

The reason? When children are out of school for three months they experience what academics refer to as "summer learning loss" which can mean losing up to a month's progress in math skills and nearly three in reading comprehension for children from low-income backgrounds. "Summer is among the most pernicious -- if least acknowledged -- causes of achievement gaps in America's schools," writes Von Drehle.

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University studied 20 years of data tracking students from kindergarten through high school and found that while children with privileged backgrounds were able to make progress during the summer, low-income students were disadvantaged by not engaging in educational activities and this loss had a lasting effect. Von Drehle writes:

"By the end of grammar school, low-income students had fallen nearly three grade levels behind. By ninth grade, roughly two-thirds of the learning gap separating income groups could be blamed on summer learning loss."

The full article is : www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2005654,00.html

[busymom]

Normally the churches are great at community support. However, due to the economic problems, offerings are down (at least they are at my church. Rather significantly, in fact.) So we can't expect the churches to do all the work.

I agree that a busy child is much less likely to get into trouble.

[Deleted]

"When did it become the responsibility of the "community" to entertain children.? And better yet, when did the children begin to require soooo much entertainment??"

In a better world, it wouldn't necessarily be the community's responsibility, but in today's America, every community bettter be concerned about what's going on with their young people.

I live in a high-crime city and it's frightening what I see amongst these children. We obviously can't depend on some parents to try to raise their children to be decent citizens. There are so many of them that there's no way around the fact that their problems have become ours.

And even if every parent lived up to our standards, these activities are still opportunities for a child to be exposed to something positive that they might not have otherwise.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that it's ok because you live in an area far removed from the big-city problems.

My city is always squealing about how we need more money *for the kids*, so I know how that ploy works. I don't want to just throw money away but iit's in my best interest to show some concern for our young people. I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is on that.

[trimatty471]

May 30, 2011 13:19:16 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

Agree with SF. I don't like seeing these programs cut, but this is the government equivalent of selling your foodstamps for pennies on the dollar to buy beer and cigarettes, and then complaining you're hungry. We keep hearing about how CA can't afford to educate children, but they can afford to give the prison guard union huge concessions. The minute we approve tax extensions, that money's going to be diverted to something else and the kids are STILL going to be screwed. Last year we paid 22K in state income tax, 6K in property tax, God knows how much in 8.75% sales tax, 1K each in SUI/SD whatever tax, and a huge number of ticky-tack fees. Agreeing to pay more is like believing your drug-addict daughter when she promises she'll get off meth if you just give her $50 right now--think of the grandkids!

I think the appropriate answer to this kind of emotional manipulation is to set up a private nonprofit organization. People can donate directly in a tax-deductible manner; politicians don't get to divert the funds to their own special-interest causes.

[whoisjohngalt]

I am not saying community shouldn't be concerned. I am saying it shouldn't bear the responsibility. The fact that we "can't depend on some parents to raise their own children" is the root of one of the biggest problems, IMHO. But I don't see how keep throwing money at the problem has helped at all.

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of community centers and youth centers and camps and programs for the kids. I just don't think, once again, that it should be "everyone's" responsibility.

And to say that just bc some children have "lower income working parents" they will be watching TV all day or run with gangs is insulting to people who work lower paying jobs. The amount of money one makes has nothing to do with how they raise children.

Lena

[trimatty471]

The above must be in the Governor's handbook. The Pennsylvanian governor wants to cut funding for education but increase funding for correctional facilities...

[trimatty471]

When I was a kid, the churches did pick up the slack with vacation bible school, day camps & etc. Otherwise the latchkey kids sat inside with the tv on all day.

[trimatty471]

I have mix feelings because where I live it seems to government does everything but raise the kids and its all coming out of taxpayer's pockets.

[Deleted]

And to say that just bc some children have "lower income working parents" they will be watching TV all day or run with gangs is insulting to people who work lower paying jobs. The amount of money one makes has nothing to do with how they raise children.

It has everything to do with the quality of care and activities they can afford to provide. People earning low incomes can't afford childcare for their children - that's why they turn into latchkey kids. A friend of mine used to work full time and pay someone $1 an hour to watch her child - the caregiver smoked constantly, had mental issues that wouldn't let her leave the house, and wasn't providing educational opportunities.

[qofcc]

This is just another reason why the long summer break is obsolete and we should be going to year round school with shorter more frequent breaks. A week or two off is a nice vacation for the kids and if they want to spend it decompressing lying on the couch watching movies or playing video games, there's nothing wrong with that. When my kids were little, summer breaks were always a struggle, cobbing together child care between relatives and babysitters. When they were older, they still mostly hung around the house or at friends houses. Most of the places we lived didn't have rec programs that were available all day and transportation was a problem. I felt like the kids ended up spending more time than I would have liked watching tv and playing video games and they were bored and ready to go back to school by the end of the summer, but they weren't getting into trouble. It would have been nice if they could have worked, but every year they went around applying for jobs, but the only kids that were hired were the ones that knew a small business owner. There was some sort of job program for a very limited number of low income kids, but we exceeded the income level. When I was growing up, the years I lived with my mom, I spent babysitting my sister and several of the other little kids in the neighborhood. My mom was a teacher and worked as a camp counselor during the summer, but she couldn't afford to send us to camp for the whole summer, just a week or two. When I was older and lived with my dad, I spent the summer working in the family business covering vacation time for the other employees.