what can we do to get youth, particularly young men, to understand the importance of a quality education?

Question

far too many young men from "the hood" think it's more honorable and respectable to keep it gangsta, maybe even do a bid or two than to put in the work it takes to complete high school and pursue higher education. i'm a hip hop baby, but, in the words of my man B.I.G. that music has us HYPNOTIZED. we're more concerned wit bling and v's than degrees. and as it relates to our young women, where's the respect? the destruction of the black family is partly based on the absence of the father in too many homes and I strongly believe that until we step it up as men and reclaim our place at the head of the family, our communiities will continue to suffer and we will forever be exploited. smarten up.

Answer 1

I beleive the primary reason for the lack of "sucess" for many black youths is twofold. First is the impression that getting educated and pursuing a career equates to "selling out". Young men must realize that one can best help himself and his family with commitment to suceed both socially, spiritually, and financially. The "hood" will teach a young man some good lessons in life such as urban survival and self dependence. Unfortunately it can also teach about instant gratification and despair. Overcoming these attitudes can be difficult, it's about choices. One can choose to wallow in their lack of prominence or choose to rise above their social conditions. For many, this is a generational issue, parents are often unable to encourage their children to suceed and these children without good mentors will follow in their parent's example.
The second biggest cause, I believe is the notion that money is the answer to all problems. Many will do whatever is necessary to get short-term relief from their situation. "I can make plenty of money easily, why go to school" is a common statement. Without even an understanding of their options, many dismiss the possibility that there is a long-term solution to overcoming a disadvantaged upbringing. The higher one is educated, the more one understands there are many opportunities and possibilities avaiable to those who are prepared to accept them and that with a lack of preparation and commitment many of these opportunities will fall to the wayside, often unnoticed.
Therefore, I believe sucessful men should be mentoring their hometown youth and showing them what being a "real man" is all about is the best way to show young blacks (or whites) that THEY choose their destiny, not their surroundings and not the successful outsiders. We get one chance at life, one chance to leave this Earth knowing that we gave it our BEST effort to guide our children to be sucessful, loving parents themselves. The best way to do that is to be a sucessful, loving parent. In the end, sucess is measured only by what we have left behind.

Answer 2

The first guy to answer this question said "repeal welfare." That doesn't solve the problem. That doesn't even address the issue. The real question is...How do you overcome direct and indirect peer pressure?

The best way to open up the minds of young men is to hire more teachers and give them the tools they need to be successful. Reduce the class size so the teachers can create relationships with their students.

I grew up in low income housing and some of my friends were threatened by my desire to get a better education. I was bullied and teased for it. Luckily, I had teachers that cared about me and kept me focussed. They showed me what was possible and gave me the tools to accomplish them. If every student has teachers that care about them and mentor them, they won't have anything to feel inferior about.

Plus, we need to ask men like Russell Simmons to spend more time mentoring kids. He built an empire through hard work. Most of the role models young men have today just aren't the right kind of solid mentors our society needs. Most of today's role models are all about the flash and the cash. It's all about living for the present without any regard for the future.

Also, I think every 16 year old boy should spend a summer working in the children's department at a department store like Sears. It's the best form of natural birth control ever. You see what happens when people have kids that aren't ready. You see their struggles.

Answer 3

Some times it's not all about the bling, but more about putting food in their mouths and for their kids. We need instant gratification and unfortunately they think that being a gangsta will give them just that, and most of the time it does. To them school takes to long, then you have to go to college then try to find a job, they'll go hungry. What they also need to understand is to protect them selves when getting involved with a lady so they don't get into these situations and end up in the vicious cycle of life

Answer 4

Take them to the nearest Coal Mine and tell them that everyday this is to be their only means of making a living without an education. They will have to go deep into the mines and spend 8- 12 hours, everyday without sunlight, hip hop or any other source of pleasure if they do not respect getting an education. Irregardless of race etc., not to disrespect Coal Mining, most young men would think twice that school is an easier route to improving their lives. An education truly is everything!

Answer 5

Positive role models are the best hope. If you, yourself, are a successful, educated man then consider getting involved in a "Big Brother" or other mentoring program, and even conivince some of your peers to get involved. It's like they say, "It takes a village..." It will take a mass effort on the part of upstanding, educated men to teach these boys how to be real men. That goes for all races, not just African-Americans.

Answer 6

You have to start in the community.You have to take young people in the first 5 years of life and impress upon them that it's honorable to be a good person.Then live up to what you tell them.They will follow your example.As for those who don't you may have to be a bit more firmer with them.From one end of town to the other you remake everything.By doing this you will make a lot of people mad.There is the root of the problem.Most people today that want a better life for their children are simply moving out of town to a place where their kids have a chance to see how other people live.It's to hard to teach a kid peace in a war zone.The pull of corruption is to strong when it's everywhere you look.

Answer 7

I think what you said is correct. Not only in the hood but around our nation a lack of men being men is destroying our youth. I think their should be MASSIVE penalties levied against deadbeat dads and realistic sex education in our schools as a first step. But to answer your question, good examples are trhe only answer I know. Mentoring is a lost art in America that needs to be revitalized. Unforutnately the fear of pediphiles and other perverts have hindered this process. To many "mentors" end up as perverts!!! If you can find people who "made it" because of an education and inspire them to talk to the youth I think it will help. One caution I would give is this. Don't find NFL superstars our politicians to use as examples because most realistic teens know they will not be able to acheive those things. I would pick people like business owners, electricians, school teachers, and other people who have achieved success in a normal way in a normal world. Hope this helps.
www.todaysperspective.com

Answer 8

You raise valid issues and unfortunately it extends across all racial lines to one degree or another. As a teacher, it boils down to a lack of discipline from the family and society, while I cannot discipline a child for fear of violating any of a multitude of laws that are designed to protect children from abuse, but have been pushed to include just about all forms of discipline. Unfortunately children find this out fairly early in school and then deliberately act up because they know that the worst that will happen is they get suspended from school...which is just what they want. Until society changes the laws to allow for stricter discipline at home and in the schools, while still protecting children from abuse, we will continue to see a degradation of our youth into the uneducated, unfit adults that is the current trend.

Answer 9

GREAT QUESTION,I BELIEVE THE SO-CALLED MEN OF THE HOOD ARE REALLY BOYS OF THE HOOD,CAUSE,PARENTS OF THE HOODS,ARE FAILING THESE GREAT HUMAN BEINGS,CAUSE NO RESPECT,COMES FROM THE GIRLS,OR FAMILIES,CAUSE IT WOULD SEEM ALL EVERYONE CARES ABOUT IS THE BLING-BLING,PARENTS NEED TO BE JUST THAT PARENTS,WILLING TO SAY I DID SOME THING LIKE THAT OR EVEN WORSE AND I DON T WANT IT FOR YOU,I AM BROKE,AND WANT THE MONEY,BUT I WANT MY RESPECT TOO,SO I DEMAND THAT YOU GET A EDUCATION,AND RESPECT THE GIRLS,AND IF ALL YOU AND HER CAN OFFER EACH OTHER IS YOUR BROKE SELVES,JUST REMEMBER THAT BABY SHE AND YOU (will surely have)will have no respect ,want the blink-bling,blame everyone for not having ,just like you and she did..and once again be forever in the HOOD.

Answer 10

I have friends of all educational backgrounds and all races. I have seen that many people of all races find it almost "cool" to be undereducated.

It's sad.. because I know many people who are so extremely successful in their lives due to having higher education.

The biggest influence in peoples lives, that I have seen, is those around them. The more educated people who inform others how wonderful it can be... the more frequently people will take their suggestions and lifestyle into account.

Be a great role model.