This is exactly why we should efficiently use our public education dollars to invest in K-12 education, with vouchers. Better use of the money and allows parents to get their kids the best education they need. It's better to get kids the education they need at an early age than pay for it later on via welfare and incarceration. Public education includes using all resources, to educate the pubic. It does not mean we have to use government schools...just like pre-schools don't have to be government-run either.

Let me take a moment to describe myself. Currently I am 33 years old and grew up in poverty most of my life. My parents moved at least once a year and sometimes up to 4x's. My parents taught me that being "poor" was not an excuse for mediocrity. I was taught to always exceed expectations. I graduated with a 3.86 GPA and received an Academic Scholarship. I currently have an MBA. It wasn't school programs or what type of education I received that helped me, it was hard work. It was that American work ethic that my parents admired so much and instilled in me (you see to make things worse I am hispanic). Schools are not to blame, but parents. Are today's parents actively teaching their children to acheive and that they can acheive anything, or are they giving excuses to their children for failure. I teach my children that nobody can fail them except for themselves. Greatness lies in each of us. We are Americans and most improtantly we are children of God. Failure is not inherent due to condition, it is taught by society.

AI R -

Thank you for your story! Mine is similar.

James: I sure hope your comment doesn't turn this into yet another debate on vouchers. This article provides extremely important insight into society and education at large. Let's keep our eye on the ball for a moment!

AI R: Your short bio is impressive, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who is proud of you and your parents. Parents are indeed the most important thing. Unfortunately, as a society we cannot just sit and hope that parents will step up to the plate. Some are unable, some are unwilling, and it is in our interest (apart from any philanthropy we might feel) to do what we can do take up the slack.

There will always be a need for the poor, otherwise what would happen to all the social workers, law enforcement, ER Doctors, and politicians. The question is can we treat the poor with understanding rather than disdain. So next time you see someone down and under thank him for giving your government worker the American Dream.

The secret to successful education outcome is the parents active involvement. We must do more to encourage parents to help their children with their education.

How can you, in good conscience, and with a straight face, insinuate that vouchers could even remotely begin to address the issues in this article?

Unbelievable!

AIR, you should send your comments into "Letters." There will always be poor, but it is not necessary to have as many as we do. "Where there is no vision the people perish." There are always fancy programs and lots of talk, but poverty doesn't seem to go away as society continues to degenerate. AIR's parents refused to let him be a victim. Today few children have support like this, and so it will have to fall to the school. If the best teachers were given very large bonus to teach in poor schools, much of this problem could be turned around, as long as these were teachers with "vision." As it is now most of these teachers are in the more affluent schools where the work is not as hard, and they can actually teach. Or we can support vouchers and make the situation worse, because those without parental support will never go to the elite private schools.